...screen invasion!

 

YIKES! screens are all around us! its an invasion! tvs, computers, nooks, tablets, i phones, i pads, i pods, pea pods. no place is safe! theyre everywhere! ...even in our beds. ACK!                                     AND...theyre replacing books! people are reading less and less because theyve been sucked in by those addicting screens. out of 1,000 adults in the u.s. 28 % havent read a book in the past year and a lot of folks who started books didnt finish them. last year 80% of u.s. families didnt buy or read a book.

 

who cares about reading a book anyway? whats so great about curling up in a cozy place and reading a good book??? 

 

well...theres plenty of reasons to put away those screenies and read a good book.

 

1. YOURE LIKELY TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY

research shows reading a lot makes you smarter. it helps you retain knowledge you can use now and later in life. reading fills up your brain with new info that can come in handy when you need it.

 

2. READING CAN HELP PREVENT ALZHEIMERS

a recent study showed people who read regularly throughout their life are 2 1/2 times less likely to get diagnosed with alzheimers later in life. reading wont stop it but the study shows a relationship between reading and prevention.

 

3. READING IMPROVES YOUR MEMORY

when you read you create new memories & exercise memory muscles. every new memory makes new synapses (connections between nerve cells that carry info by impulses from one neuron to the next) and strengthens the ones you already have and keeps your memory sharp.

 

4. READING IS THERAPEUTIC

reading can help relieve stress & anxiety or just everyday worries. studies show its better than listening to music, walking or watching tv or other oldies. it took the people in the study just 6 minutes to relax (measured by heart rate and muscle tension) once they started reading. it doesnt matter what book you read. whats important is you lose yourself in it.

 

5. READING CAN HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER 

reading is a good way to do what experts recommend & thats a regular routine to calm your mind & body so you can be ready to sleep. but...don't read a book thats a page-turner or youll be up all night. electronic & bright lights tells the brain to wake up so its better to read in a dim light & not from your desktop. kindle white can adjust to dim.

 

6. READING EXPANDS YOUR VOCABULARY

the more you read the more words you see & the more you read these words the more youre likely to understand them. and...you can always look them up in the dictionary. the more words you learn the more likely your are to use them in your writing and speaking. bonus: youll sound soooo smart!

 

7. READING HELPS YOUR BRAIN STAY SHARP

plan now for old age. research shows that a lifetime of reading keeps your brain sharp as you age. it slows down memory loss. people who exercise their minds through reading & other stimulating activities had a 32% lower rate of mental decline compared to their peers who did average mental activities. the ones who had little activity declined 48% faster.

 

8. READING FICTION INCREASES EMPHASIZING WITH OTHERS

a study showed that reading about possible realities & fictional story lines can cause you to have new feelings & emotions. research in the netherlands showed that "people who were 'emotionally transported' by a work of fiction experienced boosts in empathy."

 

9. READING CAN GET YOU AHEAD IN YOUR CAREER & LIFE IN GENERAL

reading opens up doors & shows you things you didnt know about or consider. it can help you chose a career or get ahead in your job. honor wilson-fletcher said that reading "opens doors & makes life easier, so at the end of the day it doesn't matter what you read. What's more, it really can make you feel good!"

 

10. READ BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO READ!!!

thats is the best reason of all!

 

so...if you havent read for a while...put down those addicting screenies and grab a good book (e-reader if you just cant go cold turkey) and...read...read...read. its good for you!

 

have screenies taken over your life? any other good reasons to put them down and read a book?

 

...hugs from lenny

 

references: scientific facts about reading books ... health benefits of reading