With Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest offering near-constant advice on how to gain a better life, wardrobe and career, it can be hard to switch off.
According to Ofcom, the average UK adult spends eight hours and 41 minutes a day on a media device – longer than the average time spent sleeping. However, this can cause problems with sleep, mood and even the way we’re eating.
So, as an alternative to your screen, why not consider picking up a book?
Mattress Online have looked into the many ways reading can benefit your health. And, there are many more benefits than being able to impress your friends with your knowledge of literature.
In fact, reading is good for your mind and body!
Here are some of the ways that reading can improve your health:
De-stress
According to a study by Dr David Lewis at the University of Sussex, reading can help to reduce stress by 68%. It helped participants in the study to des-stress more quickly than listening to music, drinking a hot drink or going for a walk.
According to a study at Johns Hopkins University, stress is not just an unpleasant experience, it can also promote disease. Stress has been linked to all sorts of illnesses, including cancer, lung disease and autoimmune conditions.
Sleep better
The study at the University of Sussex also found that just six minutes of reading was needed to prepare for sleep. Reading for this amount of time helps to significantly relax and step away from the days activities and worries.
The Mayo Clinic found that having reading as part of your pre-sleep ritual can help to off-set the time spent in front of the blue light of screens. This blue light prevents the production of melatonin which prepares the body to sleep.
By reading instead of watching television, the body can prepare for sleep. This means that not only will you get more sleep, but you will also get a better quality of rest.
For more information about how reading can help you in your every day life, take a look at the full infographic by Mattress Online here.
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