Have you ever started reading a book, gotten hooked, and then quickly put it down after getting distracted by the next shiny thing?
A successful reading habit doesn’t have to be so hard — or even seem that difficult at all. The trick is to find reading methods that fit your personality and productive lifestyle, because each of us wants to read in different ways.
In this article, we’ll look at methods that you can try to make reading a consistent part of your life. Give them all a try and see which one works best for you!
Take your time
One of our greatest enemies when it comes to reading is being in a rush. If you’re reading just to pass time, most likely you won’t find yourself fully engrossed in your book—and that means fewer pages are getting turned. Instead, make sure you allow yourself ample time to enjoy your reading; if you don’t have much down time, try leaving some minutes at the end of each day for reading.
Use audiobooks
I’m not much of an audiobook listener, but I do know that many people prefer audiobooks for reading. Some studies even suggest that listening to audiobooks can help you absorb information faster than if you read it. That makes sense—why wouldn’t audio information be processed differently in your brain? Either way, if reading isn’t your favourite pastime, audiobooks are certainly worth a try.
Find time during the day
We all have 24 hours in each day. It may sound daunting, but with some clever time management, you can create space for reading. (I’m not talking about squeezing it in between work and your social life here.) One of my favourite things about reading is that it’s something you can do anywhere: before bed, during your lunch break, even on your commute. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity; making time for books is a key component of developing a regular reading habit. If you find it challenging to stay focused while reading a book, you can try reading something short. This can help you develop a reading habit. For example, you can try reading short real-life stories shared by people around the world via various websites.
Read with friends
Having like-minded people around who love books makes reading much more enjoyable. You’ll have someone to discuss your favourite titles with, as well as someone you can call when you just need some company in general. Find other bibliophiles and get together once a week to swap thoughts on your favourite reads and maybe discover new titles that sound good. It’s not only fun, but it’s inspiring!
Start a book club
Meeting with other people who love books is a great way to motivate yourself. Not only will you make friends, but you’ll also be more likely to read more and discover new genres of literature. If there isn’t already a book club in your area, why not start one? You could even use your local library as a meeting space—the librarians will help you set up if you get permission first.
Always have a book on you
People often find reading difficult because they don’t have access to their next book. To make reading easy, make sure you always have a book on you so that whenever you have time and feel like it, you can sit down with your book. It’s also helpful for those who commute or travel frequently for work. For example, if you travel often by plane, train or bus and are able to bring a book in your carry-on bag or purse, then do so!
Author Bio:
His experiences working for top brands like Unilever and Samsonite inspired him to write ‘The Rules of Work. Shivank set out to provide non-bullshitty, fact-based career advice that helps millennial workers get more opportunities and grow their careers faster. This blog is where he documents the daily challenges he and his colleagues face. Check him out on OfficeProductivity.org.
