6 reasons why you should invest time to read (Blog marathon post 9)

Picture of me reading by M.V.Ranna

 All of us lead such busy lives. We have impossible deadlines, tight schedules and a million other things to do in a short span of 24 hours. Before we realise it, time flies and it is bed time, with many tasks still uncrossed on the 'to-do' list which is ever-growing.
In between all this, why in the world should we spend precious time to read books?

 Here are 6 reasons why you should invest time to read.


1. Makes you smarter:  Research conducted in Stanford University has discovered that  when we read, blood flows to the brain. Reading is a work-out for the brain. Everyone knows that to get those 6 pack abs or a 24 inch waist for women, with no-belly fat, you have to hit the gym and control your diet. Reading is a gym for your brain. It doesn't matter  what you read. it is the act of reading that counts. So go and read something that interests you and you enjoy.

2.Opens new worlds: There are whole new worlds out there waiting to be discovered. When we read we come to know about places we never knew existed. When you read history--how we came to be, why we have certain customs, how religion originated, how the industrial revolution changed the world and many such things, we are expanding our world-view. We become more open-minded.


3.Widens the imagination: Who would have thought about a magical world that existed when the back of the cupboard fell away? Who would have thought about an ocean at the end of the lane that could be contained in a bucket? Who would have thought about a tale of identical twins who inherit a home that overlooks a graveyard? What amazing fantasy lands exist between the pages of a book! And how delightful to be lost in it and travel to such fantastic places, while curled up in bed!

4.Connects minds: This I can tell you from personal experience--reading connects minds. A writer puts those words on the paper and even after many years, long after the writer is gone, he/she has made a mental connect with the reader. You enter another's mind. And if you discover someone who likes the same books as you do, the connect is instant. Sometimes, you get book recommendations from someone who matters to you.It might be a genre you have never tried. And if you like it, the connect with that person becomes stronger. Reading connects minds in more ways than one.


5.Solves problems: Many a time people write to me and tell me that they went through the exact same situation that my characters face. So many times, I have read books, and nodded my head in agreement at what the author is saying, because it is something that I would have undergone. The characters in great books show us ways, inspire us to persevere and become a little more than what we were. We become better equipped at problem solving when we read.


6.Builds a good self image: Studies have shown that reading makes us feel good about ourselves. Self esteem is mostly lowered by criticism, rejection and failure. When we read more and more, we link things we know and build a huge web of inter connected information---essentially wisdom. This makes us more empathetic, better skilled to solve problems and  we can instantly connect to characters who have worries just like us--fear of failure, fear of being turned down by the one you love etc. Reading helps us understand our world  better and we are able to cope with our concerns. When you read you are indirectly building your self-esteem.

In case you say that you have no time to read, you might want to read my old post: 5 ways to make more time to read.

 It is a smart investment that you will make, when you decide to read!
Happy reading folks. In case you are reading something interesting, do share in my comment box. Even if you are not, tell me what you think! I enjoy READING your thoughts  too :)
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Checked out my latest book yet?  Here is the link: http://www.preetishenoy.com/books/the-one-you-cannot-have/