You have probably been told how important it is to read, especially as a youngster. But did you ever wonder why? Sure, reading comes with a slew of benefits such as a broadened vocabulary and encouraging imagination, but could it also help with success? The truth of the matter is that reading books can help you be successful.
Some people are natural book lovers, and you can’t get them away from a good story. Others, not so much. Either way, if you have ever wondered if there was a correlation between reading books and success, this article is breaking down the top 10 reasons why reading books can help you become successful.
Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates all have two things in common – they are avid readers, and they are huge successes. In fact, Warren Buffet is known to read 500+ pages of a
Book per day. And while you might not be a billionaire overnight, reading books can certainly
help you in your journey to success. Here are the top 10 reasons why: (Source: InvestFourMore)
Reading a Good Book Can Lower Stress Levels
One thing that hinders almost everyone from achieving success is stress. And in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can seem almost impossible to avoid it. The good news is there are many ways to lessen your stress – and one of them is reading.
Reading promotes imagination. When you’re sucked into a great story, your mind will wander
to somewhere exciting and stress-free. All of a sudden, those important meetings, long to-do lists, and fights you had with your friend earlier that morning will seem like a blur as you escape to your subconscious for a while.
Reading Promotes Better Sleep
Have you ever met someone who said they got a ton accomplished with little to no sleep the
night before? How about someone who was up till 2 AM and then tossed and turned until the alarm went off? No, that never happens. That’s why a good night’s sleep is essential. But
achieving great sleep is a major issue for most people.
That’s where reading comes into play. Medical professionals, such as those from SCL Health, suggest turning off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime and reading a book. And it’s true.
Reading is an excellent way to relax and drift off into sleep. So put down the electronics and pull out your favorite book if you want to wake up ready for the next day.
Reading Improves Focus
Have you ever met a book that you haven’t been able to put down? Well, while you are getting
all of the other wonderful advantages of reading a good book, you’re also improving your focus. That’s because avid book readers can spend hours, or even days wrapped up in a good book. This type of enhanced focus can be used in your daily life to encourage you toward success.
You Can Be Encouraged by the Book’s “Hero”
Numerous books have incredible heroes. These heroes are successful, and many of them are
leaders. Reading about them can certainly encourage you to become a “hero” in real life.
You may not be able to take down evil villains and restore the good of humankind, but you can
reflect on the main character’s personality and characteristics and adapt them to your real life.
Reading Improves Patience and Decision-Making Skills
According to Psychology Today, people make at least 35,000 decisions in a single day. That’s
an incredible amount. Unfortunately, though, many of these decisions are made in haste. Most
people tend to make decisions irrationally and impulsively. In turn, these impulsive actions can
be detrimental to their success.
So, how can reading help? Well, by simply reading around 30 minutes per day, you
subconsciously improve your memory and concentration. You also improve how you process information. These learned behaviors will be adapted into your life as you are readily able to process information and make good, rational decisions.
You Are Encouraged to Set Goals
Whether you’re a book lover or can’t stand the thought of reading, there’s one thing all readers
have in common – setting goals. A booklover might set out to read two chapters per night,
while another might only be able to conquer 30 minutes of reading at a time in the beginning.
Whatever your goal is, you’re encouraging yourself to make them. This type of thought process can be used in all areas of life.
Reading Makes You Smarter
There is a reason behind the infamous school reading logs – reading makes you smarter.
Teachers often encourage students to read at least 60 minutes per week. This isn’t because
they want to torture their students and deprive them of video games. It’s because reading truly does make you more intelligent.
Think about it – when you are reading, you will be introduced to new words and situations you may have never come across before. These elements of reading encourage your brain to grow.
Then, you can use your new-found knowledge to help you with your success story.
Reading Helps Your Emotional Intelligence
If you want to be successful, there’s more to it than being “smart.” You must also be
emotionally intelligent. Being emotionally intelligent means that you can connect with your
emotions and the emotions of other people. These characteristics will allow you to be confident
and have a healthy relationship with yourself, as well as promote great relationships with those around you.
Reading Keeps Your Mind Sharp
Successful people know how important it is to keep their body and mind in tip-top shape. When
people think of things to keep themselves alert and youthful, they think of going to the gym or getting a facial. While these things are important for the body and relaxation of the mind, what
about education? What about keeping the mind sharp and ready to take on challenges?
Reading is an excellent way to keep your mind sharp. It helps to “exercise” your mind. And
just as exercised muscles start to bulge in your arms and legs, your brain will start to bulge (in
the healthiest way, of course). A smart mind can take on almost anything and help you to
achieve overall success.
Reading About Successful People Can Help You To Succeed
Don’t be fooled by those books that have catchphrases like “Succeed in 7 Days!” or “Here is the
Key to Success!” Those are mostly by people who want to make a quick buck. They share a few
tips and tricks, but it’s typically nothing substantial. There’s no quick scheme to being successful, period.
But reading about successful people can be encouraging. Sure, you don’t want to follow in
their footsteps entirely. But doing simple things – such as picking up a book a few times a week – can be enough to help you in your journey toward success. It is also nice to hear about how
many times people have failed, so you can be encouraged to get back up and try again when you experience hardship and failure.
(Sources: TheCeoMagazine, LifeHack, and AttleBoroLibrary)
Final Thoughts
Reading books comes with a slew of benefits. It helps keep your mind at peak performance
while also ensuring you’re relaxed and ready for the day ahead. Perhaps one of the biggest advantages is the encouragement toward success. If you haven’t already used reading to
improve your life, start now. You truly have nothing to lose.
