Between 2003 and 2023, the number of people in the United States (US) who read for pleasure dropped dramatically by 40 percent. The authors of the study, Ms. Daisy Fancourt and Ms. Jill Sunk, believe this is likely because of national rising rates of screen time, economic pressure, and an overall decrease of recognizing reading as a wellness activity with health benefits, according to The New York Times. And yet, reading for personal enjoyment, particularly fiction, is vital to not only increasing one’s critical thinking and cognitive skills but also living a long and healthy life, according to CNN. Although reluctant readers may argue that reading is a passive activity with minimum benefits, reading is actually an essential habit that everyone can benefit from, particularly children and young adults.
Incorporating reading into a daily routine and recognizing it for its crucial health benefits is imperative for mental stimulation and cognitive nourishment, the broadening of worldly perspectives, boosting mental health, and improving overall physical wellbeing, according to bcm.edu. Children who read around 12 hours a week for pleasure often test higher in cognitive studies and have better mental health when they are teenagers compared to those who do not, according to washingtonpost.com. Thus, building a solid reading habit reduces stress because it provides an outlet for emotional and psychological needs. Building these habits early become second nature and stick with young readers for years to come.
Reading novels increases emotional intelligence by placing readers in the minds of the protagonists, allowing them to experience, learn from, and relate to alternate perspectives, according to nih.gov. Indeed, reading fiction is an appealing solution to soothing mental health, as it offers not just a therapeutic escape from the outside world, but also teaches the valuable lessons of empathy, connection, and self-reflection. These skills are necessary in the real world to build relationships and communicate with people from all walks of life. Ms. Elizabeth Bernstein, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal who specializes in social psychology, expressed the importance of taking advantage of the therapeutic value of reading, according to wsj.com.
“As neuroscientists and psychologists (and your high school English teacher) will tell you: Books are good for the brain,” Ms. Bernstein said, according to wsj.com. “And their benefits are particularly vital now. Books expand our world, providing an escape and offering novelty, surprise and excitement, which boost dopamine. They broaden our perspective and help us empathize with others. And they can improve our social life, giving us something to connect over.”
In addition to the mental health aspect, a consistent reading habit can also prevent cognitive decline in older age, according to nih.gov. Moreover, even reading just a few times a week can add years to one’s life, according to harvardhealth.edu. On average, book readers live about two years longer than those who do not read at all. People who are 50 or older and read regularly are 20 percent less likely to die in the next 12 years compared to those who hardly ever read, according to yale.edu. Additionally, people who mentally stimulate their brains throughout their life lose their memory much slower as they age compared to those who do not. These mentally stimulating activities, including reading, can even prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, further demonstrating the necessity for maintaining a strong reading habit throughout one’s life, according to alzinfo.org.
Although finding time to read can seem like yet another overwhelming task, it is of the utmost importance to prioritize reading as an act of wellness. Mrs. Olivia Kolenberg, the Upper School Librarian at Sacred Heart Greenwich, shared her tips on how to seamlessly blend reading into daily life.
“I think it’s really important to find a habit for whatever time works best in your schedule,” Mrs. Kolenberg said. “I always try to read for the last twenty minutes before bed instead of scrolling on my phone. The more you can build it into your everyday habits, the more it will seamlessly blend into your everyday routine, and no matter what you’re reading, it’s still an everyday escape.”
Ultimately, people must acknowledge the wonderful advantages they can gain from reading daily, a wellness practice that is often overlooked. Reading can be the remedy for stress and anxiety management, the key to living longer and healthier, and the crux of increasing emotional intelligence and creating a happier life.
Featured Image by Blaire Williamson ’27
