"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." – Frederick Douglass
When I say that I love reading, I don’t mean that I enjoy spending hours-on-end focused on a book. I love reading because of the newness of it—learning new vocabulary, experiencing new stories, meeting new characters, listening to new ideas, and discovering new writing techniques. My love for reading is more than just devouring a novel; it’s the act of learning, discovering, and growing from the author’s wit and knowledge that I enjoy the most.
I think reading has become a chore in today’s society, something that we must do for school or work. I don’t believe that’s what reading was meant to be! Reading any written work is a privilege we should never take for granted. It should be enjoyable, engaging, and enlightening. There are countless genres, authors, and published works to choose from; there’s no excuse not to find something interesting and entertaining to read!
Healthy Benefits of Reading Habits
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” ― Joseph Addison
Reading is an educational and entertaining hobby. It provides an opportunity to gain knowledge while also amusing personal interests. But did you realize that reading is also a healthy habit? A quick Google search will tell you that reading regularly provides multiple health benefits for your mind, body, and soul. It’s probably the most leisurely, entertaining, yet therapeutic hobby you can do!
Here are three health benefits of reading regularly:
1. Reduce Stress
A University of Sussex study found that people who read for just six minutes had less muscle tension and a slower heart rate. The reason for reduced stress is likely linked to the necessary concentration while reading. Anything that stops the chaos of our thoughts and redirects our minds to something else can influence our stress levels. Reading can help us escape life’s pressures and compartmentalize the stress of reality from the freedom within a book.
2. Improve Brain Function
Studies have shown that regular reading habits can increase brainpower capacity, slow the rate of memory decline, enhance critical thinking skills, and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Science confirms that the exercise reading provides to the brain is teeming with healthful benefits.
3. Develop Empathy
Experiencing emotions through reading can help build resiliency, influence a reader’s ability to handle difficult situations, and encourage connections with others. When reading literary fiction, readers often learn to decipher other people’s thoughts and feelings better by developing an understanding of social skills, relationship dynamics, and emotional states. Developing empathy is an essential benefit for our mental health and relational well-being.
Reading is more than an academic task or engaging pastime. It is a productive habit that can boost your mood, improve your health, and expand your knowledge. Taking time to read regularly is an important part of a healthy lifestyle!
Here are several tips to make reading part of your everyday life:
Instead of going on social media, read during a normal scrolling session.
Start a routine. Read for ten minutes before bed each night or regularly enjoy your favorite drink while you read (morning coffee, afternoon soda, or evening cocktail).
Read books that intrigue your interests by their topic, message, author, or genre.
Research book recommendations and connect with other readers via book clubs, family and friends, or reading apps.
Reading to Learn, Heal, and Grow
"Some books leave us free and some books make us free." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am most intrigued by nonfiction authors because sharing personal stories requires courage, vulnerability, and confidence. Whether it’s a biography, memoir, self-help book, or Christian living content, I appreciate the advice and candor authors use to make their narratives relatable and engaging. I love hearing people’s stories, understanding different backgrounds, learning about others’ trials and triumphs, and gleaning wisdom from their life lessons. It makes me feel less isolated knowing that other people struggle and find ways to overcome hardship. Life isn’t easy nor always beautiful and clear; that’s why I enjoy reading non-fiction. Reading real-life stories of resiliency, heartbreak, perseverance, and misfortune makes my world feel a little more normal.
Lately, I’ve been interested in Christian literature. I enjoy gleaning biblical wisdom from the authors’ personal life experiences and professional expertise. Understanding scripture helps me apply biblical promises effectively to my own circumstances and influences my faith by separating God’s truth from my own negative views. What makes these books different from other nonfiction genres is their challenge for readers to learn, heal, and grow personally. Most Christian literature isn’t meant to just be entertaining but to teach readers how to improve their lives. They’re books that delve into practical life lessons with biblical applications to help restore broken, lost, and hardened hearts by the grace and love of Christ.
Here are three books that have grown my faith, healed my heart, and improved my view of self-worth:
“Forgiving What You Can’t Forget” by Lysa TerKeurst
My stomach somersaults whenever I hear this title: Forgiving What You Can’t Forget. Immediately, you know difficult emotions will be felt as you read Lysa’s story and discover her journey of forgiving hurts that will never be completely forgotten. Every chapter uncovers truths about the messy a road to forgiveness and reveals scriptural insight about healing and moving toward restoration. Lysa writes with authenticity and transparency, allowing readers to relate their own experiences through her life lessons, feel their personal pain, and discover God’s healing touch amidst the complex process of forgiveness.
This was a hard read that required me to pause for months before finishing it. It exposed many unhealed wounds from a past relationship and much resentment I held onto from past friendships. I initially struggled reading this book because I hadn’t realized the hurt I had harbored until I began to uncover my true feelings toward the people I loved who had broken my heart. I’m grateful that reading this book brought my anger and pain to light and gave me the tools to understand true forgiveness. This book is one that I plan to reread and gain even more healing as I progress on my own journey of forgiveness.
“The Lord is My Courage” by K.J. Ramsey
The Lord is My Courage is a powerful and insightful read. It details the complexity of faith, fear, and trauma and how the Lord is with us through it all. K. J. uses the verses of Psalm 23 as a guide for readers to understand the compassionate love of God and discover that our past heartbreaks do not condemn us from receiving the Lord's unmerited grace and mercy. If you have felt untangled by fear within your faith journey or have experienced trauma that has twisted your beliefs of God’s love, this book is for you!
I cannot praise this book enough! K. J.’s writing is stellar, and each sentence is spoken with such eloquent candor. Reading her book made me feel like I was sitting across the coffee shop table with her, listening to her story as I related my feelings to her own journey. Although I don’t relate specifically to her testimony, I did discover much about myself and the significant grasp fear has had on my life. This book was enlightening, uplifting, encouraging, insightful, and all-around incredible.
“Killing Comparison” by Nona Jones
Killing Comparison is a book every woman should read! With transparency and conviction, Nona discusses the heart of comparison issues and reminds readers of their true worth in Christ. Through the story of Jonathan (Kind Saul’s son and David’s BFF), Nona teaches readers that a heart confident in God’s love is what we must strive toward. It is a practical, relatable, and inspiring book!
This was a read that I immediately put into practice the lessons I was learning—even as I read it! I gained so much wisdom from this book. Nona's casual yet informative writing style made every point she discussed insightful and easy to understand. One chapter in particular, represented a lot of self-doubts I'd been experiencing, so I reread it and spent extra time journaling Nona's advice about reframing my thoughts from lies to truth. This book is packed with applicable nuggets of wisdom for every reader!
"You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive." – James Baldwin
Whether you take the first steps to include reading habits into your daily routines or begin reading literature that challenges you to learn and grow, I hope you choose to become a happy, healthy, and encouraged reader!
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