Today's daily reading habits mostly center around tweets and Facebook updates. But when was the last time you that you actually read a book?



If you’re one of countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out on these benefits listed below:

May help prevent Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Various studies have shown that adults who engage in hobbies that stimulate the brain, such as reading, are less likely to have Alzheimer’s disease.

Reduces stress.
A study done by University of Sussex found reading for just six minutes can be an effective way to cope with stress.

Helps you sleep better.
Instead of playing on your smartphone in the middle of the night, try reading a book next time. The lights from electronic devices trick your brain into keeping awake, while reading a book under a dim light has the opposite effect by putting your brain to rest.

Reading a novel increases brain function for days.
Research from Emory University has found that the biological benefits that occur in the brain after reading (more connectivity, neurological changes that act like muscle memory) remain around for days.

Self-help books have been proven to ease depression.
Self-help books have been scientifically proven to help combat depression at all stages. One study found that participants who read these books for an entire year were less depressed than those who received typical treatments.

People who read are more interesting.
One study found that those who read are more likely to accept and participate in different cultures.

Reading is just as therapeutic as listening to music or watching movies.
Researchers from American University claim that reading is the perfect way to relive past experiences and gain new perspective. Being able to relate with characters going through similar issues allows the reader better insight into their own lives.

Regular readers have a better memory and are smarter.
Whenever you read a book, you create a new memory, and you exercise your brain. This creates new synapses which help keep your memory sharp, allowing for more information to be retained.

Reading expands your vocabulary.
A study involving two groups of eight month olds found that those who had been read to as babies showed an increase in vocabulary skills by 40%; while those who didn't only experienced a 16% increase. The same vocabulary increase can be seen in adults who read.

Reading makes you a better writer.
Just as listening to music can affect a musician’s style, a study done by the University of California says that reading a good book can also affect your own writing style.

Readers are far more likely to be financially stable.
According to these statistics, adults with poor reading skills (43%) were far more likely to live in poverty compared to those with stronger literacy skills (4%).

Readers are more physically fit.
Avid readers are more likely to exercise than those who don’t read on a regular basis.

Makes you more empathetic.
Losing yourself in a work of fiction helps in honing your emotional intelligence. This ability to put yourself in another person's shoes will also greatly benefit your real world non-fiction relationships.

Readers have clearer life goals.
A study done by Ohio State University found that the more you identify with a character in a book, the more likely you’ll be able to also take action in life.

Readers are more likely to improve the world they live in.
Active readers have been found to be three times as likely to do charity work and volunteer than those who don’t read on a regular basis.

Readers are more open-minded.
A study published in the Creativity Research Journal found that participants who had just read a short story had less need for “cognitive closure”, and were more comfortable with ambiguity and alternate interpretations.

Makes learning new languages easier.
Studies  have found that people who read regularly produced more white matter in the brain. This tissue is vital to the learning process, especially when it involves learning new languages.

Readers are better listeners.
Reading has been proven to help increase listening skills by making it easier to absorb vocabulary and grammar.

Readers are more creative.
According to educators at the Obafemi Awolowo University, the mixture of words and pictures found in education-themed comics into primary school classrooms can nurture a healthy sense of creativity, a vital tool needed in problem solving.

Young readers who read for pleasure do better at school.
Children who read for pleasure do far better at school, especially in subjects like math, vocabulary, and spelling.

Parents and children who read together have better relationships.
Psychologists believe that the act of reading together can create a special long-term bond.