Reading hasn’t always been your cup of tea, but you understand its benefits and would like to get into it? Here are 8 steps that can help you get into reading:
- Set times
Just like you would do for anything that matters, set a few time slots throughout the day to read. Maybe it is 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes during lunch, and another 10 minutes before bed… This adds up to 30 minutes a day! 30 minutes of reading per day is a great start! You can even start with less than 30 minutes.
I use public transportation to go to work. This allows me to spend at least 30 minutes reading on my way to work, and on my way back home. During lunch, when I am eating by myself I read as well. At night when I finish my bedtime routine, I read 15-20 minutes before sleeping.
If you drive to work, audio books could be a great option too!
- Always carry a book
I always have a book or two in my purse so I can read when I have a little time. Whether it is at a doctor’s appointment or while getting my hair done, I make sure I have something to read. When you get into the habit of reading, not having a book handy when you have free time will feel weird.
- Make a list
At the beginning of the year, I make a list of all the books I would like to read. I keep adding to the list as I come across books I would like to read. And as I go through books, I keep track of the number of books I’ve read. This is particularly helpful as my goal is to read at least one book per month.
Another advantage of the list is that it keeps you motivated because you always want to get to the next book; this is especially true if you’ve seen great reviews on the next book or if it was highly recommended.
Finally, the list makes you keep momentum in your reading. You don’t have to think about what you want to read next; as soon as you’re done with one book, you’re ready to pick up the next.
- Find a quiet place
This may mean reading while the kids are sleeping or using headphones during your commute. Just make sure you are in a quiet place when you are reading, to avoid any distractions. You don’t want to go through an entire book and not get anything out of it. If that happens often, you may get discouraged; so avoid distractions as much as possible.
- Reduce TV/internet
It is no news that TV can easily use up a big chunk of your time! Getting into reading requires some discipline when it comes to TV. For years, especially in college and early in my professional life, I spent a lot of time watching TV. As my life got busier and my priorities changed, I considerably reduced the time I spend watching TV. If you cannot reduce your TV time, prioritize reading and reward yourself with your favorite shows afterwards.
The internet and especially social media will also prevent you from reading if you do not set boundaries. I would recommend setting some time for your social media platforms and once you’ve used it up, just disconnect from them. This one is hard, but definitely doable!
- Read to your kids
Reading to your kids will not only instill a reading habit in them but it will also get you reading. Most importantly, you get to spend quality time with them. My son loves books, so our bedtime story time is one of our favorite moments of the day! Sometimes we read two books before he goes to bed. And I actually learn so much from some of the books we read together! Children are great imitators; so if they see you reading, they’re more likely to love reading too! So read to your kids.
- Make it enjoyable
Reading shouldn’t be painful. It should be an enjoyable and relaxing thing to do. That’s why it is extremely important to start your reading journey with books on subjects that interest you. If you don’t like fiction, start with books on personal development for instance or vice versa. Also, start with smaller books so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
- Have a reading day
In addition to your normal reading routine with the daily time slots, this will be the day you spend the most time reading; for me it is on Sunday afternoon. I try to spend an hour or 2 reading while my son is taking his nap.
Overall, following these tips should help you slowly get into the habit of reading. However, it is totally fine if you don’t accomplish them all. There may be days when you won’t have 30 minutes to read or that you fall asleep watching TV. My advise is to challenge yourself the very next day to do better than the previous day; and in no time, you’ll turn yourself into an avid reader.
I hope the above steps will help in your reading journey! Please share any additional tips you may have in the comments.
Happy Reading!
Huguette