But wait, there’s more! Dr. Lewis has this to say about reading:

“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” (source)

And what a lovely place to explore indeed!

Related: 4 Excellent Stress Relieving Activities To Try Right Now

2. Reading Can Help You Sleep Better

Since reading is so good at helping us relaxing and unwind, it really isn’t all that surprising that it can help us catch some serious Zzz too. A relaxed mind is more apt to shut down for the day.

But stress relief isn’t the only thing that helps us get ready for some shut eye. Creating a nighttime routine, like laying down with a good book for a hot minute before bed, lets your body know that it’s time to sleep. Sticking to a relaxing bedtime schedule can ultimately help you fall asleep easier. Those books are looking better by the minute, aren’t they! (source)

It’s important to know that reading from a physical book is best before bed.

Reading from a screen at night might make it harder for your to fall asleep. No thanks! (source)

Why? Well, one big downfall is that tablets emit blue light! And that hinders melatonin production. Which is a bummer because melatonin controls your sleep/wake cycle. (source)

One study found that those who do their pre-sleep reading on an iPad experienced a 50% drop in melatonin. And their melatonin production cycle was pushed forward by up to 1.5 hours, giving them a sort of jet lag. Ew! (source)

Plus they took longer to fall asleep, felt less alert in the a.m. and experienced less REM sleep. Which means they probably had less dreams than their book reading counterparts. Less dreams?! I’d feel seriously cheated. (source)

So pick up a good (physical) book and read for a few minutes before bed.

Dr. Lewis even says that genre doesn’t matter. You’ll still experience a some stress relief and find yourself feeling more relaxed and ready to sleep. (source)

But maybe avoid an intense thriller or horror just in case. I don’t know about you, but that could easily keep me awake all night.

It also helps to make sure that it’s not something so engrossing that you’ll stay up all night reading. Because that will definitely make you tired! And that sort of trumps the sleep related benefits of reading books, now doesn’t it?

Related: 7 Simple Self Care Tricks on How to Sleep Better

3. Reading May Ease Depression

Did you know that there’s such a thing as bibliotherapy? How freaking amazing is that?! Basically reading self-help books combined with professional support can help to reduce symptoms of depression. (source)

Reading something helpful while seeking help married really well! It also gave patients a great opportunity to receive guidance and learn practical ways to implement the coping mechanism they learned from their books.

This study showed that those who received support and read self-help book concurrently had lower levels of depression after only 4 months than those who only saw a counselor. Even a year later, those who read while they received in person help were still doing much better.

The books may have made the patients feel more motivated and capable, giving them hope that they can get better. While more studies are absolutely needed, it’s really promising and might make it worth while to ask your therapist for book suggestions that might help. (source)

Related: This Is What Happens When You Prioritize Your Mental Health

4. Reading is Good for Your Brain