Read To Become Smarter
I know what you are thinking of. Reading is hard, isn’t it? If scrolling through your social media feed is beneficial in your opinion, good for you. But, have you realised the amount of time that you spend in random scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and the like actually drains you for no reason? This is as addictive as a drug and could be equated with the spinner on a poker table. You get an unparalleled high in your system strong enough to let you remain distracted for a long time. I happened to be audience to a speech given by a celebrity who swore by reading books and limiting usage of technology.
The reason why people are resorting to technology for entertainment is because they have seen their parents use phones ever since they were born. These days, it is not uncommon for youngsters to get hold of an iPhone as soon as they enter high school, sometimes they even use phones before entering puberty. Instagram, TikTok, Helo, etc. have kids from all age groups. Social media explosion is for real and READING books has now become a matter of past. The reason why some people, including noted celebrities, leaders, sports persons stress on reading books in physical form is because the “wider the space you utilise for reading, the greater your vision/ cognitive abilities become”. The limited screen space of your phone will not expand your understanding and that is a fact. Reading makes you smarter because you get to analyse what the writer has laid down for the readers.
Some may even say, Kindle and e-readers of the like can serve the same purpose like a hardbound book. If you think of it logically, the fact of the matter is not the same. You cannot access an e- reader if there is no battery. A book in its physical form can be carried anywhere, is not hard on your vision and gives you character when you carry it with you. In this day and age, where everyone wants to look cool with latest technology in their hands and bags, a book looks refreshing and changes the way in which people view you.
The main reasons why reading can make you smarter is because you can acquire knowledge, though you can do the same through experiences but when you read through a material you understand certain nuances of phenomena happening around you. The more you read, the more you unravel secrets and mysteries that had once clouded your mind and made you lag behind. Now, it doesn’t mean that you need to get hold of every book you can and just look out for a hard bound text. You can read on your devices as well; a computer or a phone will bring forth thousands of books in PDF or Word form if you search their titles. The challenge however is, you need to search for the specific titles repeatedly, if you haven’t bookmarked them, that is.
The most difficult part is, to cultivate the habit of reading. Whether it is the book form of electronic, you must read as much as you can. Not only does your knowledge increase, but it gives you CONFIDENCE to strike a conversation with anyone you want to, to argue sensibly and get yourself out from undesired situations. Remember how Hermione saved Harry’s and Ron’s lives throughout the Harry Potter series, especially in the first when they were not even friends? A bookworm saves the day, in other words.
There are several other reasons why you should read on a daily basis. First, a good 30 minutes of reading relaxes your brain and you don’t have to search for something else to spark your interest. Second, reading before you go to bed gives you the detoxifying effect that is much needed after a tiring day. Third, it improves your vocabulary and grammar. Fourth, if you are a reader you can disseminate knowledge to your peers and acquaintances, which is kind of cool because everyone is too invested in flashy clothes and a vibrant lifestyle rather than watching what goes inside their brains. Fifth, reading in general, makes you among the population which is intelligent. The stand- comedians, content creators and YouTube stars who have now garnered a good number of followers, everyone is a reader. Reading gives you ideas and it is a commendable thing to be considered well- read and intelligent.
Intelligence is sexy, so just grab that book and READ!
