Reading is Exercise!

By Jen Schwartz, Briars & Brambles Books, Windham

Is reading exercise? YES!

The Oxford Dictionary defines exercise as a physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger. The brain may not be a muscle, but to keep it healthy and functioning at its best, you still need to exercise it. Research shows that reading triggers processes within the brain: First, the left frontal lobe of your brain activates to understand letters and words. Second, the anterior temporal lobe analyzes the flow of words and their tense. Finally, the limbic system activates emotions for you to accept and retain information. Have your ever felt so connected to a story that it’s as if you experienced it in real life? There’s a good reason why. When it is actively engaged, the same neurological regions are stimulated so the brain does not make a real distinction between reading about an experience and actually living it. Think about the response you have while you are reading a heart-pounding thriller or a steamy romance.

Like all exercise, you get the maximum benefit when you do it regularly. Many of my customers will say they have gotten out of the routine of reading and are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of getting back into it. Makes total sense. Think about it, you likely wouldn’t run a marathon or climb a mountain if you hadn’t been steadily building up to it. The best way to get out of a “reading slump” is to select a book that is short, entertaining & easy to read: mystery/thrillers and rom-coms are usually safe bets. I also recommend looking at books in the Young Adult section (I think Contemporary Fiction is a more suitable name for the genre) or collected/short stories. The goal is to choose a book you are going to look forward to reading. Perhaps, this a rationalization I give when I choose to pick up a book instead of a set of weights, however, given the heft of some hardcover books, reading may give you a good arm workout as well!

Looking for a good read? Visit Briars & Brambles Books at the corner of Route 296 and South Street in Windham--Jen or another member of her knowledgeable staff will help you pick out your next book.