Mental Health Benefits of Reading Books and Advantages of Buying Second Hand Novels

Ensuring you’re taking care of your mental health is more important now than ever and one of the easiest ways to take charge of your wellness can be done by picking up a book. Not only is reading a great way to stay entertained while you are socially distancing, but it has been shown to improve overall mental health. From autobiographies to romantic fiction, there is a book for everyone out there to enjoy. Here are just a few of the benefits of reading; in addition, we have covered the advantages of buying second hand novels.

Mental health benefits of reading books

Reading Reduces Stress

The world could use a little stress reduction and one of the best ways to do it is through reading. Picking up a book can take us out of the moment and help our minds escape. A study from 2009 found that reading reduced stress in participants by nearly 70 per cent and was more effective than things like having a cup of tea or listening to music. They even found that reading for as little as six minutes can have a huge impact on stress. Another study found that 30 minutes of reading could reduce stress as much as a yoga session of the same duration.

Becoming Mentally Flexible

Reading trains our minds to better adapt to new and unusual situations. The benefits are especially prominent in people who read poetry. In one study, Keith Oatley asked participants to rate a text based on its “poetic rate.” These were abstract pieces, so participants were told to specify when they felt they had to think outside the box or switch thoughts. Oatley reported that, the more complex texts they read, the more sophisticated their brain activity and the better their “literary awareness.” In the words of Philip Davis (the University of Liverpool):

So, reading can make us mentally flexible. It exposes us to a range of complex stimuli, making us better at adapting to new and unusual thoughts and behaviours.

Bedtime Reading to Wind Down

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for maintaining good overall health. It helps our bodies recharge and reset for the next day. But it isn’t always that easy. Your mind can race, and before you know it that alarm is going off. Having a bedtime routine that includes reading can help you get some good shut-eye. Putting down that phone and picking up a book can help you wind down and relax before bed. And we mean an actual book with pages – not an e-reader or tablet, those can actually prevent sleep due to the brightness of their screens. 

Alleviate Depression Symptoms

According to Rebecca Joy Stanborough (Healthline,) people with depression often feel isolated from everyone else. Reading a book can lessen the intensity of loneliness. Reading fiction helps us to escape our own world and become engrossed in the experiences of the fictional characters. We tend to form an emotional connection with these characters, which can make us feel less alone. According to Stanborough, that’s why the UK Health Service started “Reading Well,” a book prescription service where experts prescribe self-help books curated for certain conditions.

It Makes Us More Empathetic

Reading helps us adopt new perspectives. While in the fictional world, we might be seeing things through the eyes of the narrator. We have access to their internal mind: their thoughts and feelings. That helps us to properly understand why they act the way they do. Because of that, we start to empathize with others in the real world. Research by psychologist David Comer Kidd reveals that people who read fiction show a heightened ability to understand the feelings and beliefs of others.

Because of our access to the mind of a fictional character, we become more aware of other people’s thoughts and perspectives. Psychologists call this ability a “theory of mind.” These being the skills needed to build and maintain social relationships. They help us to understand other people's desires and beliefs. Reading one fiction book won’t improve your ability. But research indicates long-term readers have a better theory of mind.

Builds Up Your Brain

Reading is really like taking your brain to the gym. It works out all of those important muscles that are needed to help you be at your best mentally. Keeping your mind active with reading makes your brain stronger.

Having to follow words and pay attention helps our memory skills improve and get better over time. It can also build up your vocabulary. This can lead to better conversational skills and in turn lead to much improved communication. This means better grades in school and even better job interviews or opportunities as you get older.

Helps Improve Your Ability to Empathize
It may not be the first thing you think of when you’re about to pick up a book but studies have shown that reading can help you better understand other people’s feelings. This is especially true with reading fiction over a longer period of time. Research found that fiction novels can help with something called ‘Theory of Mind’ that helps people understand other people’s ‘desires and beliefs.’

Reading Helps Us Live a Longer and Healthier Life

Most modern hobbies psychologically damage us. Social media, for example, wastes our time, feeds us misinformation, and increases our risk of depression. Yet there’s a reason we keep returning to it: it provides short, sharp entertainment without requiring much effort or concentration.

