reading and books, my first loves. i guess i’d be remiss if i didn’t say how incredibly important reading is- how every single book offers us endless opportunities of exploring and learning. books connect us with people of the past and present and they pass down the wisdom they gained through their life experiences. reading benefits include: 

stress relief – reading can be a nice escape. because you’re so engaged and hopefully unable to put a book down, you’re able to get outside of your own head. you forget about those worries and repetitive thoughts. when you eventually come to think of your worries, you’re less overwhelmed and in a better mood, which helps you think clearly and problem solve. 

cognitive skills – probably the best way to exercise your brain and improve your brain activity is by reading. reading helps us make better decisions. you’re able to see all possible options and you can make an educated guess on how each choice will play out and pick the best one. reading also improves your focus. when you read, your attention is only focused on the story.

empathy – reading builds our empathy by presenting us with thoughts and scenarios outside of our perspective. we’re able to gain insight by exploring different characters, their struggles, relationships and emotions, which can be applied to the real world. 

confidence – you can learn a lot about yourself from books. depending on the book, the author or characters can act as a positive role model. you can connect and feel instantly attached to a character and be deeply inspired by them. 

sleep – there’s a reason why reading to children before bedtime is so popular. it’s so soothing and relaxing. try to read at least a few pages every night before you go to sleep. if you’re struggling with sleep, try reading before bed. it’s easy to implement because it makes you relaxed at the end of the day and leads you to fall asleep faster.