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Mental Health
This or That: Are Books A Better Pick Or Podcasts?
Maybe your idea of unwinding is picking up a good book, or maybe you like listening to audiobooks or podcasts as you drive to work. The question is, reading or listening—which is better for your brain? Let's find out.
There is no question that book reading is one of the best habits you can develop, and books can offer you the key to whole new worlds of imagination and creative exploration. In today's online world, like everything else, stories and information have gone virtual, not only in the form of e-books, but one step further—in the form of audiobooks or podcasts. While this phenomenon might seem new, there are echoes of the oratory or storytelling traditions that we have historically had in our cultures in these online audio formats.
What are the benefits of reading? The perks of reading are manifold, and its benefits for brain health is unquestionable. A study published in Brain Connectivity showed that reading a novel can increase brain connectivity. Research has also shown that reading can also help in reducing stress and improve cognitive health.
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Podcast listening is all the rage now, with hundreds of choices in many categories, from true crime to interview to storytelling. Things such as ASMR, guided meditation, and daily affirmations are popular genres for such audio-based shows, which can be geared towards specific purposes like facilitating sleep and creating daily self-validation routines. An article published in the Journal Of Educational And Instructional Studies In The World suggests that podcasts can be useful as a tool for learning a new language.
Is listening to audiobooks as good as reading? Let's break it down.
| Reading | Listening |
|---|---|
| 1. Can be more time efficient as average reading speed is 200 to 300 words per minute. | 1. Can be more slow-paced, as the average speaking speed is 100 to 150 words per minute. |
| 2. Can help the reader focus and be less distracted. | 2. Allows multitasking, and can be handy as a recreational tool while working. |
| 3. Can help reduce stress and unwind before bedtime. | 3. Can be helpful for visually impaired or neurodivergent individuals. |
| 4. Can be better for memorising information and rereading for learning purposes. | 4. Can reduce screentime as opposed to reading audiobooks. |
Verdict:
While the benefits of reading have been studied extensively, listening to podcasts or audiobooks can also have a bunch of upsides, which is making this format increasingly popular. In fact, reading benefits and listening benefits can often be comparable. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, listening and reading can evoke stimulation in similar areas of the brain. What to opt for can ultimately come down to preference and personal convenience, and a combination of both can be useful in different scenarios. If you are looking for something recreational to keep you company while you are busy with daily chores, putting on a podcast can be the way to go, while getting in some reading time can help you in building a bedtime routine that's device-free.
Which one do you prefer and why? Drop a comment below and let us know!
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