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What You Didn’t Know Reading Could Do For You

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNCW chapter.

The topic of reading can make some students cringe. The thoughts of information being read, but not understood can be stressful for any collegiette. But, leisurely reading is something that every student should make a habit of. It’s enjoyable and can provide many benefits.

Reading for fun can widen your vocabulary. Studies have shown that avid readers make great writers and that can be attributed to seeing a variety of words. “As you read and uncover new words, use a combination of attempting to derive meaning from the context of the sentence as well as from looking up the definition in a dictionary,” says Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. frm EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. Without even trying, you could be strengthening your future papers and conversations by reading a few minutes a day.

It can strengthen your mind. Just as crossword puzzles can get test you mind, reading can help your mind think more in depth. Processing words and following story lines is sure to help you think in ways that you normally would not. Reading is also a great learning format. You can easily learn about cultures, people and places through a book of any kind.

Provide you with relaxation. Most readers love reading because they feel as though they’re transported into another world. The Telegraph states, “even six minutes can be enough to reduce the stress levels by more than two thirds, according to new research.” When you’re engulfed in a book, you can focus on the plotline instead of stressing over college. Books can show you ways to fix situations that you may be going through as well or let you know that you’re not alone in a certain situation.

Make school reading less stressful because you’re in the habit of reading. This mainly applies if your classes require an abundance of reading. If you read often, you’re less likely to dread class reading because you know how satsisfying it is to learn by only reading. Once you’re in the habit of something, it becomes easier and requires less work.

Overall, reading has many benefits that can positively affect you in a number of ways. Whether you need to relax or work on strengthening your mind, start reading! 

Kaitlyn is a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington attaining a degree in communication studies with a focus in public relations and minor in journalism. She will be graduating in May of 2015 with a B.A. In addition to starting a Her Campus chapter at UNCW, she also is a contributing writer for USA TODAY College and has interned for local WILMA magazine and The Greater Wilmington Business Journal. When she's not writing, her time is spent working or reading magazines of all varieties. Kaitlyn plans to move to New York City after graduation to pursue a career in journalism. You can follow her on twitter @KaitlynRussell_