Most people consider reading as a luxury, something to do in their spare time, and therefore they are too busy to read. But did you know that reading is actually good for your health? Research has shown that reading provides amazing health benefits to your relationships, your mood, and even your brain health.
According to research, reading can help your interpersonal relationships. Novels put you into the point of view or mindset of another person which creates empathy for others. With improved empathy, you’re more patient, tolerant, and understanding towards others which helps you to get along better with everyone, including those who don’t share your viewpoints—and even strangers.
Reading helps control stress and depression by taking our focus off your own troubles and lets you think about, worry about, and cheer for the characters in the book. At the end of the book, readers almost universally report having a more positive frame of mind. They are inspired, uplifted, and have a renewed hope in the good guy winning, in loyalty, and of overcoming all to achieve desired goals.
Science has proven that reading helps improve memory because it exposes you to words that you may not normally see or hear every day, which stimulates the brain and therefore memory. This kind of stimulation can even reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s.
Not only is reading anything good for your health, but there is a particular benefit to reading romance novels.
First, they all, have a happily-ever-after. That’s the point of romance. (If the hero and heroine don’t end up together, it’s not a true romance.) Reading a book about two people who overcome many difficult obstacles to finally be together, is remarkably inspiring. Love matters. And when the characters realize that, and work to fix their internal and external struggles, and yes, sometimes, even their pride, the readers explore those lessons and struggles right along with them, knowing that it will all work out in the end somehow.
Second, romance novels are all about characters. They start out wanting something but are held back by their character flaws. Romance novels are all about characters who find their inner strength to change what is bad in their life, tackle challenges to follow their dreams, to learn from their mistakes, and sometimes learn how to put someone else’s happiness at least on the same level of their own. Women, especially, in today’s novels are empowered and are willing to go after what they want in spite of the odds against them. If a reader relates to the character, the reader learns these lessons and experiences these joys right along with the story character.
So, the next time you’re tempted to simply pick up the TV remote, instead, open your kindle ap, ebook reader, or paperback, and delve into a magical world of love. Even healthier than vegetables; it’s chocolate for the romantic soul.
Donna, It took me many years to learn to read but I don’t know what I would do without it. Reading is a stress reliever, it’s an antidepressant until I have to do something else haha.
It is there any time I want to pick up a book or EBOOK.
Thank you for this great article.
Loved this article and I am going to make my daughter read it! She thinks I read too much. I am retired and I don’t think I read enough.
She does have a point though I should spend time with real people but I prefer the ones in books.
I feel vindicated! I love reading romance for all the points you brought out. Sadly the genre is looked down on by some so feeling the pressure I had started to read some literary fiction and mystery. While widening horizons is great and I found a couple authors I will read again, these did not leave me feeling as positive as a happily ever romance.