When my son Alex was about four, we were busy running around one afternoon. He turned to me and said, “Just freelax, Mom.” Love that word: “Freelax” If we could all just “freelax,” things would be so much better and calmer, wouldn’t they?

Well it turns out there’s yet another reason for our readers to love us writers: The stories we create help them “freelax” — fundamentally enhancing their well-being. There’s plenty of research to show that reading not only expands our view of the world, it also makes us more empathetic and can even boost our skill in decoding social cues. There’s also growing scientific evidence that reading reduces stress.

After a stressful day, some people turn to music, some to a glass of wine or cup of tea. But new research shows that just six minutes of pleasure reading will have a faster and more therapeutic effect than any of these stress-relieving methods. Amazing!

According to a study by the University of Sussex, volunteers experienced 68% lower stress levels after pleasure reading—a better result than more traditional relaxation methods. Reading silently for about six minutes led to a slower heart rate and more relaxed muscles.

“Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation,” noted Dr. David Lewis, the cognitive neuropsychologist who led the study. The reason is simple: pleasure reading stimulates our imaginations and allows us to enter an altered state of consciousness.

More good news: In a University of Liverpool study, 50% of participants said reading helped made them more empathetic and 27% said reading inspired them to make positive changes in their lives: planning more travel, exploring new hobbies, and taking better care of their health. Another 17% said reading helped them to remain calmer.

In another study, participants who read Harry Potter books self-identified as wizards, while those who read the Twilight series self-identified as vampires. Researchers concluded “belonging” to fictional communities is similar to the satisfaction from real-life groups. “Books provide the opportunity for social connection and the blissful calm that comes from becoming a part of something larger than oneself for a precious, fleeting moment,” study author Dr. Shira Gabriel observed.

Our readers need us! We calm them! We motivate them! Write on!

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