health benefits
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Creative Commons Image
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Modified from Piedmont Healthcare Home / Living Real Change website
Did you know reading has many health benefits? Angela Buttimer, MS, NCC, RYT, LPC Piedmont Family Cancer Wellness facilitator outlines the many ways reading can improve your health.
1. Reading reduces stress
Reading reduces stress likely because it requires concentration and focus. Researchers at the University of Sussex found that participants who read for just six mintues experienced reduced muscle tension and a slower heart rate. Reducing stress is also good for your immune system to keep you healthy.
2. Reading helps you sleep better
Bright light from digital devices can hinder your quality of sleep, so reading a print book is an ideal way to unwind before bedtime.
3. Reading keeps your mind sharp
Studies found that reading regularly may slow mental decline and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It is unknown how this works but studies have indicated benefits.
4. Reading can improve your relationships
Reading can help develop empathy towards others. Reading about people who are different from us can help us understand different life experiences and problems others face. It is also helpful to read books about people who describe going through the same things we have to help articulate our own experiences.
5. What to read for better health
Read outside your normal genre comfort zone to cultivate interest and curiosity in new things. If you are curious about a topic, read about it before you try something new.
6. Things not toread
Not all books are helpful to reduce stress and may not boost your health. "We have mirror neurons in our brains. When we read stressful content, our brain interprets it as if it's happening to us," proclaims Buttimer. Try not to read too many negative things such as crime novels. Although many people enjoy them, they are violent and full of negative information that's going into conscious. Watching or reading negative, violent or stressful content can have detrimental effects over the long-term.
7. What if you don't enjoy reading?
If reading isn't your thing, try these things to help develop better reading habits:
Did you know reading has many health benefits? Angela Buttimer, MS, NCC, RYT, LPC Piedmont Family Cancer Wellness facilitator outlines the many ways reading can improve your health.
1. Reading reduces stress
Reading reduces stress likely because it requires concentration and focus. Researchers at the University of Sussex found that participants who read for just six mintues experienced reduced muscle tension and a slower heart rate. Reducing stress is also good for your immune system to keep you healthy.
2. Reading helps you sleep better
Bright light from digital devices can hinder your quality of sleep, so reading a print book is an ideal way to unwind before bedtime.
3. Reading keeps your mind sharp
Studies found that reading regularly may slow mental decline and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It is unknown how this works but studies have indicated benefits.
4. Reading can improve your relationships
Reading can help develop empathy towards others. Reading about people who are different from us can help us understand different life experiences and problems others face. It is also helpful to read books about people who describe going through the same things we have to help articulate our own experiences.
5. What to read for better health
Read outside your normal genre comfort zone to cultivate interest and curiosity in new things. If you are curious about a topic, read about it before you try something new.
6. Things not toread
Not all books are helpful to reduce stress and may not boost your health. "We have mirror neurons in our brains. When we read stressful content, our brain interprets it as if it's happening to us," proclaims Buttimer. Try not to read too many negative things such as crime novels. Although many people enjoy them, they are violent and full of negative information that's going into conscious. Watching or reading negative, violent or stressful content can have detrimental effects over the long-term.
7. What if you don't enjoy reading?
If reading isn't your thing, try these things to help develop better reading habits:
- Listen to an audiobook while exercising, doing chores or on your commute.
- Choose a book with short chapters and read a little bit at a time, like five minutes before moving on.
- Set realistic reading goals. Aim to read a chapter a day or week. Go at your own pace.
CHECKOUT SOMETHING NEW!
virtual tours
Museums are an important part of a thriving community and a connection to the past. They represent the vitality of communities, both past and present, by bringing our collective heritage to life. Like libraries, museums have a unique ability to bring people together of all ages and abilities. They are perfect places to find inspiration, to discover worlds once hidden or forgotten. But most of all, museums tell many stories of how our community, our country and our world evolved.
Sometimes, however, it's difficult to get to a museum due to the weather conditions, the expense of traveling or scheduling issues. Did you know that many museums offer virtual tours of their collections. So sit back and enjoy these delights from the comfort of your own home. Which one will you visit today?
The British Museum London
Go on an interactive, virtual tour of artifacts at the British Museum from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Asia. Find out how each piece is connected to others. A brief description is included with artifacts to learn more about the origin, location and related objects from the same time period.
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Take a tour of the Charles H. Wright of African American History startin with Charels McGee sculpture at the entrance. Get a 360-degree panoramic view through each features exhibit. Follow the arrows to proceed through the gallery. This virtual tour is unnarrated, but you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to walk through the exhibits.
The Henry Ford Museum
The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village is located in Dearborn, Michigan. It is the largest complex combining both historical and living collections in the US. Almost 100 historic buildings are arranged in the village setting. Founder and individualist, Henry Ford, began collecting historical artifacts in 1906.
The Zekelman Holocaust Center
"Inside the Glass Case" offers educational videos, survivor testimony, photos, lesson plans, and other resources that will engage, educate, and empower. The historic artifacts tell a story and give virtual visitors a deeper understanding of survival and hope during a dark time in history.
The Louvre, Paris
France’s most famous museum offers virtual tours of Petite Galleries available to peruse for free without a plane ticket to Paris. Follow the arrows to get a panoramic view of the galleries. Travel from the ancient world to the modern era. Descriptions, when present, are in French.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
New York City is home to some of the nation’s finest museums, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a gem. It’s also the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere. The Met’s permanent collection contains over 2 million works of art. This virtual tour showcases some of the best artwork from around the world.
The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Go on a virtual walk through the world of Vincent Van Gogh. Explore his masterpieces in the online collection, watch virtual tours on YouTube, and read about Van Gogh’s extraordinary life and work.
