How Reading Tricks Your Brain to Be Less Stressed

October 10, 2024

Have you ever heard people say reading lowers stress..

But you never believed it?

I personally never did, but the science proved me wrong.

Cognitive neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis discovered..

  • Reading for Six minutes a day reduces stress by 68 percent. (University of Sussex)
  • Reading is 300 percent more effective at reducing stress than going for a walk.
Text: University of Sussex
The study conducted by the University of Sussex found that reading is one of the most beneficial ways of reducing stress. They tested reading against other forms of relaxation, and it performed better than all of them. (Keep reading to learn why)

The science shows reading performed better than relaxing with music, walking tea, or video games.

The results of their research:

  1. Reading a book: reduced stress by 68%
  2. Listening to music: reduced stress levels by 61%, 
  3. Have a cup of tea or coffee: reduced stress by 54%
  4. Taking a walk: 42%
  5. Playing video games: reduced stress by 21% 

Here’s how they tested stress reduction:

The subjects had their stress levels and heart rate increased through a range of exercises before they were tested with the relaxation methods listed above.

Their plan:

  1. Increase stress & heart rate above normal
  2. Have subjects use 1 of the 5 relaxation methods listed below
  3. Find out which relaxation method is best

Videos games did lower stress levels from their highest level but still left the volunteers with heart rates above their starting point.

The neuroscience of why books are superior for minimizing stress.

The effort of concentration and the brain stimulation required during reading boosts the ability to relax the mind and body more than any other alternative.

The human mind has to concentrate on reading and the distraction lowers the tensions in muscles and the heart.

Cognitive neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis mentioned..

Subjects only needed to read, silently, for six minutes to slow down the heart rate and ease tension in the muscles.

Dr Lewis, who conducted the test, said: 

Doctor David Lewis

“Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation.”

“It really doesn’t matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination.” – Doctor David Lewis

“This is particularly poignant in uncertain economic times when we are all craving a certain amount of escapism.”

“This is more than merely a distraction but an active engaging of the imagination as the words on the printed page stimulate your creativity and cause you to enter what is essentially an altered state of consciousness.”

The research was carried out on a group of volunteers by consultancy Mindlab International at the University of Sussex.

Scanned photo of brain: Literate, Newly literate, Illiterate
Readers have more active brains.

If you don’t have the time to read, and you’re feeling stressed.

Read anyway. The consistency will pay off and calm the nerves.

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