How Reading Expands Your Mind

When the world feels like it’s spinning too fast, the idea of sitting down with a book can feel counterintuitive. In response to all that’s happening, we feel that more stimulating media, like short-form videos or dramatic news broadcasts, can bring us further out of the stressful moment and give us what we need to sort through the confusion. However, these activities usually only create more noise to work through.

We need a way to come back to center, and to get back in-tune with a quiet, helpful mind. The question is, how do we do that in a way that is still accessible and desirable when we’re so accustomed to overstimulation? There’s multiple answers, but an especially profound one is reading. Here’s why:

Reading can be enlightening and enjoyable, but it is only this way because we become the creator. Unlike external sensory perceptions, reading requires an active imagination and sharpened mind to create engaging experiences. And the results can be profound. Research from the University of Sussex found that reading for as little as six minutes can ease muscle tension and slow down your heart rate, which are key indicators of a relaxed nervous system state. This study also found that it can be more effective than other traditional relaxation methods. Additionally, studies have shown that reading more is correlated to better mental health (Liu). These findings indicate that the mental benefits of reading can spill over in many ways.

If it’s been a while since you’ve gotten into a good book, here’s your cue to pick one up sometime soon. Choose one that inspires you to think outside the box or teleports you to a new and thought-provoking reality. Happy reading!