Mental Fitness Consultant Vincent Mays always says that reading at least an hour a day keeps the stress away.

Reading a book can really reduce the stress levels in the body and improve one’s memory. This is not just a fun phrase Vincent Mays came up with. Several studies are available to back this up.

If you picked up a reading habit as a child then you already know many of the benefits of reading a book. There is so much knowledge in the world and we only get to scratch the surface in one lifetime. You can help motivate yourself by knowing that reading does improve mental health similar to the way writing does. Here are a few ways in which reading can make us sharper and healthier.

Increases Intelligence.

This one is pretty obvious and hence why it came first. The more books you read the more knowledgeable you become. Even reading the old fiction novels in your home can increase your vocabulary. This will eventually lead to higher test scores and deeper social conversations as well as a wider range of perspectives.

Helps you to de-stress.

Scientists carried out a study and found that compared to several forms of relaxation, reading ranked number 1 in helping one to distress. Yes that’s right it may be no fun when it’s your bills you’re reading but otherwise the action reduces the stress levels in your body. It ranked higher than meditation and listening to music.

It is a form of therapy.

Yes reading is one way in which you can improve your mental health because it can be used as a form of therapy. Whenever you read a book and feel you relate with the character or situation it helps to show you how you would have handled a situation better in your case. This is a form of silent therapy Vincent Mays enjoys introducing to individuals in his consulting work and has received excellent feedback.

Makes you Empathetic.

If you grew up reading books then you probably have more empathy to people than an ordinary person. Studies have shown that the more a person reads the more they get to know about different types of people or the way they live their lives. In fact this is one of the most important social skills. Reading helps us to relate to different people in life and make connections.

Improves your memory.

That’s right reading actually improves your memory power. The more you read the more you work and exercise the muscle memories in your brain. This will lead to less forgetting. SO if you have trouble finding your keys or wallet from time to time consider reading a book.

With the information mentioned above, Vincent Mays encourages individuals of all ages and reading levels to pick up a book today to begin their mental fitness journey.