Sports Hub Library is is the centre of sports knowledge for the community at large, as well as sports professionals. Photo by Singapore Sports Hub.
Were you one of those who curled up with a good book as a form of escapism or learning in the last two years? With Singaporeans going back to enjoying pre-pandemic leisure activities such as group outings, sports and travel, all this should not come at the expense of reading, which has been shown to have powerful benefits for our well-being.
Read on to discover what they are.
You feel less stressed
According to studies, people who read reported feeling less lonely and more relaxed, comparedto when they watched TV or used social media. Readers who were depressed also saw a marked improvement in their symptoms.
Besides providing a cure for boredom, reading provides enjoyment and pleasure as you escape into a different world or another person’s perspective. So, instead of dwelling on a bad day at work, fly off into outer space or explore ancient Greece through the mental diversion reading offers.
Your brain gets a good workout
Fitness is more than just lifting weights or running. It’s also about shaping your mental abilities and training the brain to form more connections, improving one’s memory and concentration. The best exercise for this? Reading.
Neural connections increase both during and after a reading session, especially in the brain’s somatosensory cortex — the part that reacts to physical stimuli such as pain and movement. So if you find yourself more sensitive to and aware of the world around you, it’s not just skin-deep — it’s a sharpened reflex, thanks to reading.
You enrich your knowledge
It’s true that students who read regularly score better in exams, but what about adults? The mind gets exposed to a dizzying array of new ideas, perspectives and information during reading. Whether you choose to indulge in a biography or a sport-strategy manual, you’ll find that your reasoning and logic are strengthened, and having a wider range of references will make you a more flexible and creative thinker.
You sleep better with a good book
Reading can improve sleep – and not because you end up nodding off in the middle of a dull chapter. While many of us are guilty of scrolling through social media or other content on mobile devices before bedtime, studies have shown that these activities are not good for sleep duration or quality.
Instead, reading a book as part of your bedtime routine can gently ease you from a wakeful, energetic state into a drowsy, relaxed setting – perfect for drifting off into a restful night’s sleep.
You develop empathy and social skills
In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to forget about other people’s needs. Reading slows us down and makes us consider what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes. After all, as a saying goes, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.”
Fiction can benefit one’s emotional intelligence, according to studies. Research has shown that reading fiction hones our ability to gauge the motivations and intentions of other people, and teaches us to navigate difficult situations like socially-awkward moments or grey areas of morality. Thinking about our favourite characters – or understanding why a villain behaves the way he does – can offer valuable new insights into the people around us, as well as ourselves.
RECOMMENDED READS
Librarians at Sports Hub Library share three books from the Sports, Health and Wellness genre.
For Adults and Teens
The Everything Guide to Meditation for Healthy Living
by David B Dillard-Wright and Ravinder Jerath
Meditation has been shown to reduce common ailments like anxiety and high blood pressure, as well as improve concentration and memory. This book offers useful tips on the right breathing techniques, visualisation and imagery, and how to make time for meditation – even on busy days.
Sleep: A Groundbreaking Guide to the Mysteries, The Problems, and the Solutions
by Carlos H. Schenck
Written by a prominent sleep doctor and researcher, this book examines the causes and treatments of sleep problems ranging from common ones like insomnia and sleep apnoea, to rarer disorders such as sleep paralysis and sleep violence. Knowing more about this mysterious but essential activity just might help you snooze better at night.
For Juniors
Exercise and Play
by Robyn Hardyman
Get the little ones excited about exercise and active play by reading this book with them. Teaching them the benefits of staying active will set them up for a lifetime of success when it comes to exercise, fitness and health.
