From an early age, we were taught the importance of reading. We all know that reading makes us smarter and that’s why we should do it. But reading shouldn’t only be for the sake of education. Reading is a great form of entertainment, with many books being adapted into movies or even fun comic books with colorful drawings. From improving cognitive health to helping you get better sleep, reading is a versatile and beneficial activity. Read on to learn the benefits of reading for older adults.
Stimulates Your Brain
Reading has long been known to affect brain activity and make your overall mental health better. Many of these areas are especially relevant as you get older. Reading will help decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Research has shown that older adults who read every day had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who do not. Whether you prefer laying on the couch with a book or embracing the comfort of reading e-books, reading in all its ways ensures your brain stays in good condition.
Sharpen Your Focus
When you’re reading a book that is heavily narrative-driven, you will be able to sharpen your skills to focus. As you read, you’ll need to know the different numerous characters and have to follow the often weaving storyline. Since you’re highly unlikely to complete the entire book in one sitting, you’ll get to hone your focus on a sustained basis as you read and try to remember the story.
Expand Your Knowledge
You’re never too old to stop learning and reading ensures that you get to constantly gain new knowledge. Whether you’re reading a news article or a fantasy novel, all forms of reading matter when it comes to imparting some form of knowledge. Make good use of the extra time you’ve got on your hands to continue increasing your fountain of knowledge up there.
Save Money
Entertaining yourself doesn’t always have to include spending copious amounts of money on a fun activity. You have many opportunities to pick up good reading materials without spending a single cent. A normal library might be hard to find with the advent of cheap online book retailers and e-books, but they are still around and are good for grabbing many books for free. If you use the internet, you can read a lot about anything that interests you without spending money. With the online versions of your favorite magazines to portable document formats of short stories, from entertainment to education, there will be nothing you can’t discover with a simple search.
Promote Better Sleep
If you find it tough to nod off to sleep, try picking up a book and see if it improves things. Having to follow a straight set of lines in a repetitive motion helps to relax your brain and calm you down, preparing you for a peaceful night of sleep. As a bonus tip, prepare a cup of warm tea to sip on as you draw towards sleep going through that page-turner.
