| Hi ,Rain, a Run, and a Really Good Book… This past holiday weekend, I escaped to my friend’s cabin in northern Wisconsin — a cozy spot nestled near the Flambeau River.On the 4th, we paddled the river and soaked up all the adventure… But on the 5th? I woke up to the sound of rain tapping the cabin windows — and I’m not going to lie, I was thrilled. Yes, I was a little sore from the previous day’s paddling… But even more than that, I was ready for an excuse to curl up with a book and just disappear for a while. Well… after my friend convinced me to run 3 miles in the mist (because, according to her, “What? You don’t run in the rain?” 🙄) Let’s just say — after a decade in the Pacific Northwest, I had no excuse. But once we got back? It was me, my tea, and my novel. Hours passed, the rain kept falling, and I felt my nervous system totally reset. And it got me thinking… Why Reading Isn’t Just Relaxing — It’s Life-ExtendingIt turns out, reading isn’t just a pleasant pastime. It’s a superfood for your brain — and possibly one of the most underrated ways to support your nervous system and your longevity. According to Social Science & Medicine, book readers had a 20% lower risk of mortality over 12 years compared to non-book readers. Why? Because reading activates multiple regions of the brain, stimulates memory and learning centers, and boosts neuroplasticity. Functional MRI scans show that reading lights up neural pathways like a workout for your brain — building cognitive resilience and helping preserve brain function as we age. Plus, reading has been shown to: ✅ Lower blood pressure ✅ Reduce stress ✅ Improve sleep ✅ Sharpen memory ✅ Boost mood ✅ Increase emotional regulation So the lazy day in a cabin with a book? It wasn’t lazy at all. It was medicine — for my mind and body. Your Prescription This Week? Give yourself permission to unplug and pick up a book. Even just 15 minutes a day can lower cortisol and bring your nervous system back into balance. And the next time you feel guilty for “doing nothing” with a book in your lap… Remember — you’re actually giving your brain and body what they’ve been begging for: peace, stimulation, and connection — all in one. To living longer and feeling better, Dr. Jannine Krause PS: Curious what book I was reading? Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane. She’s a Pacific NW writer and writes a lot about Washington State in this one and they turned it into a Netflix series a few years ago.. I haven’t watched – heard it was good from my Mother -in-law who gifted me the book! Check out Kristin Hannah’s book’s below. |
Get back to your wild, active, vibrant self
Let’s figure out what’s accelerating your aging process…
