We know that reading is good for your health, but when working from home finding time to fit it into your daily schedule is difficult. Remote work leaves people with endless to-do lists that are impossible to leave at the office. Adding another item like reading to that list can seem daunting, especially if you are not a big reader in the first place. However, studies show that reading has many cognitive, emotional, and health benefits that non-readers are missing out on. No matter where you are on the like or dislike scale for reading, making time to read a little each day will add up. As with many new habits or routines, consistency is key. Ready to boost your brain power? Read on!

Benefits of Reading

Studies continue to prove the benefits of reading books for entertainment, both fiction and non-fiction. Reading fiction specifically, though, is shown to increase empathy and leaves readers more open-minded or less prone to “cognitive closure.” It strengthens memory, builds vocabulary, boosts creativity, and enhances concentration. Other benefits include

• Enhanced knowledge
• Stronger brain (readers have been shown to have thicker cortices which are responsible for higher order thinking)
• Lessens depression
• Can prevent age-related cognitive decline
• Reduces stress
• Can increase longevity

Some studies also show that adults who read regularly have a better quality of life and lead healthier, more productive lives. According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, about a quarter of American adults have not read a book or a part of a book in the past year. That means a quarter of adults are not enjoying the benefits of reading. Are you ready to join the readers now?

How to Fit Reading Into Your Work Day

At home there are numerous distractions from everyday chores to the temptation to binge watch the latest show. One way to build a reading habit is to look at a routine task that can be paired up with reading. This will build a habit. Look at your day’s schedule and see what task could be completed while reading. This could be running on a treadmill or eating breakfast. Or switch out scrolling through social media while eating lunch to reading the latest bestseller. The idea is to find a daily task and attach reading to it. If this becomes enjoyable to you, you might want to find ways to extend your reading time. Look at your morning and evening schedules to see if there is a thirty-minute or hour-long window that can be added onto bedtime or your morning routine. Once reading becomes embedded as a habit, it will be harder to let it slide.

Just about anyone can put aside 15 minutes for reading everyday. You don’t have to devote hours and hours. Start small, but be consistent. Reading for thirty minutes everyday will move you through a book fairly quickly. And if you’re enjoying the book, you might find yourself more willing and able to find extended time to read. A page at a time, a chapter at a time is all it takes to become a reader again and reap the benefits. Enjoy!