But there's a reason that, thousands of years after its invention, we still read for leisure. As this article has highlighted, it brings a range of psychological benefits: strengthening our brains, making us more empathetic, and helping us maintain a healthy mind. But reading might even help you live longer. A long-term study followed 3,635 adult participants over 12 years. They found those who read books regularly tended to live 2 years longer than those that didn’t.

The study concluded that people who read more than 3 1/2 hours every week were 23 percent likely to live longer. So, the next time you have some downtime, considering switching off your phone, and delving into an exciting book.

Can Help Deal with Mental Illness

Reading can be used as therapy. This has become so popular they have a term for it – bibliotherapy. There are actually bibliotherapists who can prescribe books to specifically help with things like anxiety, grief or depression. These self-help books can be a big help to people with mental health issues, either on their own or in addition to in-person therapy.

But it isn’t just ‘self-help’ books that are recommended. Reading fiction can help you feel more connected and can help people who may be dealing with depression or anxiety. It allows your imagination to become more engaged and you connect emotionally to characters and reflect your own feelings, problems and desires as you read. 

Reduces Symptoms of Dementia

Reading can help with diseases such as Alzheimer’s by keeping the brain active. Inactivity in the brain can increase the chance of getting the disease. A study found that older people who read regularly were 2.5 times less likely to get Alzheimer’s. But don’t wait until you’re older to get reading! The earlier you start the better for your brain, it’s been shown to prevent many symptoms of dementia especially if you start young.

Second Hand Novels

What could be better than getting the book you've always wanted at a significant discount just because it's been previously owned? Used books are fantastic for yourself or as a present, and many individuals donate books they no longer want or need. This is a fantastic way to supplement your collection. This is also a wonderful option to get your college textbooks. There are numerous advantages to purchasing second hand novels, whether in a second hand books online or physical bookshop. Getting your second hand novels, especially if you're a student, is a better way to save money. 

Advantages of Buying Second Hand Novels

Second hand novels are good for the environment. 

One of the most significant advantages of purchasing old second hand novels is that it reduces the need for new books to be printed, resulting in less environmental damage. It all begins with one individual opting to donate a book or textbook that they no longer use, and it may make a significant difference. This is a fantastic method to contribute to the preservation of our world. 

Second hand novels are less expensive. 

Second hand books are a way to get around this problem, whether you don't have a lot of money or simply don't like buying brand new books at retail pricing. You don't have to pay full price to acquire what you desire when it comes to old used books. You may not only buy second hand novels for a lower price, but you can also sell them once you've completed them. 

There is no unnecessary packing when it comes to second hand novels. 

Have you ever purchased something new only to arrive home and attempt to open it only to find that there is too much plastic to cut through? Perhaps you ordered something new online and are having trouble finding the item you ordered among the cardboard and packing peanuts? New books usually come with some type of packaging, and not all of it is recyclable. 

One advantage of buying second hand novels is that there is no waste or mess. The old books you buy will not arrive with all of the extra packaging that is usually thrown away or that requires a crowbar to open. You may start reading your new-to-you second hand novels without worrying about the packaging. 

Locating unique second hand novels 

The thrill of the quest is half the fun of thrifting, perusing second hand books online shops, or walking into a vintage store. When you buy new books, you're usually selecting from a selection of mass-produced titles that you and your neighbors may already own. Why should you try to be like everyone else? You receive the added benefit of owning second hand books that you won't find anywhere else, in addition to the obvious benefits of buying used books.

You may make money by selling second hand novels. 

There's no better time than now to clean out your closets, dust up your old bookshelves, and get them ready to sell for some additional cash. There are websites where you can not only acquire second hand novels, but also sell the ones you already have. This is a fantastic way to supplement your income in your spare time. There are countless persons seeking for books that you may already own for every second hand novel that you are interested in locating. This kind of book trading allows you to maintain your collection fresh at all times. 

This is unquestionably a win-win situation. It's really that simple. If you want to sell books, all you have to do is look for sites that accept second hand books. Then all you have to do is advertise the books you have for sale and wait for purchasers to come knocking on your virtual door. Believe it or not, books aren't the only sort of material you can purchase and sell.  

When you're getting ready to sell your old books, do some research to see what the prevailing rates are for the books you have. You may not realize it, but you may be sitting on your bookshelf with a masterpiece worth thousands of dollars collecting dust. Who knows whether you're interested in becoming a buyer. You might come across a book you've always wanted and have something to hand down to your children that will only increase in value with time.