Reading is an essential part of life. Signs and letters surround our environment, no matter the place.
But reading can take a toll on our brains, too. Doomscrolling, also known as browsing or constantly scrolling through negative news, can harm a brain’s processing.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, conducted between late January and early February 2021, 23% of American adults have not read a book, digitally or physically, in approximately a year.
This makes me wonder: Are there any benefits for reading, if some people don’t read?
Since COVID-19 had started, many believed that the time to relax was imminent. This also meant new hobbies to find. Playing with pets, spending time outside, or using one’s artistic liberties by oneself, were all common hobbies during 2020, and some even remain in our lives.
I myself have undertaken the hobby of reading, and it’s nearly become an addiction. It expands one’s imagination, and makes a person ponder new worlds.
A study by Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist in New York City, explains how reading creates neurons in the brain. Neurons are important for the brain because they help us think clearly. Reading online also has similar effects.
The brain isn’t muscle, but it is an organ. Keeping up with the news every morning, reading books, newspapers, obtaining a library card, are all starter points to begin an adventure toward a healthier brain.
People may even thank themselves later for reading. Our brains are a blessing.
Brianna Castonguay, Jay
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