Analysis: reading will make you happier, kinder, better rested and more socially aware
Reading is great. It can help take you to exotic locations and to experience lives other than your own. As luck would have it, there are loads of great books available now that cater to every taste and reading style. Instead of giving into January's characteristic drabness, you should absolutely endeavour to read for pleasure this year. There are tons of reasons to pick up a book, but I’ll just start off with five to convince you.
Reading makes you happier
There is lots of evidence pointing to the myriad of ways in which reading for pleasure can make you happier. A UK study of over 4,000 adults found that readers report less occurrences of depression than non-readers. The same study also discovered that readers had higher self esteem than non-readers and were also more likely to report greater life satisfaction.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Ryan Tubridy Show, authors Edel Coffey and John Connolly with books to look forward to this year, their favourite contemporary reads and the classics worth a revisit.
These benefits were also touted in another study which found that college students who read for fun reported lower levels of depression and anxiety than their classmates. It also found that the benefits increased with more frequent reading so the students who managed to read one book a month reaped the most benefits. If we combine these benefits with the fact that reading decreases loneliness, we’re already less depressed, less anxious, less lonely, have higher self-esteem and are more satisfied with life in general.
Reading makes you kinder
Not only can reading make you happier, reading fiction can also make you more empathetic. Several studies indicate that reading fiction improves theory of mind which is our ability to understand other people’s mental state. This in turn helps to foster empathy which can help us to be kinder to those around us. For example, reading a novel like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine could help us to view an irritating co-worker in a different light by inducing us to consider the reasons why they are behaving annoyingly.
Reading helps improve sleep quality
According to researchers who studied the sleeping patterns of those who read for a half an hour before bed versus those who didn’t, readers reported better sleep. This is consistent with the findings of the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure Report which found that 43% of readers reported that reading helps them to get a better night’s sleep. So if you’re struggling to sleep, why not add reading to your bedtime routine?
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Nature Nights, author John Connell, poet Jane Clarke and environmental campaigner Lorna Gold read from their own work and classical writings on themes of nature
Reading can help combat unconscious biases
Reading can help you to identify "faulty" thinking patterns that lead to unconscious biases. According to literary theorist Mark Bracher, who applies cognitive science to literature, the act of reading works of fiction and then discussing it with those around you, can help you to apply new information processing systems to how you view the world and can help you to unpick stereotypes that you hold subconsciously. This is done either by showing you alternative examples of the stereotype or simply by displaying how ridiculous a particular stereotype is by following it to a logical conclusion.
It’s easier to read than ever before
Many of us are busy and the idea of sourcing a book can be less than appealing. Luckily it is easier than ever before to access a wide selection of styles and formats of books. Libraries Ireland offer free membership for everyone, as well as physical books, graphic novels, ebooks, audiobooks and more. You can sign up online or in your local branch and you don’t need to drop off your books in the same library as the one you borrowed them from. They even got rid of fines in 2019!
For those of you who tried a book once and decided it wasn't for you, keep trying – you will find one that suits.
If libraries aren’t your style, then you can support your local bookshop or buy from an online retailer. Ebooks are released as standard by most publishing houses these days so you can download them from any of the major online retailers from the comfort of your own home. If audiobooks are more your jam, then you can listen to all kinds of books through subscription services like Audible and Spotify. You literally have no excuse!
So, join your library, stream your audiobook or buy that new book which has been beckoning to you from the shop window. Reading it will make you happier, kinder, better rested and more socially aware. There’s literally nothing to lose. For those of you who tried a book once and decided it wasn’t for you, keep trying – you will find one that suits. There is no shame in putting a book back if it’s not for you. As I told a student in my school librarian days, using that excuse is like saying that you don’t listen to music because you heard Westlife once and you didn’t their song(s)!
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
