How to Get Yourself in the Habit of Reading

Let’s first start by saying this, you are never alone in the company of a book. There are so many ways reading can change your life for the better, be it with all the new things we learn, the different perspectives, the imagination, the creativity, and a lot more. If you are an avid reader by nature count yourself among the lucky ones. But if you are not, that doesn’t mean you’ve already missed out on the pleasure of reading. Here is how to build the habit, enjoy it, and want more of it.

 

Pick The Right Genre.

First things first, identifying the genre of interest makes all the difference. Let’s say you are not into Sci-fi and you jump into reading with a sci-fi book, you will end up feeling bored, demotivated, and won’t invest much of your time into reading. So pick books from genres you like. Think about the movies you love watching then read around the same genre. You can expand and explore the genres later but first start with something you like and are interested in.

 

Create A Reading List.

Now that you’ve identified the genre, create a list of books you find interesting and would like to read so that when you finish a book you know what you want to read next. Browse also lists recommended by others, it will give you an idea on books that have high rating.

 

Schedule A Time For Reading.

Just like working out, doing errands, or anything else that you dedicate some of your time to do the same with reading. Find a slot in your day to set just for reading, whether it is first thing in the morning, last thing at night, or in between your day. Start by 15 or 30 minutes then build your way up as you get more used to it.

 

Set A Reading Goal.

Don’t start by setting a high goal like planning to finish x number of books in a year, instead start by small goals. For instance, start by setting a daily goal for the number of pages you want to finish, and then when you reach that goal, set a bigger one. This way, you will stay committed and motivated.

 

Read Actively.

It will make a huge difference in your reading experience to take notes or highlight parts that you like. You can either do that at the book margin or use a notebook, whatever you are more comfortable with. It will be very beneficial to have some notes you can get back to any time you want.

 

Carry your book around everywhere you go.

You will only how helpful this is only when you need it. It is for the times you are waiting at a clinic, in the metro, or waiting for a friend to arrive. Those little breaks can be better made use of when you have a book around and it is a great way to kill time.

 

Don’t force it.

If a book doesn’t get you hooked or find yourself bored reading it then don’t read it. Let’s say you read around 50 pages of a book and you feel like dragging yourself to the next page, in that case, just drop that book and move to the next.