So it's been almost 1.5 years since I've been reading daily without missing a single day. Wherever I go, I take my book with me so that I don't miss a single day and break my consistency and discipline towards reading. Baaki kisi mein dicipline ho ya na ho (Whether there is any discipline in anything or not) I am highly disciplined in reading books daily and also in writing. Even when I am traveling on a train, I don't give up on these two things. As I have been reading books for more than 2 years, I can assure you that the benefits of reading are amazing. Take inspiration from it and take the first step to start your reading. Let's go!
Expansion of knowledge Either you think of youself as knowledgeable or dumb. But Interestingly you are not any of them. Often People misinterpret knowledge. Many people mistakenly equate knowledge with simply knowing facts or having information about a certain topic, They think knowing something is knowledge but that's not true. It is actually a information (overview) it's not Knowledge. Knowledge goes beyond surface-level understanding. It means you know deeply about something for example (if you know what watch do and how to set time of watch that is information) whereas knowledge is two or three steps further when you have deep knowledge exactly how watch work, the inner workings of the machine. This deeper level of understanding is what constitutes knowledge. When you churn out the information and go deep down in something then you develop true knowledge and best source of knowledge is books. Reading books allows you to go beyond information and acquire a profound comprehension of the subject matter.
Stress relief Reading is one of the best things you can do to reduce stress, calm your mind, and slow down overthinking. Immersing yourself in a good book can distract you from stressors and provide an escape from unnecessary problems that you tend to overthink. I've problem of overthinking and today almost everyone is suffering from this and overthinking is also a cause of stress but there is two way to solve this and you guessed one right that is reading and other is writing. Pen down your thoughts on paper and as Anne frank said “paper has more patience than man” that is 100% true.
Enhanced Focus and Concentration In today's world our focus span has drastically reduced ( According to Wyzowl, human attention spans have decreased by almost 25% between 2000 and 2015. In 2000, the average human attention span was 12 seconds, but by 2015 it had decreased to 8.25 seconds.) Reading will help you increase your focus span and boost your memory. I've personally noticed reading can increase you focus span and makes you relax your brain and refresh it allowing you to focus more and Concentrate. If you read novel that is plus because it can keep you hook to the story and obviously when you are hooked to story means you are practicing Concentration.
You improve command over language
Improving command over a language is crucial. Reading helps in learning a language. When I say language, I mean our native language, which has become impure due to excessive use of abbreviations. Our language has deteriorated to the point where almost everyone curses and uses abbreviations, forgetting how to speak calmly and politely. Reading helps us understand how to use language effectively, not only for communication but also for accomplishing tasks, building networks, and improving our quality of life. You remember what kabir said “ ऐसी वाणी बोलिए मन का आपा खोए । औरन को शीतल करे आपहुं शीतल होय ।।Means: “Speak such words that soothe the mind, and in doing so, cool not only others but also yourself “ but are we following this old saying ? No, so when we read we came across good words, good language and learn. as result our outputs improves we start speaking with शालीनता (Complacency, Graciousness)
When you read biographies or stories, you start to develop a relationship with the characters and develop empathy towards them. This empathy begins to reflect in your real life, making you kinder towards others. You start to understand how someone might feel in a particular situation by placing yourself in their shoes, gaining a different perspective on thinking.this newfound understanding fosters a sense of connection, bridging gaps in communication and fostering a more compassionate and inclusive mindset. It allows you to gain a fresh perspective on life.
Boosts Creativity Reading is the best way to boost your creativity and creative thinking. Books are the best source of ideas as well as knowledge. When you read anything, not just books, you are actually consuming great ideas, and that later reflects in your work. You become more creative than usual and start thinking in a creative way, creating amazing stuff. Especially if you are a content creator or a student, reading daily can be the best thing you can do to enrich your mind with creativity.
Deep sleep For the well functioning of your brain or mind, one very important thing that is needed is sleep, which most of us today are lacking. When you read, Reading can have a calming effect on the brain and improve sleep quality. If you are a student, you can relate to the fact that when you start reading, you start feeling sleepy, right? And it can actually be a good way to get a good sleep. So why not make a habit of reading a book before going to bed? I personally do this daily; it has become part of my routine. And you should also make reading a part of your routine to get good sleep. But don't misunderstood the real message here, always remember you are not reading book to get sleep but it's plus point of reading.
These are the 7 benefits of reading. And trust me, starting a reading habit can actually be the best decision you will ever make. Well, the decision reminded me that reading can actually improve your decision-making skills, so count it as the 8th benefit. When you read, you learn from others' mistakes and avoid repeating the same mistakes, making well-informed decisions. So, I hope you are going to begin your reading habit from tonight and improve your life. One more thing, it's not necessary to read a lot, but one or two pages a day could be enough to start a habit. However, maintaining consistency is necessary. I can write it on stamp paper that you will be so proud of yourself. The sense of pride and accomplishment you will get after a year will be worth it. And the bonus benefit you get with reading is you can flex and Flaunt among your friends, and impress other. (Well woh sab karna mat ;)
Hope you like reading and thanks for your time :)