Reading has a number of benefits including improving your memory and vocabulary, helping you learn new things, and improving focus and concentration. A lot of people say that they want to develop a reading habit but are unable to due to a lack of time. I was one of those people myself at one point in my life. I have used a number of tricks to help me read more and develop a daily reading habit. I have outlined these below.
- Create
a reading list
I
would definitely suggest you start out by creating a list of books that you
would like to read. For example, you could create a list of novels you’ve
always wanted to read but never had the chance to, or a list of books that you
need to read to learn something about a topic or field of study that you are
interested in. Apart from creating your own lists, you can also use lists that
other people have created. Some popular lists include Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels and Le Monde’s 100 Books of the Century. You can
also find a large number of different lists online. A great website to find
reading lists is GoodReads.com.
- Set
a goal
A good idea to motivate yourself to read more is to set a goal. For example, you
could set a goal to read a certain number of books this year or a certain
number of pages each day and then work on reaching that goal. Some tools you
can use to help you achieve your reading goals include the Bookly app and
the GoodReads.com Reading Challenge.
- Schedule
a time for reading
To
make sure that you will read every day, you need to schedule reading into your
day. You could read first thing in the morning, during your commute, before
going to sleep or even during lunch.
- Find
a good place to read
Something
that will help you read more is finding a good place to read. This should
preferably be somewhere quiet, without any distractions. You could read in your
bed, in a comfortable chair or sofa, on a park bench, and of course — at the
library.
- Eliminate
distractions
Make
sure to eliminate any distractions that might be interfering with your reading
— turn off the TV and put your smartphone on silent.
- Read
actively
While
passive reading is better than no reading at all, I would highly suggest you
try an active approach to reading. When I say “read actively”, I mean think
about what you are reading, highlight passages that you think are important or
interesting, write comments and notes either on the book’s margins or in a
separate notebook. If you are reading on your smartphone or your ebook reader,
take advantage of their highlighting and note features.
- Keep
a reading journal
I
highly recommend keeping a reading journal where you can write down quotes that
you like, record what books you have read, jot down any thoughts related to the
book as well as any comments you have on what you have read. You can review
these later to refresh your memory or to get new ideas.
- Carry
a book everywhere you go
Always
carry some reading material with you, either in the form of a physical book, or
an ebook on your smartphone or ebook reader. That way you’re able to read whenever
you get a chance. This allows you to spend those little breaks in your day
reading instead of scrolling your Facebook or Instagram feed.
- Know
when to quit
Don’t
feel like you have to finish every book you start. If the book you’re reading
is boring or not what you imagined it would be, simply drop it and start
reading a different one. A good rule that I like to use is the 50-page
rule. I always read the first 50 pages of any book I start. If I still
don’t enjoy it after 50 pages, I just quit and move on to a different book.
- Replace
other forms of entertainment with reading
A good way to read more is to replace other forms of entertainment with reading.
For example, instead of watching TV or movies, playing video games, or
mindlessly browsing the Explore tab on Instagram — read a book. This will allow
you to read a lot more books every year.
- Read
multiple books at the same time
Something I like to do is read multiple books at the same time. Anytime I get bored with
a book or I would like a change of pace, I just switch to a different one. A
great way to do this is to always read one fiction book and one non-fiction
book at the same time.
- Get
a reading partner
You
can also get a reading partner to help you keep yourself accountable to your
reading goals. This can be a friend of yours, a significant other, or a
colleague. You can start reading the same book with your reading partner and
then discuss it as you read or once you both finish reading the book.
I
hope these tips will help you to read more and develop a daily reading habit.
Now go and read a book!
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