Regular reading, particularly reading books, has a lot of potential benefits for older adults. Keep reading to learn more about what being bookish can do for your mind, heart and life.

The Benefits of Reading Regularly

While the benefits of reading differ for each person, common advantages include reduced stress, improved focus and enhanced knowledge.

Mental and Emotional Benefits of Reading

Reading is so much more than entertainment. It can positively impact emotional well-being by helping you recharge and feel more centered. Some emotional and mental benefits of reading include:

• Reduced stress. Getting lost in a story or learning something new by reading nonfiction can help calm your mind. It can also help you step away from overthinking a current situation. All this can contribute to lower anxiety levels.
• Improved mood. Reading for even a short time each day can help promote relaxation. Having a good book to enjoy and look forward to can enhance day-to-day happiness.
• Increased empathy. When you read about diverse characters and experiences, it can help you better understand people with differing perspectives and backgrounds.
• Enhanced sleep. A nighttime reading habit, particularly with a physical book as opposed to a screen, can help signal to your brain that it's time to wind down. By tuning out the world around you and sinking into a story, you can also help "exit the chatroom" of your mind, which often wants to run repeatedly through the past day or overthink tomorrow just before you sleep.

Cognitive Benefits of Reading

Books can also help you keep your brain as sharp as possible. Regular reading can strengthen existing mental agility and help you hold on to cognitive function over time — especially when combined with other healthy habits. Cognitive benefits some people see from reading include:

• Improved focus and concentration. Regularly reading for longer periods of time, such as 25 to 30 minutes or more, helps train your brain to focus on one thing at a time. It also forces your brain to follow ideas and details through complex stories and over longer periods.
• Better memory. Your brain has to work to keep key facts, characters and plot lines in order, especially if you read a book over multiple days or weeks. Putting your memory to use in this way helps build "memory muscles" for other tasks.
• Enhanced analytical skills. When you process new information, you can build on your brain's ability to evaluate and compare data and draw conclusions. Reading, even fiction, requires you to process new information constantly.
• Increased vocabulary. Exposure to new words via books and stories can improve language and communication skills.

Ways Reading Can Otherwise Enrich Your Life

Reading can also make your days richer and more meaningful. Here are some ways reading might impact your daily routine:

• Increased satisfaction with life. When you cultivate a habit of reading things you enjoy, you get daily opportunities to do something fun. Depending on what types of books you read, you might also open up more time for reflection or personal growth.
• Better creativity and imagination. Immersing yourself in stories and ideas can spark inspiration for your own hobbies or projects.
• More general knowledge. Nonfiction books can expand what you know about the world. Even reading fiction offers a chance to learn about places and people you might not otherwise encounter.

Tips for Becoming More Bookish in Retirement

Whether you live in a vibrant senior living community like Bethesda Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona, or in your own home, it's easy to foster a reading habit in retirement. Here are some tips for doing so:

• Set aside a little time every day. If you don't have a lifelong habit of reading, start small. Set aside 15 minutes a day to read. You could also read for a few minutes before bed each night. Stick with it and you may find you're reading a lot more than you thought you would.
• Visit your local library. Borrow books to reduce the cost of your reading habit. Ask your librarian about options like large-print books, audiobooks and e-books so you can read in a way that makes sense for you.
• Join or start a reading group. Start a book club in your assisted living community or neighborhood so you can explore different types of books with others. Reading groups also help you stay accountable to your reading goals.
• Always keep a book nearby. Keeping a book on hand lets you read in waiting rooms or anytime you have a few minutes with nothing to do.
• Choose books you're excited about. Start with authors you know or genres you're comfortable with. Branch out as you cement your reading habit and are ready to explore new ground.

Remember that you're allowed to DNF. That stands for "did not finish." Reading, especially in retirement, should be enjoyable. Don't force yourself to keep reading a book you're not enjoying.