21 Reasons Why Reading Will Make You A Happier Person

You know how your teachers and parents always told you to read and learn in school?

Well, they were right; reading is actually fun and cool, not just obligatory for high school graduation. It will make you a better person on so many levels and you’ll have fun while doing it.

Here are 21 reasons why it’s the best, most productive hobby you could ever have.

1. Forget about your daily routine.

Unfortunately, life isn’t always like the movies and can sometimes be monotonous. There’s nothing that will transport you away from the mundane minutiae of your routine better than a book.

2. Experiences.

You are able to experience places without even traveling. You can learn about different cultures, people and places. Historical context will come alive as your eyes dance across the pages of a novel.

3. Develop your imagination and creativity.

Your brain stretches as you create pictures in your mind. Once again, those pictures are unique, personal and may serve as inspiration for your job, school assignments and everything else.

4. Cheap entertainment.

Well, it's true. You can literally read for free.

5. You become a smarty-pants.

Reading expands your brain and gives your creativity a chance to come alive. It improves your writing skills and vocabulary, which is great because nothing’s more attractive than intelligence.

6. Topic of discussion.

I’ve used books to lead great group discussions an infinite number of times.

7. Inspiration.

Your favorite book quotes will always serve you with inspiration.

8. You’re already clued in when books become movies.

Lean over and whisper, “I bet he does this...” in the ear of your movie companion and watch in amazement when you’re right... Nostradamus, who?

9. It improves your writing.

It’s no secret that reading improves your grammar and vocabulary, which can improve your grades and communication skills.

10. Reading is a versatile form of entertainment.

You can do it on the train, in waiting rooms, on the beach and pretty much anywhere else your heart desires.

11. Reading expands beyond books.

Newspapers, blogs and online articles are just a few examples.

12. Reading is fun.

It can be relaxing, funny, exciting, thrilling and much, much more.

13. A distracting mood lifter.

In a bad mood? You don’t necessarily need a psychologist; you need to read better books. Your favorite book will help you to forget about your problems for a while.

14. Self-improvement.

Through reading, you will begin to understand the world better and in a much deeper way.

You will begin to have a greater understanding of topics that interest you.

For example, how to build self-confidence, how to make better plans before taking action, how to memorize things more efficiently and so on -- all of these modes of self-improvement stem from reading.

Through reading, you create a structured path toward understanding and taking better actions in the future.

15. Improve understanding.

The more you read, the more you understand. Reading increases understanding for the rules of life, which will help you better adapt to society.

To play well in a game, you first need to proficiently understand the rules.

16. Preparation for action.

Before you take action on anything, where should you seek help and guidance? Reading is an essential way to help yourself.

In today’s world, getting reviews and feedback from other people can greatly impact your subsequent decisions and the pros and cons of each potential choice.

Read about how to cook a meal, how to play chess, or where to take a family trip. Read the menu before ordering food and read the manual before using a new gadget.

These can all help you become more prepared for whatever is ahead of you.

17. Communication tools.

Communication is the most important tool that reading can transmit. As you read, you understand more and thus, can communicate better with people.

Communication is one of the most important tools to use each day to connect with each other. If you don’t read, you can’t even connect with the world and what people are discussing. Reading connects you with the world.

18. You get to read other people’s minds.

While reading, you can actually see how characters think, act and feel. This will help you to understand how real people think, act and feel. It’s like a superpower.

19. Boost imagination and creativity.

Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, which reflects that nothing is impossible in this world.

Through reading, you explore different angles to things you already know and you understand how different actions lead to different results

20. You will date smarter people.

Don’t we all want to date smart people who make us laugh and who inspire us? Beauty comes from within. It is a cliché thought, but a true one.

21. Boost your self-esteem.

Reading makes you a better person and helps you to better understand yourself and the world around you.

Thus, it helps you to become more confident in your abilities and able to communicate efficiently with the people around you.

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