Brought to you by the Fox Creek Library!

Are you someone that always has a book on the go? Pat yourself on the back, because you’re already contributing to better emotional and mental health—from increasing memory and empathy to improving your sleep. Reading not your thing? It may be time to pick up a good book and clear your schedule to reap these surprising benefits from reading!

Better Sleep

Did you know that creating a routine that you follow every night before bed can improve your chances of getting restful sleep? As part of that ritual, consider reading a chapter or two of a book to help you unwind before bed. Make sure it’s a real book if possible- screen time isn’t recommended before bedtime.

Improved Vocabulary

Research suggests that children learn five to fifteen percent of their words from independent reading and therefore, children who read more are found to have larger vocabularies. The same is true for adults! Larger vocabularies come in handy when applying for jobs, attending college/university, and in everyday life!

Reduced Stress

If you think going for a walk or drinking a cup of tea is the best way to de-stress, think again. Reading for six uninterrupted minutes is found to be more beneficial- who knew!? A study conducted at the University of Sussex found that reading reduces stress by a whopping 68%! That far surpasses listening to music, drinking a cup of tea, or going for a walk! Next time you have a bad day, try taking six minutes to unwind with a book.

Helps Prevent Cognitive Decline

Do you want to keep your mind sharp and engaged as you grow older? Although research hasn’t proven conclusively that reading books prevents diseases like Alzheimer’s, studies show that seniors who read and solve math problems daily can maintain, and even improve their cognitive functioning! Sudoku anyone?!

The fantastic staff at the Fox Creek Library have made it easy to pick your next read- consider this your 2021 reading list! Check out their top picks to read for this year! Bypass the Netflix binge-watching and consider getting your main source of intellectual stimulation from… drum roll please…. A book!

“There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.”

-Frank Serafini