Building a reading habit can be the wildly enriching and pleasurable habit of engaging with books, allowing us to travel, spark creativity, and share insights. Many of us struggle to stick to a reading routine, due to busy lives, distractions, or just simply having a lack of interest. You’re probably even wondering how to find your way back to reading, most often because it may take some time to reignite the reading process. Fortunately, you will have a fair chance of revamping your reading habit soon! Below is a list of simple and effective ideas to falling back in love with books.
1. Create Realistic Goals
One of the biggest barriers to habitually starting (or restarting) a reading habit is the expectation of keeping track of a huge number of pages read (or books). Setting high expectations often leads to frustration and burn-out. Rather, start with a realistic goal and exercises. For instance, aim to read one chapter (or ten pages) a day, and eventually, ramp-up the reading goals. Over time, as reading becomes a habit, you can step-up the original goal. It’s more about the consistent habit of reading, rather than how much you read. You should aim to generate movement after initially read an article, chapter, or book for the day, generate movement by reading small portions regularly, and then regular reading may become less of an obligation.
2. Choose Books That Interest You
If you’re trying to get back into reading, it’s important to select books that you find interesting. You don’t want to feel forced to read a classic book, or something that everyone is talking about, if it doesn’t captivate you. Read what you are naturally drawn to—whether that be science fiction or history, or philosophy or self-development, or graphic novels. When you’re interested in the topics, reading will feel like an enjoyable escape, instead of an obligation.
3. On the Location Aspect
Where you read is going to heavily influence how often you read. If you make an inviting space, you will be more inclined to pick up a book. It could be a comfortable armchair next to the window, a hammock in the back yard, or a cozy corner of your living room. Find a place that you want to be at, and that makes you feel relaxed and happy. Soft ambient lights, warm blankets, and a tea or coffee will also add to the experience, and make reading an hour of comfort that you will look forward to every day.
4. Incorporate Reading into Your Daily Routine
When reading becomes a part of your routine, it becomes a habit. Try picking a specific time each day you’ll read—whether it be first thing in the morning after lunch, or right before you turn off the light. Make reading a routine and try not to negotiate it away. You can even start your day by finding ten minutes to read while drinking coffee or read a chapter of a book as your last habit before bed. You just need to commit to a little bit every day to sustain the reading habit.
5. Explore the Option of Audiobooks and E-Books
If you struggle to find time to sit, read a physical book, audiobooks and e-books can ultimately serve as great substitutes. An audiobook allows you to listen to stories while commuting to work, exercising, or even doing we’ll say chores around the house. Now there are so many places you can go that offer audiobooks often read by professional narrators who can make the story come to life! E-books are convenient to have books with you because there are a hundred books in your pocket. If you can’t fit traditional reading into your life, these formats can still allow you to carry on the reading habit.
6. Participate in a Reading Group or Book Club
A great way to stay motivated to read is to share the experience with others. Joining a book club or an online reading group can create accountability and motivate you to read consistently. When you discuss books with others, you will be engaged with the material, and may hear different opinions or structures. Being a part of a reading group can help spark the interest in genres or authors you might not otherwise have read, broadening your reading options.
Conclusion
You do not have to overhaul your life to become a reader again. You should embrace and find simple and enjoyable ways to make reading a part of your day. By setting realistic expectations, selecting books you want to read, creating a reading environment you enjoy, establishing reading as a daily habit, experimenting with library and audiobooks, and, hopefully, discussing books with fellow readers to foster the habit, you will soon find you are back to reading. So why not start today and open the book you have chosen, find a place to enjoy it alone, and start a new adventure.
