When it comes to reading books, many people term it as a mundane activity which only suits the boring person around. But I think, the reality is completely contrary to it. Ask an avid reader, when was the last time he went into the magical world of princesses, witnessing its destruction by a gruesome dragon or a groundbreaking theory unraveling itself, to make him understand the meaning of life? With a twinkle in his eyes, he’ll dive into the dimensions of the world, mustering enough thoughts to disclose the discoveries made through reading.

I believe, reading is the gateway to infinity and beyond, rationalizing a reader’s opinion and turning him into a great thinker. With this in mind, it is absolutely important to look at the benefits gained from reading and how it unfolds different pathways for success.

Benefits of reading books

1. Better communication and writing skills

Reading books introduce you to a trove of vocabulary words so, the improvement in writing skills comes as a bonus. Vocabulary words also eradicate the communication barrier, giving you an edge to collect appropriate words and put them into thought. Also, a keen reader builds a logical point of view regarding important issues which adds value to his persona.

2. Enhance brain functions

Reading is akin to the exercise of the brain. The abstract words and thoughts imprinted on a book are deciphered by the brain allowing mental stimulation. This is essential for the brain to prevent diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Moreover, for every bit of new information regarding the plot or character, the brain creates a space for storage improving memory and hence cognitive functionalities.

3. Builds critical thinking

Reading aids you in practicing objective analysis and evaluation of the whole storyline leading you to form a judgment. With the development of this process, you are more capable to solve real-life problems and can get to a better solution in no time. It is no secret that every professional needs to develop critical thinking. So, if you are a reader then you had already mastered the skill.

4. Mood booster

Most people fail at coping with the packed schedule of work generating mood swings and cranky behavior. In these times, a light-humored book may come handy acting as a catalyst to improve mood and drain the tension out of your mind while taking you to other realms.

5. Encourages you to have a role model

Many of us look at a person encountering the same problems as ours and try to build a connection with him. Reading introduces you to many fictional or real-world personalities who are relatable to you in terms of your problems. So, by reading about their struggle you find motivation and power to solve the obstacle of your life.

Despite having countless benefits, children are losing interest in reading books. You see, it is essential to locate the root causes of this situation to prevent a generation of aimless people from wandering around.

Reasons for the loss of interest in reading books

• School and college workload includes a huge amount of reading material to be crammed or memorized to pass the exams. In this situation, without doubt, a child is likely to develop a disliking for reading as a whole. So, schools should engage students in healthy reading and researching processes to boost their reading habits and let them not think of it as a compulsion.
•  It is said that children follow up on the action of their parents. Still, nowadays parents are also wasting their time on technological gadgets and there is no one to engage their child in bedtime stories, buy them children's magazines and urge them to read different books hence resulting in the absence of reading habits in a child.
• With visual production and direction of TV series based on various novels, children do not pay heed to read and instead watch all the series. Although the purpose of knowing the plot and story is fulfilled, watching the series demotes the element of vast thinking in a child as his thoughts are only limited to what he sees.

How to nurture the habit of reading books

Before learning the ways of developing the habit of reading, you need to understand the importance of reading in the character-building process. It should be seen as a way of pleasure-seeking rather than a compulsion so that it may benefit you in the long run.

Steps to inculcate reading habits in you are as follows:

1. Set time slots

Whether you sit with a cup of tea at sunrise or cuddle up in a cozy blanket on a serene winter night, your daily routine should have a time where you just relax and focus on reading a certain book even if it is a single page because something is better than nothing.

2. Always carry a book with you

Why waste your time when waiting in the queue in a doctor’s clinic or absentmindedly staring at the people on public transport when you can take out a book and start reading it, eventually dissolving in your thoughts? Seems like a perfect idea! And also you can be the inspiration for other people to develop a reading habit.

3. Read a specific book with your friends

Trust me, it works out exceptionally by encouraging you to read faster and engage yourself in healthy competition. Moreover, it develops an unbreakable bond with your friends resulting in the diversification of opinion and the construction of different perspectives regarding an idea or the plot of the story.

4. Start with the short stories of your favorite genre

Short stories curtail the stress of cliffhangers and are easy to read in a short time laying the foundation of the reading habit. Picking up a genre that absorbs your all attention is also necessary so that you can refrain from putting down the story and labeling it as boring.

Conclusion

You walk on the face of the earth entitling yourself as a know-it-all until, when you start reading, you realize that there were many unique pieces of information you were completely unaware of. Then, to quench the thirst for knowledge you trod at the path of reading with humility. So, it's never late to develop the habit of reading to notice some major changes in your personality. Let me end this with the quote of Roald Dahl(A British Novelist): “so please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your tv set away, and in its place, you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall. Then fill the shelf with lots of books”.