By J.D. Eddy, Editorial Editor
Reading was one of the most important parts of my life when I was a kid. I barely touched a book after my ninth grade year, but recently, I have started delving into book series that pique my interest.
Reading like I have been during the past few weeks has had some positive effects. It seems as though my cognitive function has improved. It hasn’t made me think more quickly or raised my intelligence to superhuman levels, but, I am no longer blanking out on small words that escape my grasp like a passing gust of wind.
Instead, my recollection is better. I seem to be sleeping better as well. I have been going to bed earlier and waking earlier.
When the brain is stimulated, it becomes more active, allowing you to focus on the subject you are dealing with at the moment. It improves literacy, helps you sleep, increases your general knowledge and reduces stress. Finally, reading can teach you empathy and how to relate more to others.
Like any muscle in the body, in order to grow, the brain needs to be exercised. This does not instill any physical growth in the brain. Rather, it increases the speed between firing neurons to allow for faster cognitive processes.
According to the Step Up For Mental Health website, “Studies have shown that reading as little as 6 minutes per day can improve your quality of sleep, reduce stress, and sharpen mental acuity.” I had to find some facts to back up the point I want to make. I would not be a good writer If I didn’t.
Countless articles have been written on the subject, and all of them say the same thing: reading helps you in many ways.
Also, reading a book that you are interested in is fun. It tends to show that you have certain things you care about in people.
This is where being empathetic comes in: showing your care for others and allowing yourself to adopt some of these positive traits to better your mental health.
Most of these attributes relate heavily to your own mental health. Having a good sleep schedule will make your positive emotions come to the surface, can help alleviate the symptoms of seasonal depression, improves your physical well-being and can encourage healthier eating habits.
We all aspire to be like an individual from these stories, whether it be a superhero, archer from a time long forgotten, a swordsman, a character from a famous anime or even someone like Jordan Belfort, better known as “the Wolf of Wall Street.”
We all want some of these qualities for ourselves, but the changes will not just happen overnight. You must have a strong sense of mental fortitude about yourself to change your personality or your life in general. These are all things that can be altered if you so please, but there is no need. You are perfect as-is.
Reading can have a positive impact on your life, even if it is only for six minutes per day. It has helped me a lot over the past week, but I am going to keep reading because I enjoy it. This activity I used to love has brought a certain sense of peace.
As always, if you want to voice your opinion in the newspaper, please write a letter to the Northwestern News. We would love to print what you want to say.