I think you’ll be surprised at the amount of time you spend reading. I didn’t say reading books—I said reading: billboards, labels on cans and packages, newspapers and magazines, recipes and instructions, letters, junk snail mail, traffic signs, bills and invoices, blogs, and the big one—emails.

There’s hardly a minute in your waking hours when you’re not reading something.

I trust that much of your reading brings stress into your life. But books. Books are stress relievers.

Studies confirm that reading for pleasure reduces stress and restores feelings of wellbeing—and reading for pleasure works better and faster than listening to music or sipping a warm beverage.

A University of Minnesota article, , suggests three stress relieving tips:

1. The book you choose doesn’t have to be on any “best-seller” list. The important thing is that the subject matter has captured your interest and will provide a space for your mind to relax every day.
2.  Reading only helps reduce your stress if you pick something you enjoy that won’t upset you. Reading the news may not be the best choice if it makes you feel angry or helpless. Pick a novel where you can escape into another world. Or read about an activity you enjoy—a hobby, travel, cooking.
3.  Take note of how you feel after your reading break. Have you been able to let go of some of your stressors?

Sound-mind.org, , gives this advise:

• Be Patient – If you feel you have a hard time concentrating due to prolonged stress, anxiety, or depression, it’s okay. The best thing you can do is be patient with yourself. When people struggle with anxiety or depression, they are usually very distracted by their anxious, depressive thoughts. You want to look at your reading experience as a practice opportunity for improving your reading skills.
• Read Out Loud – Another great tip to help reduce stress and increase your reading skills is to read to others out loud.
• Make Special Time Each Day – Take the time each day to plan your “deeper” reading exercises. A great time for reading is when you are not stressed for time or pressured to get it done.
• Read Throughout The Day – Okay, so this may sound difficult, especially if you are busy at work or home; However, knowing that it only takes 6 minutes to make a huge difference in your stress level, why not give it a try?

An Emory University study demonstrated that novel reading enhances brain connectivity and improves brain function. Professor Gregory Berns is quoted as saying, “The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist.” Positive changes “persisted the mornings after the readings as well as for five days after participants completed the novel.”

Other studies give evidence, in addition to relieving stress, book reading heightens empathy, improves students’ test scores, slows the onset of dementia, and makes people more active and aware citizens.

Perhaps your Readers and Writers Book Club membership is more valuable than you thought because the club creates an opportunity to share reading book benefits in a community of book enthusiasts where Every Reader is a Friend and Every Author is Approachable.