35 Why is reading essential?
Jahtae Madrigal
4/28/2024
English 101
Why is reading essential?
Since social media has been introduced to most of the world, people have grown addicted and obsessed with their phones and what seems like wholly forgotten about reading an actual paperback novel. Although audiobooks are available, they are not sufficient enough like reading at really grabbing your attention; for example, once you start reading, on whatever device someone might choose, imagine getting a notification from a friend and then getting distracted, and you stop reading to respond now you are an hour deep chatting instead of focusing on what you are reading. Reading is essential for many reasons, such as improved memory, reduced stress, and improved brain functions and cognitive skills, however, I will stick to a few so that you can get an idea.
Reading allows for advanced brain function and growth and builds cognitive skills for all ages; according to neuroscientists at Emory University in Atlanta, “reading a gripping novel makes changes in the way the brain connects with different circuits (ABC News).” Although the changes reading creates in the brain may not be permanent, they can last for at least five days, suggesting that the benefits from reading last longer than the act itself.” This shows that reading is exercising your brain, and like you would exercise in the gym, you will start to build muscle. Reading allows you to explore your imagination, and not only that, but you will need to have strong grammar and vocabulary in almost any profession one might choose to go into.
For those who suffer from anxiety or depression, it is proven that reading can positively affect you, and you will start to notice that these disorders will begin to become less and less of a burden on you. When you read you tend to be in your own world, and some people might say reading is tedious or time-consuming, still, once you find a book that you can enjoy, you can become more imaginative which might distract your brain from anything that is causing you to be depressed or anxious. A 2009 study from Mindlab International at the University of Sussex found that “Reading was able to reduce stress levels by 68%. That made it more effective than other soothing activities like taking a walk or listening to music(Mindlab)”. Whenever I find myself becoming stressed, and I try going on a walk, I am usually still thinking about what was making me stressed in the first place, or when I listen to music, it might have the same depressing energy which is not going to help take my mind off of the stress however, once I start reading my favorite books I can immediately enter a whole new reality that brings me peace and happiness. Besides the fact that reading is an excellent way to destress, reading is also beneficial for those with ADHD. People who suffer from this disorder tend to find it harder to concentrate and retain the information they were given. Studies show, “Today, ADH