Reading can help you improve your memory and vocabulary, as well as assist you learn new things and improve your focus and concentration. Many people express a desire to build a reading habit but are unable to do so owing to a lack of time.
At one point in my life, I was one of those folks. I’ve employed a variety of strategies to encourage me to read more and build a daily reading habit.
These are outlined below.
Put together a reading list
I would strongly advise you to begin by compiling a list of books you want to read. You may, for example, make a list of novels you’ve always wanted to read but never got around to, or a list of books you need to read in order to learn more about a topic or field of study that interests you. You can use lists that have been produced by others in addition to making your own.
Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels and Le Monde’s 100 Books of the Century are two prominent lists.
Set a goal
Setting a goal is a good way to inspire yourself to read more. Set a goal to read a specific number of books this year or a certain number of pages each day, for example, and work toward that goal.
The Bookly app and the GoodReads.com Reading Challenge are two tools you may utilize to help you meet your reading objectives.
Make a reading schedule
You should arrange reading into your day to ensure that you read every day. You may read first thing in the morning, on your way to work, before retiring to bed, or even during lunch.
Locate a suitable reading location
Finding a good place to read will assist you in reading more. It’s best if you can find a place that’s calm and free of interruptions.
You might read on your bed, a comfy chair or sofa, a park bench, or, of course, the library.
Eliminate Distractions
Turn off the TV and put your phone on quiet to remove any distractions that might be interfering with your reading.
Read actively
While passive reading is preferable to no reading, Strongly advise you to take an active approach to reading. When I say “read actively,” I mean that you should think about what you’re reading, mark portions that you find significant or fascinating, and make notes in the margins of the book or in a separate notebook.
Use the highlighting and note tools on your smartphone or ebook reader if you’re reading on the go.
Keep a reading journal
I strongly advise keeping a reading notebook in which you can scribble down favorite quotes, keep track of the books you’ve read, and record any ideas or comments you have on the books you’ve read.
You can go back and study these at a later time to refresh your memory or generate new ideas.
Take a book with you wherever you go
Always have some reading material on hand, whether it’s a physical book or an ebook on your phone or ebook reader. As a result, you’ll be able to read whenever you choose.
This allows you to read instead of browsing through your Facebook or Instagram page during your breaks.
Reading should take the place of other forms of entertainment
Replacing other forms of pleasure with reading is a smart approach to read more. Instead of watching TV or movies, playing video games, or idly scrolling through Instagram’s Explore page, read a book.
You’ll be able to read a lot more books each year as a result of this.
At the same time, read several novels
Reading many novels at once is something I enjoy doing. I simply flip to a different book if I feel tired with one and want a change of pace.
Reading one fiction and one non-fiction book at the same time is a terrific method to do this.
Every day, read at least 10-20 pages
Setting aside a certain amount of pages per day would be ideal if you want to establish a consistent reading schedule. If you have a busy schedule, consider setting aside at least 10-20 pages every day to read.
This method will help you stay focused as you work toward your daily objective of completing a certain number of pages. Focus leads to efficiency, and reading will soon become a habit for you.
When you’re reading, be proactive. Don’t rush through, but instead take out time to understand and engage in the reading process.
This way, you’ll be open to learning and be able to transfer that knowledge to others when opportunity comes.
Bottomline
Reading good books has several advantages. They can help you think more deeply, learn more about your subject, enhance your abilities, calm your nerves, and generally assist you progress to the next level.
Whatever your industry or interests, it’s critical to establish a continuous pattern and habit of reading beyond your comfort zone. If reading is a habit you’d like to develop, there are some practical approaches you can take, especially if you’re always falling behind on your reading goals.
However, you must first have a strong desire to read and grow as a result of your efforts. Consider reading as a pleasurable, transformative activity that will have a lasting impact on your life.
With this mindset, you’ll become more intentional about the books you read by identifying areas in your life that need improvement and making a plan to enhance those areas by reading the correct books that address those issues.
