In a world of iPhones and Facebook and WiFi and Netflix, when is the last time you picked up a book that wasn’t something an a English teacher put in your hands? Children, teenagers, and adults today seem to have lost touch with the world of the written word (what alliteration, eh), but for the sake of your sanity and satisfaction, I’d suggest you make a regular habit out of reading.
People argue that this is in fact the age of reading – we scroll through hundreds of tweets, posts, captions, and articles every day – how can someone argue that that isn’t reading? Well, the difference is in quality. Whether you choose fiction or nonfiction, it is very important to expose yourself to writing that someone has really taken the time to perfect. Of course, it’s not to say you can’t find this sort of writing online, but it can get lost in a torrent of words churned out at speed with little thought, so be discerning! There are so many advantages to reading quality writing on a daily basis, and only by getting into the habit will you benefit from them most.
Increase your vocabulary and hold of a language
The first, and perhaps most noticeable benefit from the outside, is an increased vocabulary and mastery of language. Learning new words and means of expression is a process. We move from a passive use (understanding what something means) to an active use (actually using it ourselves). Even if you stumble across a word you’re not sure about or have never even seen before (and you will!) as you read, you can often figure out the gist at the very least, through context and educated guessing. You will come across countless, exciting ways to describe all sorts of different situations and emotions. Eventually, you will naturally adapt these and be able to use them yourself. And who doesn’t recognise and respect someone’s eloquence in their writing or speech? I know I do.
Improve your cognitive skills
Reading is also an act of discipline. Watching a film is easy – just sit back and soak it all up. Reading with purpose takes focus and concentration. Everyone is familiar with the feeling of having read the same sentence multiple times without actually processing it. Extracting meaning from writing is a skill, and one that you can transfer to general areas of cognition necessary for other unrelated tasks, such as attention and inhibition. Be patient. This aspect of reading as a habit takes time, but it will come.
Be interesting
Once you find an author or a topic or a genre that you truly are into (and I firmly believe that there is at least one out there for everyone), talking about what you have read makes you immediately more interesting and capable of holding conversation. If you can, dabble in everything! Read things you wouldn’t think to, exchange book recommendations with friends, pick blindly at a library or bookshop. You should read things you don’t necessarily agree with as well, and through that get a wider understanding of different people’s perspectives. Your enthusiasm and open-mindedness will undoubtedly show, and who knows, you may even find that someone else has a similar interest!
Get smarter
Reading improves your memory and makes you smarter. Seems pretty obvious. You’re absorbing information. You can pause whenever and as often as you like (that would be a bit weird mid-TV show) and reflect on what you’ve just read. Your mind is on high alert, and just like your body, your brain needs ‘exercise’ to stay fit. Lots of studies have shown a positive correlation between regular reading and academic achievement… none of us are losing anything with a boost in that department!
Have fun!
So many perks already… but best of all, reading is fun. When you read, you close off the world around you, replacing any stress or worry with fantasy or science or philosophy or politics. Before society became so chock-full of methods of instantaneous entertainment and gratification, people read for fun. We’re not a different species now; we haven’t lost the ability to appreciate the joy of reading! Dwarfed by the enormity of technology and social media, we’ve simply forgotten it’s still as big (even bigger!) an option as it ever was. So what now? Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab a blanket, switch off your phone, remember, and settle down for an hour (or six) with a good book.
Written by Maia H, a Japanese & German tutor at MyTutor