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When was the last time you read a book? Are your daily readings tweets or Facebook updates? If you’re one of countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out.  Reading has a significant number of benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below.

1. Brain Practice
   
   Reading keeps your brain active and engaged preventing it from losing power. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy.  So, the phrase “use it or lose it” is particularly apt when it comes to your mind.
   
   When you read a book, you have to remember many people, their backgrounds, history, and their differences. That’s a difficult to remember, but brains are marvelous things and can remember these things with relative ease.
   
   
2. Stronger analytical thinking skills
   
   Have you ever read an amazing mystery novel, and solved the mystery yourself before finishing the book? If so, you were able to put critical and analytical thinking to work by taking note. That really helps you to strengthen your analytical thinking skills.
   
   
3. Improved Focus and Concentration
   
   In this internet world, attention is drawn in a million different directions at once as we multi-task through everyday tasks. In a single 5-minute span, the average person will divide their time between working on a task, checking email, chatting with a couple of people (via gchat, skype, etc.), keeping an eye on twitter, monitoring their smartphone, and interacting with co-workers. This type of ADD-like behaviour causes stress levels to rise and lowers our productivity.
   
   When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story—the rest of the world just falls away, and you can immerse yourself in every fine detail you’re absorbing. Try reading for 15-20 minutes before work (i.e. on your morning commute, if you take public transit), and you’ll be surprised at how much more focused you are once you get to the office.

There’s a reading genre for every literate person on the earth, and whether your tastes are classical literature, poetry, fashion magazines, biographies, religious texts, young adult books, self-help guides, or romance novels.  There’s something out there to capture your curiosity and imagination. Step away from your computer for a little while, crack open a book, and replenish your soul for a little while.