Written by: Grace Jones, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
With the onset of winter, is your idea of heaven settling down with steaming mug of hot chocolate and a good book? If so, you’ll also be changing your brain!
From Bill Gates to Barack Obama, from Warren Buffet to Oprah Winfrey (and her famous Book Club), many of the smartest and most accomplished people credit their success to a regular and prolific reading habit.
Your brain doesn’t start off wired for reading, and as children it is something that you have to learn to do. While you may think that it’s just for learning facts and accumulating knowledge, research has discovered that reading doesn’t just fill your brain with information, reading can change your perspectives and decisions, and can also change the brain itself.
When you dive into a book, you're not simply decoding words. You're activating different parts of your brain, as it lights up and generates an intricate pattern of connections, while the limbic system sparks a flow of emotions that reverberate long after you’ve turned that last page.
Scientists call it neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to rewire itself.
Reading plays an important part in creating new neural pathways, that expand your mental horizons. It also creates white matter, which makes communication within the brain more efficient, and changes the way your brain works for the better.
As John Barton (a Canadian poet) said “You can never step into the same book twice, because you are different each time you read it.”
What does reading do for our brains?
1. It provides cognitive stimulation
Not only does regular reading help make you smarter, but it can actually increase your brainpower. Just like going for a jog gives your cardiovascular system, a workout, regular reading improves memory function by exercising your brain. Reading is a mentally demanding task that requires focus and concentration. It involves many processes, stimulating cognitive function and enhancing your problem-solving skills. Deep reading, the kind that happens when you curl up with a great book for an extended amount of time, also builds the ability to focus and grasp complex ideas.
2. It helps develop empathy
Ever felt a deep connection to a story, as though you had lived it firsthand? There's a compelling reason behind this type of experience – your brain genuinely perceives it as real. When you immerse yourself in a book, the brain doesn't differentiate between reading about an event and living through it. The same neurological regions are activated whether you are absorbed in the narrative on paper or actively living it.
It's an experience in virtual reality!
Literary fiction, especially, has the power to help the reader understand what others are thinking by reading about other people's emotions. It encourages you to take the perspective of characters who are very different to you, which boosts your EQ.
Barack Obama said, "when I think about how I understand my role as citizen...the most important stuff I've learned I think I've learned from novels."
3. It increases the capacity of your working memory
Reading has a remarkable capacity to enhance memory. It uses a multitude of brain functions, including visual and auditory processes, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and more.
Ongoing research conducted at Haskins Laboratories for the Science of the Spoken and Written Word suggests that, unlike passive activities such as watching or listening to media, reading allows the brain precious time to pause, reflect, process, and immerse itself in the unfolding narrative.
This heightened mental activity, rather like weightlifting for muscles, keeps the memory sharp.
4. It expands your attention span
Reading not only refines memory but also extends attention spans. The most typical narrative structure found in books is sequential, stories come with a beginning, middle, and end. This structure encourages the brain to adopt a sequential thinking pattern.
According to neuroscientist Susan Greenfield, author of “Mind Change”, (a book about how digital technologies are changing our brains), the internet has increased users' short-term memory and multitasking abilities. However, that has the potential to fragment our attention, a drawback not shared by the focused act of reading. Reading a novel is usually done linearly, rather than sporadically jumping from tab to tab, and involves thinking about the information in front of you more slowly. This deliberate, measured approach increases the capacity for longer attention spans, particularly for children.
If you’re inspired by these amazing benefits, here are just a few ways to bring reading (back) into your life
Create a comfortable space and designate it as your reading ‘nook’. A space just for reading that is welcoming, with a cosy chair and good lighting.
Be Realistic about setting achievable reading goals. You may want to go for a certain number of books a month, or dedicate a specific amount of time each week. With the relaxation benefits that come with reading, getting into the habit of reading just before bed works really well for many people.
Join a Book Club – There are lots of book clubs, both on line and in-person, and they are great at providing a sense of community and encouraging regular reading. I joined a group during lockdown and found it was a really positive way to get me to explore different genres that, left to myself, I wouldn’t have tried. It’s a chance for stimulating conversations and meeting other bibliophiles!
Use Technology Mindfully. If your preferred format is electronic, keep in mind that too much screen time (especially before bed) may not be helpful in dropping off to sleep. Ideally aim for a combination of physical and electronic books depending on time of day and where you are.
Reading can be enjoyable, entertaining and, as far as your brain is concerned, transformative. Now is the perfect time to do more of it! Wishing you exciting adventures and enriching journeys as you dive into another great book or your next Brainz article!
Grace Jones, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Grace Jones is a former freelance IT Consultant who is very familiar with the stress of working in demanding environments. Ten years ago she chose to study hypnotherapy to better understand how our thoughts influence our behaviour, habits and results. She went on to create the RISE Resilience system, designed to help people understand and effectively manage the increasing levels of stress, anxiety and burnout that so many are struggling with in this post-COVID world. Today she is an enthusiastic speaker, trainer and breathing coach ‒ "Training your brain to work for you..."
