A new study has found that reading for just 30 minutes a day can extend life expectancy, regardless of gender, wealth, education, or health. The research, highlighted in BBC Radio 4's Just One Thing podcast, suggests that leisure reading of stories, rather than newspapers or magazines, offers unique longevity benefits.
Reading has also been identified as the most effective way to lower stress, according to the Rest Test, a large international survey. It beat other relaxing activities such as being in nature, listening to music, or doing nothing. Professor Raymond Mar from York University, Canada, explains that reading can be a calming, meditative experience by focusing attention outward.
The benefits extend to mental health, with studies showing that reading alone or in groups can reduce symptoms of depression for up to three years. Additionally, reading fiction activates large areas of the brain, including sensory regions, and can improve social skills by helping readers understand others' perspectives.
Professor Mar notes that enjoyment is key: “As long as what you're reading engages you, interests you and is about people, then it's likely to have all these kinds of potential benefits.” He recommends cultivating reading as a hobby rather than a chore.
