The surprising health benefits of reading – and how you can do it more

In a fast-paced world where we’re all obsessed with tech, it can be ever more challenging to find the time, space and motivation to pick up a book – or put on an audiobook. Think about it. When was the last time you read a book? For me, I am afraid it has been a long time, even though I love reading. Why? Just because life gets so busy. But as this weekend marks National Book Lover’s Day; it’s worth reflecting on what it is that reading can do for us which is, it turns out, a lot. Then we’ll turn to some sneaky strategies to incorporate reading into your daily life. Reading reduces stress levels dramatically and fast. One famous study from 2009 by researchers at the University of Sussex found that reading just for six minutes a day can reduce muscle tension, lower heart rate, calm your mind. All this, apparently, lowers stress by 68 per cent. This is far higher than other activities the researchers investigated – things like going for a walk, listening to music or having a cup of tea. Have you forgotten how much you love to read? (Photo: Daniel de la Hoz/Getty/Moment RF) More generally, reading also improves memory and protects the neural networks in our brain, as well as encouraging healthy escapism – giving our nervous systems a well-earned break. We can expand our empathy via reading fiction – or accumulate knowledge with non-fiction. Audiobooks have many of the same benefits for your wellbeing; you can feel less anxious because your mind is engaged with something other than worries or ruminating thoughts, can help you if you are struggling with sleep, can help you to be more active by being a companion on walks, can lift your mood, encourage imaginative and cognitive skills, and allow us to reflect on our emotions through characters and plots. Now that I’ve convinced you why it’s worth it, here are some strategies to make reading a non-negotiable. Enjoy the wait We often find ourselves getting frustrated when we have to wait, say at bus stops, for an appointment or in a queue. Most of us will automatically fiddle on our phones to fill the time. But what if we didn’t waste the time doom-scrolling? Instead, try reaching for your e-book or physical book, or for your headphones to listen to an audiobook. Use the dead time to look after your health and wellbeing. You could also try enforcing a bit more wait time by taking an extra stop on the tube or bus or in your car after you have parked, so you can finish a chapter in your book. Honestly: you’ll thank yourself later. Move You may think that reading requires you to stay still and not move, but you would be wrong. The perfect place for an audiobook is on a walk, on the treadmill or during a run if you can ensure a safe surrounding environment. You can even read a physical book if you are lucky enough to practise on a static bike. Engaging with a book can make the time go faster and encourage you to exercise more often and for longer. End your day with a good book (Photo: Maskot/Getty/Maskot) Stick to your routine One of the sneakiest ways to read more is to do the opposite of changing your routine, and instead simply stick to it. So, for example, if you set aside Sunday night for a self-care or spa, then why not put an audiobook on whilst you are soaking in bubbles or cooking yourself a meal, or read a book whilst waiting for a face mask to set or nails to dry. Embrace the monotonous Listening to an audiobook whilst you are doing boring household chores can also make the time go faster and make you dread the whole ordeal less; for example, cleaning or washing the dishes. Bookmark your day Like me, it is easy to say life is just too busy to read, but we could all make some time if we are motivated enough and find the right book to read. Try bookmarking your day with even just a half-hour slot where instead of watching the latest box set, or film, or sitting doomscrolling on the internet, you decide to pick up that book; and see how much better it makes you feel.