Reading was among the most popular ways that people managed their stress levels during the pandemic, according to our research.

Our 2021 Public Perceptions Survey found that 43% of people in the UK found reading helped ease their stress levels during the third national lockdown last year.

Our member says there are a number of reasons why reading can be good for the mind, body and soul.

鈥淵ou may underestimate the benefits of reading,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t can enrich and change your life in ways you鈥檇 never imagine.

鈥淩eading benefits your聽physical, mental and spiritual health, and those benefits can last a lifetime.

鈥淭hey begin in early childhood and continue through our senior years. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 never too late to begin taking advantage of the benefits waiting for you in the pages of a good book.鈥�

Reduces stress

The results of our 2021 Public Perceptions Survey illustrate that people use reading to manage their stress levels.

And Hansa pointed to which聽measured the effects of yoga, humour, and reading on the stress levels of students in health science programs in America.

鈥淭he study found that 30 minutes of reading lowered聽blood pressure,聽heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress just as effectively as yoga and humour did,鈥� says Hansa.

Improves mental health

One of the key benefits of reading, says Hansa, is that it can improve our mental health.

鈥淛ust like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy,鈥� says Hansa, who has written 10 wellbeing books for adults and children.

As well as helping you relax, she says, reading can bring about inner peace and tranquility.

鈥淩eading聽books on spiritual topics聽can lower blood pressure and bring about a sense of calm,鈥� she adds. 鈥淩eading self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from certain mood disorders and mild mental illnesses.鈥�

Eases symptoms of depression

People with聽depression聽often feel isolated and estranged, says Hansa.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a feeling books can sometimes lessen," she says.

鈥淩eading fiction can allow you to temporarily escape your own world and become swept up in the imagined experiences of the characters, while non-fiction self-help books can teach you strategies that may help you manage symptoms.鈥�

Improves memory and focus

We can be easily distracted by work, family and screens which can cause stress levels to rise and affect our ability to focus.

鈥淲hen you read a book, your attention is focused on the story and you can immerse yourself in the fine details,鈥� says Hansa.

鈥淩eading involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your reading ability matures, those networks get stronger and more sophisticated.

鈥淓very new memory you create forges new synapses, or brain pathways,聽and strengthens existing ones, which assists in short-term memory recall as well as stabilising moods.鈥�

Night-time routine

Reading as part of a night-time routine can help with sleep. It also helps people who lead busy lives to make reading part of their day.

鈥淔or best results, you may want to choose a print book rather than reading on a screen since the light emitted by your device could keep you awake and lead to other unwanted health outcomes,鈥� says Hansa.

Other benefits

Hansa says that other benefits of reading include better writing skills, strengthened analytical skills, and increased knowledge.

鈥淧ick up that book that鈥檚 been lying on your shelf gathering dust, settle down, get comfortable, open it, start reading and begin your journey to a more enriched life,鈥� she says.