You have no doubt heard that reading is good for you, it’s common sense. However, most of us read a lot less than we actually want to. Whether it is a new year’s resolution to do so, an old hobby you would like to get back into the habit of, or a skill you would like to inculcate in your child, starting to read at any age is extremely good for you.

Research shows that elderly patients who read books are two and a half times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and have a lower risk of developing dementia. It didn’t matter if the patients began reading early or late in life.

Another research study found that those who read books for an average of 30 minutes per day, lived longer than those who did not read books. This is because reading books is an immersive process that helps maintain cognitive status. Vocabulary, reasoning, concentration, and critical thinking skills are improved by exposure to books.

Interestingly, research also shows that voluntary reading, i.e. reading that we do out of the genre of our work or academic requirements, like fiction and novels as opposed to periodicals and newspapers etc, is more cognitively advantageous. This is because reading about something and actually seeing/experiencing it activate the same regions in the brain. This allows for an increased ability to understand thoughts and emotions of others as well as social contexts, improving empathy and social perception and skills.

Finally, reading a paper book is better than reading on a phone, tablet or laptop screen, largely due to no exposure to the lights from screens that interfere with sleep patterns. Reading a good book can reduce stress levels in the body and improve sleep as it provides cognitive engagement with material which help us move away from negative or troubling thoughts.

People who read books regularly are on average more satisfied with life, happier, and more likely to feel that the things they do in life are worthwhile. Bibliotherapy is a tool often used by psychologists and psychiatrists as a therapeutic approach.

Here’s what you can do to make picking up that book easier:

Make it part of the routine- Keeping a newspaper at the table rather than scrolling highlights on the phone, picking up a book from your nightstand before bedtime, reading a bedtime story to your child.

Set specific goals- Finishing a book within a certain amount of time (a week, a month) or reading for a certain amount of time each day (30 minutes or one hour or a chapter a day). Time spent reading is time well invested.

Anything counts- It does not have to be the classic literature or a heavy research paper. Read what you enjoy. A romantic novel, a children’s book, works of fiction, re-reading an old favourite etc. Any voluntary reading that is enjoyable is more likely to make the habit last and is good for your brain too.