When you pick up a book, do you have a hard time immersing yourself in it? Do you pick up a book and end up spending weeks or even months trying to finish it? Do you feel tired or even fall asleep when you open a book? If your answer is yes to any or all of these questions, there is probably something you need to change.
Reading should not feel like a chore, even to newbies.
And here are 5 tips to help if reading feels like a chore to you:
1. Read on topics that interest you.
All of us have at least something we enjoy talking about, watching, listening to. Try finding books on the same topics. What you want to avoid is trying to read something because everyone else is reading it. If you are not in self-help/personal development books, don’t try reading those because everyone around you talks about them. If you enjoy fiction, read fiction. Like with everything else, if you want to become an avid reader, stay true to yourself when it comes to the type of books you select.
I came across this article on bestselling books that people don’t finish, and found it very interesting. Check it out!
There could definitely be various reasons why people don’t finish the books mentioned in the article; however, I am sure that one of them is people getting overexcited about new books/bestsellers; and quickly realizing that it is not the type of subject they enjoy reading on.
It is important to note, however, that it is totally fine to not finish a book. Many of the fast readers out there – you know, those who finish tons of books in a year – don’t read books from the first letter to the last. They usually get what they want out of them and move on to the next ones.
But remember to read on topics that interest you and you’ll have an enjoyable experience.
2. Set aside some time to read.
This is key. You don’t need to have a dedicated reading time every single day; but you can, for example set aside an hour or two on Sunday afternoon to read. Before you realize it, this will become a routine and an absolute sacred time for you. Believe me, it is relaxing.
For parents, I know this can be challenging when you literally have little to no time to yourself; however, it is doable. 15 minutes here and there quickly add up. Also, if you are not too tired when your children are asleep, read during that time. And this brings me to the next tip.
3. Don’t read when you are tired.
This one is a big no no. You come home from work tired or you’re tired of watching TV and want to lay down and read a book? There is no better way to put yourself to sleep. Trust me, been there, done that. Read if you just want to relax, but not when you are tired and what you really want is to sleep (not to relax).
However, if you have a hard time falling asleep at night, reading could help. Plus you’ll get through a few pages. 🙂
4. Use the reading method that works best for you.
Some of us like paper/physical books, other audio books, and other digital/eBooks. Whatever works for you is what you should do. I have yet to read a book on a Kindle. Paper and audio are my go to. And even that, I can do self-help/personal development books with audio, but everything else has to be paper. Each reading method has advantages and disadvantages, but what matters is what works for you.
Check out this article on the blog where I share some advantages and disadvantages of each method.
5. Start or join a book club.
There is no better way to develop a reading habit than to start or join a book club. Start a meetup where you and other people get together to discuss a book you are all reading at the same time.
Or even more informal, if you have friends interested in reading a book you also want to read, you can read it together. Have a weekly meeting or call to discuss takeaways. Or each person could summarize what they’ve learned from a specific chapter each week. I’ve done that in the past with some amazing ladies and absolutely enjoyed it.
I hope you find these tips helpful.
Happy Reading!
Until next time…
Huguette