When most people hear the word “fitness,” they think first of physical fitness. But that’s not the only kind of fitness. Your mind needs to be fit as well, and that means you need to exercise it.

I was doing some research and discovered that a quarter of adults in the U.S. have gone 12 consecutive months without reading a book—not even one! We should certainly hope that the situation is better in other countries. Considering how little any of us knows compared to the total amount of knowledge available in the world, we could all stand to read at least one book every year, and that would still be far less than acceptable for those of us who are curious about life and trying to build a strong intellect.

So, this is not to point any fingers, but if you’re literate and haven’t picked up a single book in 12 months, your mind just might be out of shape. It could be slowly withering away as you remain oblivious to the power of reading and inquisitiveness. If you’re not a little concerned about that, then you should be.

It is true that some people just don’t enjoy reading, and the good news is that there’s a solution. If reading a book is too much effort, then listen to an audiobook. They count, too, and you can even listen in your car while you drive. It can’t get any easier than that.

If you need a running start, sign up to receive our free 10-Point To-Do List to Start Getting In Shape From ZERO. It’s short and informative. You can also go to Contact Us and send a request for a copy.

Sayonara until next time.