10 ways to get back into your reading habit
We have published an article on how to read more books. Now this post is for those who used to read in the past and now stopped it for some reasons. Recently, a friend asked him how he could start reading with the habit. When I asked him what kind of books he liked to read, his answer surprised me that he did not remember the last time he had read a whole book, but he had read a lot of news and things online. Another friend admitted her own difficulties reading as much as she used to, especially fiction. According to her, there is enough drama in the whole world that she didn’t feel like reading fictional drama.
There was one who said that he “prefers to experience real life rather than read about it in books.” As for these kinds of people who think their lives are more interesting and so diverse to give them all the wisdom and emotional skills to lead them through our increasingly complex societies, then I cannot break their sweet illusion. So here I want to address those who really want to read but somehow cannot.
There is a difference between reading news and articles online and reading a book. I mean the long format (books or novels) and shorter pieces (news and articles online). Our cognitive processes are such that we read faster and with less comprehension and retention when we scroll through short online articles, blogs, and news stories and click link after link. Although I also read a lot online (news, book reviews, interviews with authors, etc.), books are still my main source of knowledge and thoughts. Reading is not just about improving the quality of our lives, but also about the quality of care we pay to things and people in our daily lives. It changes our ways of relating to people and being in the world.
Here I suggest some approaches to rekindle and cultivate the habit of reading. Better to find a way to practice regular reading organically rather than forcing yourself to read.
Move to books from online articles
If you like to read online on some specific topics, look for the best published books on those topics online or at your local library or bookstore. Don’t forget to check the name of the author of the article you liked to read online, as you may have published books as well. You’ll get a deeper and more considerate dive into those topics in book-size work. Also ask booksellers and librarians about the book on that topic that you liked, as they really enjoy interacting with readers and recommend specific types of books. If you live where there is no nearby library or bookstore, you can join the online library and download books to an electronic device.
Move to books from movies
If you like movies, find those adapted from a book and then read that book. If possible (I insist) do not see the movie before reading the book. With a little Google search, you can find the movies based on books that have already been released or will be released in the near future. Once you are done with that book, try watching the movie adaptation and you will realize what you were missing while watching only a movie and not a book.
Read travel literature
If traveling is your thing, look for books written on or around the next place you plan to visit. Read those books before, during and after your trip. It will make the whole travel experience richer and more satisfying. Often times, travel books try to navigate the beaten track and not only enlighten us, but also encourage us to wander unknown places.
Read short stories
If book-size fiction scares you, choose a storybook. You can usually finish them in one sitting, but they can whet your appetite for longer works of fiction. There are so many wonderful short stories available online. These short stories can build on your regular reading habit.
Read with friends
If you can’t read alone or need company while reading, join or start a book club. Personally, I prefer to read alone, but I enjoy those strange book discussions with readers in book clubs. If you can’t find a book club near you, you can find it online. I love discussing books online with readers around the world. I am fascinated by how differently we all interpret the same book and always learn something new. Another way is to find a friend who likes to read and ask him (or make him) read the same book that you want to read or read the same book that he is reading and then discuss chapter by chapter. This will make you understand and enjoy the book on another level.
Buy an e-Reader
If you’re short on time, invest in an e-reader or a good audiobook membership. Then you can read while waiting in line at the supermarket checkout, during your commute, or while doing your day’s tasks. You will be surprised to learn that you have so much time to read that it was to no avail. So make up for some of this time and use it for reading.
Start a journal
Start keeping a book journal every day in which you write about what you read that day. This will help you form your thoughts and reflections on the topics and topics you have read about, which is the point of reading after all. Write in a private journal or online blog, whichever suits you best.
Reading goals set
If goal achievement and quantified self-esteem drive you, sign up with a website like Goodreads or LibraryThing to record each book you read by date, you can also add a rating based on how much you liked that book. I use one of these sites to keep track of my personal library and to read the list. Set daily goals for reading. Achieving these goals will encourage you to set bigger reading goals and achieve them.
Listen to book podcasts
Listen to some good book-related podcasts, where they invite authors and discuss their books. Many times I have bought a certain book after hearing its writer talk about it. There are many podcasts that you can choose from. For short stories, I like The New Yorker Fiction, The New Yorker Writer’s Voice, and NPR’s Selected Shorts. And for author interviews, I prefer BBC World Book Club, CBC’s Writers and Company, BBC Radio 4 Bookclub, and The Guardian Books.
Attend literary events or festivals
If there are any book-related literary festivals near you, try to go at least once a year. Every year we have a book fair and a literature festival for a week, I never missed this event. I can’t go there all week, but I find time on weekends. Celebrating books with other readers is an exceptional pleasure.
Bonus Tips
Mix up your reading list with different genres and topics. There are many book recommendation websites and ours is one of them. Sign up for regular book recommendations and get the book that interests you the most. You can read one book at a time, or you can choose several books of different genres and read a few pages or chapters of each book every day. Do not try to continue reading the book in which you have lost interest. It will kill your enthusiasm and passion for reading. There are so many books on every topic and topic imaginable, so drop that book and pick another one.
Reading a book is a personal investment that will pay off in the long run. The best books go beyond education, entertainment, and changing perspectives. It helps us develop and strengthen our cognitive and emotional muscles to better deal with whatever comes our way.