Why Reading Romance does more than increase your heart rate…
Guest post…
It’s no secret that reading offers some amazing benefits. According to Reader’s Digest, a love of books can help protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease, encourage positive thinking, fortify friendships, and even boost your workout. But romance novels can provide all that, and then some.
We know what you’re probably thinking: aren’t romance novels just cheesy, clichéd, unrealistic stories for a reader who’s looking for a way to pass the time? If so, you’re not alone in your assumptions. As Woman’s Day points out, romance novels are often accused of generating false expectations among readers. But when it comes down to it, that’s simply not the case at all. So before you bash your bestie for reading yet another steamy paperback, check out these reasons why you should be reading more romance.
Improved Sex Life>
Despite what the naysayers tell you, reading romance can actually lead to an improved sex life. It’s not difficult to see why. These novels are full of hot love scenes that go on for pages and pages. Halfway through the book and we’ll bet you’ll be inspired to try out some sexy scenarios of your own. As Adam & Eve writes, whether you’re single or in a relationship (or somewhere in between), reading erotica is a great way to focus your mind on the sexual and give your libido a boost. Who couldn’t benefit from that?
The situations that play out between the characters in your book can provide endless ideas for you to explore, allowing you to linger on desires and fantasies you may have never fully realized before. After all, life can get busy, leaving little time for “you” time. Between working, errand-running, family obligations— whatever it may be that fills up your schedule on a daily basis—the fact of the matter is our needs can often get lost in the shuffle. Romance novels can get you back in touch with your sensual side, providing the perfect opportunity to rediscover what makes you feel in the mood.
Increased Empathy
A recent study shows that readers of romance may be more empathetic than those who aren’t lovers of the genre. ABC News reports that the research, conducted by psychologist Katrina Fong, is based on a group of (mostly) women who were asked if they recognized the names of various romance authors. They were then shown pictures of actors and asked to guess each one’s emotional state.
As it turns out, the women who recognized more authors were also better at identifying the actors’ emotions. While there are certainly a lot of factors at play in a study such as this, the correlation between reading romance novels and empathy may have to do with the way relationships are often portrayed in the romance genre.
A large chunk of a romance novel is spent developing deep, intimate connections between characters, and that important fictional relationship teaches genuine expressions of affection towards others. In a genre that focuses on interpersonal relationships, it makes sense that an avid reader of romance would garner some skills that benefit their real-life bonds. The more you read romance, the more you see relationships develop and grow, and the more empathy you show in your own relationships, whether they are romantic in nature or not.
Reduced Stress
As we mentioned before, romance novels are often cited as being unrealistic, in that they revolve around storylines that are unlikely to happen to the average reader. While this is usually seen as a bad thing, the opposite tends to be true. It’s this departure from realism that makes romance novels so appealing—and so beneficial for your emotional health. According to Kumon, a 2009 study found that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by up to 68 percent. While it’s true this applies to any fiction novel, the level of escapism a book provides is even greater in the romance genre.
Romance novels provide an outlet from reality and the everyday stresses that come with it. The content of these stories is often so removed from what is happening in our real lives that our worries are forgotten as we read. Nothing against the classics, but doesn’t delving into pages filled with sexy love scenes and flirtatious banter sound more relaxing than reading about the struggles of a 19th century orphan living on the streets? If it’s stress relief we’re going for, dick wins out over Dickens any day.
It’s no secret that reading offers some amazing benefits. According to Reader’s Digest, a love of books can help protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease, encourage positive thinking, fortify friendships, and even boost your workout. But romance novels can provide all that, and then some.
We know what you’re probably thinking: aren’t romance novels just cheesy, clichéd, unrealistic stories for a reader who’s looking for a way to pass the time? If so, you’re not alone in your assumptions. As Woman’s Day points out, romance novels are often accused of generating false expectations among readers. But when it comes down to it, that’s simply not the case at all. So before you bash your bestie for reading yet another steamy paperback, check out these reasons why you should be reading more romance.