The Vatican Museum, Vatican City
Take a panoramic virtual tour of one of the world’s most visited museums in the world, the Vatican. The museums display the immense collection of priceless works of Catholic and Roman art dating back to 1506. Visit the grandeur of Raphael’s Rooms, the divine Sistine Chapel, or the breathtaking sculptures of the New Wing.
Taken From Canton Public Library December Newsletter 2024
Sometimes, however, it's difficult to get to a museum due to the weather conditions, the expense of traveling or scheduling issues. Did you know that many museums offer virtual tours of their collections. So sit back and enjoy these delights from the comfort of your own home. Which one will you visit today?
The British Museum London
Go on an interactive, virtual tour of artifacts at the British Museum from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Asia. Find out how each piece is connected to others. A brief description is included with artifacts to learn more about the origin, location and related objects from the same time period.
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Take a tour of the Charles H. Wright of African American History startin with Charels McGee sculpture at the entrance. Get a 360-degree panoramic view through each features exhibit. Follow the arrows to proceed through the gallery. This virtual tour is unnarrated, but you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to walk through the exhibits.
The Henry Ford Museum
The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village is located in Dearborn, Michigan. It is the largest complex combining both historical and living collections in the US. Almost 100 historic buildings are arranged in the village setting. Founder and individualist, Henry Ford, began collecting historical artifacts in 1906.
The Zekelman Holocaust Center
"Inside the Glass Case" offers educational videos, survivor testimony, photos, lesson plans, and other resources that will engage, educate, and empower. The historic artifacts tell a story and give virtual visitors a deeper understanding of survival and hope during a dark time in history.
The Louvre, Paris
France’s most famous museum offers virtual tours of Petite Galleries available to peruse for free without a plane ticket to Paris. Follow the arrows to get a panoramic view of the galleries. Travel from the ancient world to the modern era. Descriptions, when present, are in French.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
New York City is home to some of the nation’s finest museums, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a gem. It’s also the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere. The Met’s permanent collection contains over 2 million works of art. This virtual tour showcases some of the best artwork from around the world.
The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Go on a virtual walk through the world of Vincent Van Gogh. Explore his masterpieces in the online collection, watch virtual tours on YouTube, and read about Van Gogh’s extraordinary life and work.
The Vatican Museum, Vatican City
Take a panoramic virtual tour of one of the world’s most visited museums in the world, the Vatican. The museums display the immense collection of priceless works of Catholic and Roman art dating back to 1506. Visit the grandeur of Raphael’s Rooms, the divine Sistine Chapel, or the breathtaking sculptures of the New Wing.
Taken From Canton Public Library December Newsletter 2024
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Library Puzzle
Need a brain break? Help us with our library puzzle. It's a great way to relax and reset your mind to help you focus throughout the day. Not only can it improve focus but studies suggest that puzzles can improve memory retention and problem-solving skills, reduce stress, and even help develop fine motor skills.
Need some puzzle time at home for a break? Try some of these.
Digital Puzzles
World Book Kids has 5 different types of puzzles for young learners to enjoy, including jigsaw and crossword. The digital jigsaws are among the most challenging, as they very much replicate the real thing and include a timer for those who like some added competition. There are also a handful of crossword puzzles that test students in the areas of explorers, geography, math, and medicine.
eBooks
The EBSCO eBook collections are full of many puzzle-packed titles. In the eBook Public Library Collection, check out the Whodunit Puzzles: Mysteries for the Super Sleuth to Solve, 60-Second Brain Teasers Pencil-Free Puzzles: Short Head-Scratchers From the Easy to Near Impossible, 60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles: Short Forensic Mysteries to Challenge Your Inner Amateur Detective, and Wooden Puzzles: 20 Handmade Puzzles and Brainteasers. In the eBook High School Collection enjoy the Joy of Jigsaws: A Puzzler’s Guide and How to Make Your Own.
Puzzle Crafts
If you’re feeling crafty, the long list of wooden puzzle patterns from publications such as Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine, available in Hobbies & Crafts Source, offer full-color patterns that even the novice craftsperson can follow. A couple of examples include the Sunflower and Octopus wooden puzzles. For those who both quilt and love crosswords, be sure and check out the Crossword Puzzle Quilt pattern from an issue of Quilter’s World.
Taken from Michigan E-Library MeL Minute December 2024
Need some puzzle time at home for a break? Try some of these.
Digital Puzzles
World Book Kids has 5 different types of puzzles for young learners to enjoy, including jigsaw and crossword. The digital jigsaws are among the most challenging, as they very much replicate the real thing and include a timer for those who like some added competition. There are also a handful of crossword puzzles that test students in the areas of explorers, geography, math, and medicine.
eBooks
The EBSCO eBook collections are full of many puzzle-packed titles. In the eBook Public Library Collection, check out the Whodunit Puzzles: Mysteries for the Super Sleuth to Solve, 60-Second Brain Teasers Pencil-Free Puzzles: Short Head-Scratchers From the Easy to Near Impossible, 60-Second Brain Teasers Crime Puzzles: Short Forensic Mysteries to Challenge Your Inner Amateur Detective, and Wooden Puzzles: 20 Handmade Puzzles and Brainteasers. In the eBook High School Collection enjoy the Joy of Jigsaws: A Puzzler’s Guide and How to Make Your Own.
Puzzle Crafts
If you’re feeling crafty, the long list of wooden puzzle patterns from publications such as Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine, available in Hobbies & Crafts Source, offer full-color patterns that even the novice craftsperson can follow. A couple of examples include the Sunflower and Octopus wooden puzzles. For those who both quilt and love crosswords, be sure and check out the Crossword Puzzle Quilt pattern from an issue of Quilter’s World.
Taken from Michigan E-Library MeL Minute December 2024
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