It’s 4 p.m. You’ve just come home from a long day at school, and after finishing your homework, you relax by watching your favorite show or going to sleep. You want to start a book, but you know there’s no time for reading and you have no energy for it. This experience seems to be universal among high school students, and it deprives you of the serious benefits that reading brings. From getting enjoyment by immersing yourself in a fictional world to preventing Alzheimer’s disease, reading brings you many benefits that you shouldn’t miss out on.

The Benefits of Reading

1. Reading increases your intelligence. Spending leisure time reading introduces you to a world of knowledge beginning in childhood. Through reading, you are exposed to new vocabulary, which leads to higher scores on reading tests and on general intelligence tests for kids. Having stronger early reading skills provides the potential to have higher intelligence later in life.
2. Reading improves your brain power. Reading regularly improves your memory function by giving your brain a good workout. As we age, there is a decline in memory and brain function. Reading regularly helps slow the process, and, in turn, keeps our minds sharper for longer.
3. Reading may help fight Alzheimer’s disease. Reading engages the brain, which is beneficial to preventing the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Participating in brain stimulating activities such as reading, chess, or puzzles makes you 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, in comparison to those who spend their free time on less stimulating activities.
4. Reading can help you relax. In one study done by Sussex University researchers in 2009, results showed that reading can reduce stress by as much as 68 percent. No matter the book you’re reading, being engaged and immersed in it can help you escape the worries and stresses of everyday life.
5. Reading before bed can help you sleep. Reading a book can help you relax more than spending your time before bed scrolling on your phone. Tablets and even e-readers can keep you awake for longer periods of time and hurt your sleep. Research published in Pediatrics shows that 54 percent of children sleep near a screen, and get 20 fewer minutes of sleep on average because of it. So reach for your favorite novel before going to bed!