6 benefits of reading and how to make it a lifelong habit

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a campaign designed to help people discover, or rediscover, the joy of reading. 

In recent years, with digital pastimes and short-form video content taking over our free time, less time has been dedicated to reading. A survey by the campaign organisers, the National Literacy Trust, showed that daily reading and enjoyment of reading are declining. The Annual Literacy Survey 2025 showed that just one in three young people aged 8 to 18 saying they enjoyed reading in their free time, and fewer than one in five read daily. 

Regular reading can bring a whole host of mental, emotional, and physical benefits to people of all ages. If you’ve fallen out of the routine or would like to make reading a new resolution, read on to discover some of the benefits and how to get yourself in the habit. 

Shifting away from other forms of media could help you rediscover a habitual love of reading

The decline in reading is continuing as generations who grew up with technology are now starting to become parents themselves. Research from HarperCollins in 2024 found that fewer parents are reading to their children, and just 40% of them found it a fun activity. 

Time constraints can also play a part, with 34% of parents of children aged 0-13 wishing they had more time to read to their children. 

Whether you’d like to spend more time reading alone or with your children or grandchildren, the benefits of reading are many. Here are six ways it can enhance your life: 

1. Enhancing your hobbies

The National Year of Reading 2026 campaign is called Go All In and is designed to encourage people to connect reading with things they already enjoy, such as sports, films, food, and music. Reading can inspire you to immerse yourself deeply in areas which capture your interest, bringing even more joy into your hobbies and in turn encouraging a love of reading to develop. 

2. Developing empathy and emotional intelligence

Reading fiction can help you understand different viewpoints as you engage with the characters. Learning about their backgrounds, challenges, and behaviours shows us how they arrive at their choices, creating a deeper understanding of human nature. In doing so, reading can help you to improve your emotional intelligence by enhancing your empathy, perspective-taking and social awareness. 

3. Finding escapism

Travel to faraway lands, immerse yourself in the world of espionage, or take yourself into outer space, all while you’re sitting on the train or lying in bed. Reading can provide some true escapism, helping you to switch gears in your brain and step away from the real world for a little while. 

Research from the University of Liverpool (Article published February 2016) showed that 36% of the population have been inspired to go travelling by a book, so it could help you plan your next holiday, too!

4. Taking a break from screens & social media 

We live in a world of technology, with computers, tablets, and phones dominating our professional and personal lives. Too much screen time can lead to poor posture and eye strain, among other things, so it’s good to take a break now and then. 

Reading a physical book gives you some time offline, away from the short-form, rapid-fire nature of social media, and helps you focus on one thing for longer. 

5. Boosting your cognitive stimulation

Reading can give your brain a workout, enhancing your analytical and critical thinking skills. Additionally, according to an article from the Guardian published in February 2026, engaging in intellectually stimulating activities could help to lower your risk of dementia by up to 40%, with regular reading cited as one of the best activities. 

6. Helping you to relax

Switching off your phone and picking up a book in bed can signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. Your heart rate slows, muscle tension eases, and your body starts to enter a state of relaxation when you read, making it a highly effective bedtime ritual. Indeed, social enterprise MHFA England (30 October 2023) notes that just six minutes of daily reading can reduce stress levels by 60%. 

Taking steps to turn reading into a regular habit can open up a whole new world

Start small

If you’ve been out of the habit of reading, ease yourself back in gently with just a few minutes a day and a manageable-sized book. Putting too much pressure on yourself can make the idea seem much less appealing. 

Choose your media

A physical book can be a great way to shift away from using technology as much and is still the preferred way for people to read. According to Stora Enso (16 June 2022), 65% of readers prefer physical books. 

That being said, if you’re driving or walking around a lot, an audiobook is another way to keep up with your “reading”. 

Similarly, e-readers can be handy if you’re going on holiday and don’t want to weigh down your luggage, or if you need something light and small to hold or read from. 

Mix and match your formats so you can read anywhere and anyhow you choose. 

Create a comfortable space

Finding somewhere to read without noise or distractions can really enhance the experience and make it something you want to do often. Create a dedicated reading space in your home that’s comfortable and well lit, reserved solely for your reading time. 

Or you might find you like a little bustle and chatter around you, so you could try a coffee shop. In the warmer weather, reading outdoors is a lovely way to soak up some sunshine, for example in your garden or a local park. 

Join a book club

Most book clubs have a monthly meeting, which encourages you to keep up with your regular reading. Plus, they are a great way to socialise, helping you to meet like-minded people and encouraging you to try a selection of different reading material. 

Read for pleasure

If you find that you’re reluctantly picking up a book and just reading a few pages at a time, then don’t be afraid to admit it’s not for you, rather than forcing your way through it. Allocate yourself a certain number of pages, or a percentage if you’re on an e-reader, and if a book hasn’t captured your imagination by then, it could be time to try something new. 

Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore.