The Joy of Reading In Retirement.
Research has shown that reading is one of the most popular hobbies in retirement.
In fact a recent survey from Statista claimed that reading is the most popular hobby for UK retirees, and the second most popular for US retirees.
The survey states that 59 per cent of UK retirees and 42 percent of US retirees class reading as one of their hobbies.
It is clear then that reading is very a popular pastime in retirement.
Let’s explore why people should read and the kind of books we should all be reading more of.
What Are The Benefits Of Reading?
There are number of benefits of reading including;
Increasing our knowledge of the world.
Reducing stress levels.
It can increase empathy with, and understanding of, other people.
Reading can improve relationships.
It is also a great form of mental workout.
Why Retirees Should Read More.
As mentioned above reading can increase our knowledge of the world in which we live.
For example, there are numerous newspapers, magazines and on line news feeds that can keep people up to date with current affairs, emerging trends and technology.
This helps to keep retirees up to date with events in the wider world.
This can be particularly important given that most retires will no longer have the word of work to keep them up to date.
Colleagues with varying interests were often a good way of finding out new things, so reading a wide range of subjects can help retirees to stay connected, stay curious and stay contemporary.
It’s good to stay interested in the world even if you think that you are not interesting to the world!
Reading Can Reduce Stress.
Although many of us might instinctively feel that reading reduces our stress levels it is good to know that research has proven this to be the case.
A study by University of Sussex researchers in 2009 found that reading for as few as six minutes reduced stress by as much as 68 percent.
The leading researcher Dr David Lewis stated “Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation”.
The researchers also found that reading reduced stress better, and more quickly, than other methods like listening to music or going for a walk.
Reading before bedtime helps to relax the body and can aid a good night’s sleep.
What Should Retirees Read?
Although reading for educational purposes can be beneficial it’s interesting to note that much of the research focuses on the benefits of reading novels.
In retirement there is often less need to keep up to date with the latest industry trends, policies and procedures.
This allows for more time for reading purely for pleasure rather than business.
Novels are an ideal way to do this.
Novels allow us to experience different lives, thoughts and belief systems through the characters portrayed and the places in which they are set.
They allow us to visit far off places, seek adventure or danger in a safe environment.
Novels can be seen as the minds flight simulator or time machine.
By reading about different characters with different morals, opinions and ways of seeing the world the reader can question their own though patterns.
This can help develop empathy toward others in day to day living.
It has also been shown that reading novels leads to a greater mental workout than reading factual books.
The reader has to imagine the scenes set by the author, fill in the gaps and bring the words to life.
Two people reading the same novel would no doubt imagine the places and people described in totally different ways.
The reader has to indulge in what is called ‘the theory of mind’ whereby they have to imagine the thoughts of the characters.
By trying to imagine the protagonists thought patterns and feelings the reader really does get inside somebody else’s head. This allows the reader to really feel what it’s like to be another person.
Research has also shown that when we read about a character performing an act, such as running for example, the parts of our brain that we would use if actually running become activated.
It is almost as if the reader is acting out the events in their mind.
In summary, reading is an ideal pastime for retirees.
It is cheap, safe and accessible.
Reading can keep people up to date with events via factual books but can also expand their horizons, trigger the imagination, and give the brain a greater workout by reading novels.
All this in an activity that has been proven to reduce stress as well.
What could be better!
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