Why Cornwall’s Leisure Centres Want Members Reading More

You pack your trainers, your water bottle and maybe a banana for afterwards. New research suggests there is one more thing worth keeping close, and it has nothing to do with lifting weights or clocking miles.

A book.

GLL, the social enterprise that runs nine Better leisure centres across Cornwall, has released research this week showing that reading delivers a wide range of benefits for people who exercise regularly. The findings cover sleep, recovery, focus, motivation and sporting performance.

The survey was commissioned to mark the National Year of Reading 2026, and it found that active Brits are increasingly turning to books to recharge body and mind after exercise.

More than half of physically active adults (55%) say reading helps reduce stress and anxiety. Over a third (37%) say it helps them switch off and recover after a session. Another 35% say it sharpens their focus and concentration, and almost a quarter (23%) say it boosts their motivation.

For a lot of people, the research suggests, a book is part of the training itself. One in five active adults say reading helps them manage the mental demands of training and competition. Around 17% believe it has a positive effect on their performance or motivation. More than one in ten (13%) say reading helps them visualise their performance, a technique used widely in elite sport. Almost one in ten say it helps settle pre-competition nerves.

Reading helps active people recover better

When it comes to winding down, reading appears to have the edge over scrolling through a phone.

Nearly seven in ten active adults (69%) read in the evening before bed, and better sleep is one of the benefits they report most often. More than four in ten runners (43%) say reading improves their sleep and recovery, while over a third of all active adults say it helps them switch off after exercise.

On average, active Brits spend more than seven hours a month with a book.

Footballers lead the way

With the World Cup pulling in fans, the research found footballers among the strongest believers in what reading can do.

More than half (55%) say it improves their focus and concentration. Around 40% say it helps them recover and switch off, and over a third (37%) say it has a positive effect on their performance or motivation.

More than a third (35%) also said free access to books and audiobooks through their local leisure centre would encourage them to read more.

Different sports, different stories

The survey turned up some clear differences between sporting communities.

Runners are particularly likely to use reading to support sleep, recovery and concentration. Gym-goers (60%) and yoga and Pilates participants (58%) are the most likely to say reading helps reduce stress and anxiety, with swimmers close behind at 58%.

Golfers top the leaderboard for reading time, averaging more than eight hours a month. Yoga and Pilates participants follow, ahead of walkers and hikers.

Taste varies too. Footballers lean towards sports books and self-improvement titles, while runners are more likely to pick up a romance novel.

James Curry, GLL Head of Service for Cornwall, said: “Our research shows that active people are already discovering the powerful connection between reading and wellbeing. Whether it’s helping people unwind after exercise, improve their focus or support better recovery, reading has benefits that extend far beyond the page.

“Through our partnership with the National Year of Reading 2026, we want to make it easier than ever for people to discover how reading can support both their physical and mental wellbeing.”

David Hayman, Campaign Director for the National Year of Reading 2026, added: “We are delighted to welcome GLL as an official partner of the National Year of Reading 2026. As the biggest reading campaign in a generation, our mission is to inspire people everywhere to rediscover the joy of reading and make it part of everyday life.

“We’re encouraging people to read into their interests, whether that’s football, running, swimming, cycling or going to the gym. Reading helps people deepen their connection with the things they love, while also delivering benefits for wellbeing, confidence and learning. We’re excited to share those benefits with GLL’s members across the UK.”