You may have noticed this week that a new 'Reading for pleasure' themed collection has been added to the Library website. To accompany the release of this collection we are highlighting 4 ways reading for pleasure can benefit you.
We're sure the idea of adding any more reading to your daily routine is a stomach churning thought for many of our students, but we promise it can actually reduce your stress rather than add to it! The act of reading for pleasure is a great way to escape your busy life and unwind, and there is real science behind this claim. For example, a 2006 study by the University of Sussex found that reading can actually slow your heart rate, release muscle tension and reduce stress levels. Think of reading for pleasure as a massage for your brain, which is why reading is the perfect activity for before bed.
Another reason reading can make a great night-time activity is because it can help you sleep better, because of its stress reducing qualities. Reading is also great for your sleep because it helps you avoid blue light before bed. We're all guilty of scrolling aimlessly on our devices until its way past bedtime, but it is really beneficial to your sleep to take some time away from your devices and unplug from the outside world at least 30 minutes before bed. Not only is reading a great way to unwind after a busy day, it also means you get to avoid blue light, which is known to disrupt your sleep.
Your brain is a sponge that soaks up everything you see, and because of this reading can be a great form of passive exercise for your brain. Not only is reading for pleasure a great way to broaden your vocabulary and improve your own writing skills, but it can also help you to improve your creative thinking by exposing you to new and different viewpoints and concepts.
Multiple studies have found that reading can improve your empathy, as well as how you understand yourself and your own thought, feelings and emotions. Reading about experiences different from our own, whether that be through fiction or non-fiction books, naturally makes us more empathetic and tolerant as well. So ultimately reading has the power to make us all better people.
If you would like to reap all these benefits make sure you check out our Reading for pleasure collection.
You'll be hard pressed not to find something in our collection that doesn't peak your interest, but if you're feeling particularly fussy you can also check out our book exchange in the cafe area of the Andrew Kean Learning Centre.
0 Comments.