Why Crew Members Should Find a Hobby or Two at Sea
At times, as a member of the crew, you may feel restricted in the things that you can do for entertainment. For instance, although the vessel’s catering team does a spectacular job day-to-day, the thrill never truly compares to dining out. Similarly, going to the cinema may not be so convenient a thousand kilometers from shore, but there are other hobbies those a part of the crew can adopt. One, in particular, is reading. Thankfully, books are super portable, durable, and relatively cheap — especially used or electronic editions. Books, depending on their length, may also offer hours of enjoyment and rest, which, for the active seafarer, is much needed by the end of the day. While other hobbies like photography, puzzles, music, and painting activate different areas of the brain, numerous have studies have surfaced in recent years as to how uniquely beneficial reading is to the human mind. Let’s take a look at the physical and psychological effects in play during the course of a great novel.
Reading Causes the Brain to Physically Change
Recent research from the Emory University in Atlanta, GA, reveals how reading can change both a person’s perspective as well as the physical properties of their brain. For such an effect, however, a strong narrative must be present in the text, meaning magazines and news articles just do not cut it! During the course of the study, scientists tested the participants at various stages. At the end of the reading period, participants were asked to write a comprehension test to elaborate on the reading sessions held throughout.
After testing participants the morning after a reading session, the scientists discovered increased connectivity in the left temporal cortex, the area of the brain associated with language. Since the participants were not reading at the moment of the test, experts explain this phenomenon as “shadow activity,” which essentially means muscle memory. This same effect was found in the central sulcus as well, the region where the brain associates bodily sensations like swimming or eating. This increase in activity is due to the fact the reader takes on the life of a novel’s protagonist, imagining each and every action as if it was his or her own.
Such changes in the brain carry forward if the individual read new novels continuously from various genres. Being an avid reader, then, greatly affects the brain’s biology. Yet this is not the first time research has proved that reading benefits the brain. A study published in Neurology found that reading slows the progression of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, ultimately improving memory power and concentration. Of the elderly participants, 32% showed a lower rate of mental decline compared to those without regular mental stimuli.
The Psychological Effects of Reading
For crew on board ships, rigs, and platforms, reading will not just improve memory, but it will also expand your emotional and intellectual capacities. A person who delves into a hefty novel will more than likely learn a thing or two — and probably a few words along the way. After the course of the book, when the reader goes to reflect upon the text, in order to make a proper critique, they require a higher level of thinking. In effect, readers are often better at articulating thought, which is important both in one’s personal and professional life.
When it comes to emotional development, books also offer a lot of moral teachings in between the lines. As a result, some who read a lot may even show signs of increased empathy. A study from the journal PLOS ONE, supports the notion that those who are “emotionally transported” by what they’ve read will experience an elevated sense of empathy. Once again, these effects are present only in fiction. Intellectually, non-fiction will take the cake, but when it comes to emotional intelligence, fiction may prove to be most advantageous.
For crew members who feel board during their leisure time, reading offers an escape. Similarly, after a hard day’s work at sea, reading offers a chance to relax and let go. Since the reader lives through the protagonist, most worldly troubles vanish between pages, which decreases stress and improves the reader’s imagination. This is why a few pages in the morning and before bed can have such a profound impact on one’s mood at the beginning of the day.
Other Hobbies for Crew On-Board Ships
On the flip side of reading, seafarers should document their travels in a journal. Writing will help exercise the brain in a way that boosts information retention and processing. Crossword puzzles and other word games will also help recover words lost in the back of your head in a fun, interactive way. If you feel as if reading is not for you, look around at your friends and co-workers to see if there are any new languages you can learn. Reading your own native language is one things, but learning another is completely different.
References
Reading a novel triggers lasting changes in the brain
7 Unconventional Reasons Why You Absolutely Should Be Reading Books
Why You Need a Hobby