Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Those moments of concentration are when you get acquainted with a book and connect with a single story. Its plots and characters from the moment you open the first page. The incredible benefits of reading are more focus, concentration, and alertness. Our brain is a muscle, and like any other muscle, it needs frequent exercise to keep it healthy.
When you concentrate on a great story, a fantastic book exercises your imagination, creativity, and entertainment. It takes the mind from the present and helps with relaxation and learning. My favorite “Me, Myself, and I” moment is sitting in a quiet corner holding a teacup while I get lost in a great story. Reading contributes to entertaining and replenishing the brain with new data and information. The more valuable information you feed your brain, the more engaged the mind has to work, face unique obstacles, and look at upcoming challenges.
Therefore, be selective with your reading choices. There is evidence that book lovers can make their brains come alive with emotions and senses stimulated through reading. A similar advantage for those who prefer listening to a good book. Let’s say through Audible.com. The brain gets to “light up” while hearing a narrated story—the central part of the brain that processes language gets activated. Reading makes you connect to real-life experiences archived in your memory. While reading or listening to a news story, the mind believes the information has been lived or experienced. Isn’t that fantastic? – Wendy
BOOKS
CAREER
- Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
- Rework by Jason Fried
- Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
- The Design of Everyday Things (The MIT Press) by Donald A. Norman
COOKING
CREATIVITY
FICTION
- City of Girls: A Novel
- With the Fire on High
- In Five Years: A Novel
- Normal People: A Novel
- Violeta by Isabel Allende is a novel about a woman born in 1920 who sends letters to someone she loves, and in those letters, she tells the story of her past life and the many things happening in the world during that time. Violeta lives to be 100 years old and talks about her passions, sufferings, and free spirit that made her endure, survive, and fall in love with life.
FITNESS
- Do This For You: How to Be a Strong Woman from the Inside Out by Krissy Cela
- Fit Gurl: The Total-Body Turnaround Program by Melissa Alcantara
- Happy, Healthy, Strong: The Secret to Staying Fit for Life by Krissy Cela
- WIN: Achieve Peak Athletic Performance, Optimize Recovery
JOURNALING
- The 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: Give Thanks, Practice Positivity, Find Joy by Sophia Godkin.
- The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday
- Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration Journal by Meera Lee Patel
NUTRITION
- Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments by Andrew Chevallier
- The Immunity Fix: Strengthen Your Immune System, Fight Off Infections, Reverse Chronic Disease and Live a Healthier Life by Dr. James DiNicolantonio
- The Mineral Fix: How to Optimize Your Mineral Intake for Energy, Longevity, Immunity, Sleep, and More by Dr. James DiNicolantonio
- The Longevity Solution: Rediscovering Centuries-Old Secrets to a Healthy, Long Life by Dr. James DiNicolantonio
LOVE
PERSONAL FINANCE
- Clever Girl Finance: Ditch debt, save money and build real wealth by Bola Sokunbi
- The Latte Factor
- Taxes For Small Businesses QuickStart Guide: Understanding Taxes For Your Sole Proprietorship, Startup, & LLC (QuickStart Guides™ – Business) by ClydeBank Business
- Women & Money (Revised and Updated) by Suze Orman
PERSONAL GROWTH
PHILOSOPHY
- Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave by Ryan Holiday
- The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living: Featuring new translations of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius by Ryan Holiday
- The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
POETRY
PSYCHOLOGY
- The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness Hardcover by Ichiro Kishimi
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
RELATIONSHIPS
- Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud
- I Want This to Work: An Inclusive Guide to Navigating the Most Difficult Relationship Issues We Face in the Modern Age
- Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel
by Wendy Reyes Vélez
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