How to Develop a Reading Habit

 Reading Habit

Reading can help you improve your memory and vocabulary, as well as 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 due to a lack of time. At one point in my life, I was one of those folks. I've used a variety of techniques to encourage myself to read more and build a daily reading habit. These are outlined below.

Make a reading list.

You should begin by making 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 had the chance to, or a list of books you need to read to learn more about a topic or field of study that interests you. You can use lists other people have generated in addition to your own. There are several lists available online as well.

Make a plan.

Setting a goal is an excellent way to inspire yourself to read more. For example, you could establish a goal of reading a specific amount of books or pages each day this year and then work towards that goal. The Bookly app and the GoodReads.com Reading Challenge are two tools that can help you meet your reading objectives.

Make a reading schedule.

You must arrange reading into your day to ensure that you read every day. You may read first thing in the morning, on your commute, before bed, or even during lunch.

Find a suitable reading spot.

Finding a good place to read will assist you in reading more. This should ideally take place somewhere peaceful, with no distractions. You may read on your bed, a comfy chair or sofa, on a park bench, or, of course, in the library.

Remove any distractions.

Turn off the TV and put your smartphone on the quiet to prevent any distractions that might be interfering with your reading.

Actively read

While passive reading is preferable to no reading at all, I strongly advise you to take an active approach to read. 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 write comments and notes in the margins of the book or in a separate notebook. Take advantage of the highlighting and note-taking features on your smartphone or ebook reader.

Maintain a reading journal.

I highly recommend keeping a reading notebook in which you may write down favorite quotes, keep track of what books you've read, jot down any ideas about the book, and make comments about what you've read. You can go over these again later to refresh your memory or obtain new ideas.

Carry a book with you wherever you go.

Always keep some reading material on hand, whether it's a physical book or an ebook on your smartphone or ebook reader. That way, you'll be able to read anytime you choose. This allows you to read during your breaks instead of scrolling through your Facebook or Instagram feed.

Understand when to give up.

Don't feel obligated to finish every book you start. If the book you're reading is uninteresting or not what you expected, put it down and start reading something else. The 50-page rule is an excellent one that I like to employ. Every book I start, I read the first 50 pages. If I still don't like it after 50 pages, I quit and move on to another book.

Reading should take the place of other forms of entertainment.

Replacing other sources of amusement with reading is a fantastic strategy to increase your reading. For example, instead of watching TV or movies, playing video games, or endlessly scrolling through Instagram's Explore tab, read a book.

At the same time, read several novels.

Reading many novels at once is something I enjoy doing. When I am bored with a book or want a change of pace, I just flip to another one. A fantastic approach to accomplish this is to read one fiction and one nonfiction book at the same time.

Find a reading buddy.

  

You can also choose a reading buddy to help you stay on track with your reading goals. This could be a buddy, a significant other, or a coworker. You and your reading buddy can start reading the same book and then discuss it as you go or when you both finish it.