British scientists have found that reading fiction reduces stress levels, and their colleagues from the United States have discovered that this activity also reduces the risk of dementia.
These benefits that books give us are certainly very pleasant, but there is something else that should encourage you to pick up a work of fiction.
Developing empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and feel the emotions of others. Reading fiction helps develop empathy because we can immerse ourselves in the characters’ feelings and thoughts, which helps us better understand their motives and actions.
Getting rid of stereotypes
Since literary characters have a wide variety of qualities, reading gives us the opportunity to learn about unique characters and destinies. This helps us to be less prone to stereotypes in our perception of others. Readers become more tolerant of people who are different from the majority.
Opportunity to fantasize
When writing a book, the author often leaves many moments from the lives of his characters unsaid or skips them altogether. In this case, the reader must figure out what the author did not describe. It is no coincidence that fans of popular books unite in fan groups, where they discuss possible details of their favorite works and often offer their theories about how the hero could have come to the outcome described in the book.
This is a great workout for your imagination and fantasy, as well as for developing logical and imaginative thinking. That is why, if your work is connected with creative activity, try to read more fiction books.
Working on literacy
Do you often feel like you lack the words to describe your feelings and events? Try adding reading to your life. Well-written books can not only increase your vocabulary, but also help improve your grammar, as your brain gets used to seeing the correct spellings of words and sentences. You may not know the rules of grammar, but you will know exactly how to spell correctly.
In addition, reading fiction helps you formulate your thoughts more precisely. Your speech will become more varied and pleasant to the ear, which will certainly be useful to you in your work and personal life.
Relief from stress
Reading books helps reduce stress and nervous tension. The brain switches to the events described in the book, due to which the body relaxes and the pulse calms down. In addition, experts recommend giving up using gadgets and reading a book before going to bed - this will help you fall asleep faster and make your sleep deeper.
Earlier we talked about what happens to a person’s brain if he stops reading .
