Over the festive season, we all have a similar tendency to ‘turn-off’ completely. The holidays bring with them a time to finally relax before the start of the new year. Often, we’re so burnt out from the year that we tend to simply lounge on the couch and feast our eyes on Netflix or holiday classics. But completely neglecting brain-boosting activities over this time is likely not a good idea. In fact, whenever you’re on holiday from work, you should keep up some sort of brain training. Reading is perhaps one of the easiest ways to do this and simultaneously allows you to transport yourself into another world.
Why is reading so important for the brain?
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If you count yourself as one of those who is obsessed with books and reading, it seems that you could do a lot worse. The benefits associated with it are amazing, wide-ranging, and long-lasting. As strange as it may sound, reading seems to “change your mind”. This, in the most literal sense.
Through MRI scans, researchers have been able to confirm that reading involves “a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain”. The networks that are developed via reading also grow stronger and more sophisticated with time. Essentially, this means that the more you read and the more frequently you do it, the more your brain benefits. A study conducted in 2013 used functional MRI scans to ascertain the effect of reading a novel on the brain.
It used the novel Pompeii which participants read over the course of 9 days. Results showed that, as the story built to climax and became tenser, more parts of the brain lit up. Brain scans of the participants showed that during reading and even for days following the experiment, brain connectivity increased substantially.
Other studies have shown that the occipital lobe (which is the visual processing center of the brain) was more developed in readers than in non-readers. What this means is that readers can process information faster and more efficiently than their non-reading counterparts. A more highly developed occipital lobe has also been linked to “enhanced imagination and creativity skills” and even better decision-making skills.
Why read over the holidays?
But I can hear you saying, “I need the break” or “it’s a time to tune out the outside world”. And I totally agree. But reading should never be seen as a chore or something you have to do. The benefits of reading make it an exceptionally good hobby to pick up.
You’ll also find that when you keep your brain active over the holidays, you’ll feel better about getting back into work. In fact, getting back into work-life will likely be made easier by keeping your brain active.
It doesn’t have to be print
It’s also good to note here that you don’t necessarily need a physical book. Personally, I prefer the feeling of a book in my hands. But then, I’m rather a traditionalist.
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You could also opt for a digital format or even an audiobook. Personally, if I’m super busy and feel I can’t manage to sit down and read, I choose an audiobook instead. Listening to an audiobook allows you to continue doing chores or other tasks (like cooking or baking) whilst still getting wrapped up and carried away by the story.
The brilliance of audiobooks
Author Kristen Willeumier, Ph.D. explains that when it comes to reading and listening, they have many similarities. In both cases, the brain is functioning at a higher level. Whether you are reading a physical book or listening to an audiobook makes very little difference cognition-wise.
This is because listening requires similar processes. You still need to exercise your comprehension skills and the brain still has to work to connect different aspects of the story. It also necessitates maintaining consistent focus in order to understand the storyline. However, there are some differences.
One of the major differences in the way in which the brain is activated. When you are reading print, the left side of the brain activates. This is the side of the brain that is associated with the processing aspect of language. However, when you’re listening to something, both your left and right brain activate. However, whether it’s in audio format or not, the actual processing of the information occurs in the same areas of the brain.
One major benefit of listening to an audiobook rather than reading physical print is the development of greater empathy. Listening allows you to hear the emotion in the narrator’s voice. When you’re listening to something, the emotional circuits in the brain activate. This acts to increase understanding and heighten imagery. Ultimately, this means that your imagination is more engaged. This often leads to greater enjoyment of the book.
Other good reasons to read this festive season
It reduces stress
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The holidays can be an exceptionally stressful time, and reading might well help to calm you. Perhaps the biggest benefit associated with reading is the stress relief factor. Stress is believed to be one of the biggest causes of illness. In fact, it’s said to contribute to about 60% of all human illnesses and diseases.
Stress can increase the risk of strokes and heart disease by 50% and 40%, respectively. A 2009 study conducted by the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress levels by as much as 68%. The study found that just six minutes of reading slowed heart rates and reduced muscle tension substantially.
It’ll help your sleep
The festive season seems to have a way of keeping us all up much later than usual. Also, most of us are completely attached to our smartphones, and it’s no surprise that we tend to use them even just before we turn the lights off.
However, multiple studies have shown that using your phone just before bed can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule and may make it even more difficult to fall asleep. Instead of scrolling mindlessly, you could try reading a book. Research by the Mayo Clinic suggests that creating some kind of routine that involves reading a book can “promote better sleep by easing the transition between wakefulness and drowsiness”.
It’ll help to prevent a premature decline in cognition
Aging brings with it a steady mental decline, and tasks that were once simple can become more difficult. It seems that if you’re looking to slow or even stop cognitive decline, reading could be the answer. In fact, some studies have shown that reading regularly may even help to prevent severe diseases like Alzheimer’s.
A 2013 study found that reading may slow brain function decline and help with the prevention of dementia and related cognitive diseases. This research also found that participants who engaged in reading and other mentally stimulating activities “in [both] early and late-life were less likely to show physical evidence of dementia”
References
https://time.com/5388681/audiobooks-reading-books/
https://www.wellandgood.com/reading-versus-listening/
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books#strengthens-the-brain
https://thebestbrainpossible.com/reading-improves-brain-memory-stress/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/five-ways-reading-can-imp_b_12456962
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313429#5)-Reading-may-boost-intelligence
https://www.pyhotelsandresorts.com/en/blog/three-benefits-of-reading/
