How to develop a READING HABIT?

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.

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.

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.

Read thinner books when you start

When you pick a thick book, you encounter a mental block. “Damn, I need to flip those many pages to finish the book,” you tell yourself as you slide the book back into the drawer. Choosing a thinner book gives you a psychological edge because you know the effort required is lesser. Completing a not so great 150 pages is better than opting for a 450-page monster that you will never finish.

To make that better, you now have a completed book under your belt. Read a couple more, and you have built the confidence of reading and made it a habit.

Target pages per day

When you plan to read a book, you hold it across, check the thickness and place it back on the shelf. The thought of reading those many pages seems like an uphill task. By reading 10 pages a day, completing a book would take forever, you think.

Do you know how many books would you finish if you read 10 pages a day? Most people can easily read 10 pages in half an hour. An average book personal development book consists of 200 pages. 

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 e-book 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.

 

I hope, these tips will help you to improve your reading habit.

Happy Reading!