Reading 📖

Reading is a simple habit: set a regular slot, keep your book within reach, and jot down one takeaway when you finish. You don't need long sessions; a few pages a day builds a steady practice.

To start small, pick a fixed time, such as before bed or with morning coffee, and leave the book visible where you usually sit. Begin with ten or fifteen minutes and grow from there.

Studies suggest that cognitive leisure activities, including reading, are associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in later life (Yates et al., 2016; Stern and Munn, 2010). A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies also found a positive effect of leisure activities on cognitive function in older adults (Yang et al., 2022).

In over 16,500 Europeans aged 65 and older, more frequent cognitively stimulating leisure activity predicted better memory, numeracy, and fluency two years later, and people who took up such activities did better than those who never engaged in them (Litwin et al., 2016).

Format matters too: a meta-analysis of over 469,000 participants found leisure digital reading has only a small link to text comprehension, while print reading shows medium-sized effects (Altamura et al., 2023). Noting one takeaway per session helps turn reading into lasting learning.