7 ways to become an avid reader.
Are you one of those people who wish to read but there’s so much on your plate, so many classes to attend, So many side projects to manage, So many social commitments to fulfill, not to mention doom scrolling through an endless feed? Well, I know the struggle, busy bees, but, no matter how busy you are, I swear that you secretly do have more time to read than you realize. Oh, see, see! You are getting me wrong here. I am not saying you have to lounge around reading novels all day undoubtedly, that’s not practically possible one needs to pay ones’ rent. What I mean is even if your schedule is jam-packed to the gills, there are plenty of ways to carve out little portions of daily reading time. Reading is essential and it’s something that does not come naturally one has to learn to read well. Once you conquer a few roadblocks along the way, you’ll be on your way to being an avid reader in no time.
Here I have jotted down seven ways that will guide you to become an avid reader.
- Make Reading a priority
Nothing wastes more time than pursuing things that have no purpose. I believe that many of us have time that we can better utilize. Allocate time. It can be first thing in the morning with your cup of coffee, at noon with your sandwich, or after the kids have gone to bed. The goal is to set aside some time each day for reading. Embark on the reading journey and stick to it. Give it a shot. Make reading a priority. Make a timetable. You’ll not only read more, but you’ll feel good about it because you’re doing something good for yourself.
2. Start with genres that you enjoy
In my early 20s. I went on a classic-author spree(Those were some hard miles). I thought that it would make me something, something just because it’s famous and stuff. But, frankly speaking, sometimes they would bore me to death. See, there is no higher authority sitting to judge your reading choices No one judges you for what you read unless you allow them to. You’re reading for pleasure. Reading is personal. The only opinion that matters is yours.
The crux is: Read what you enjoy, Fiction, Non-fiction, Thriller, Horror, Mystery, Romance-Who cares? What matters is that you enjoy it.
3. Don’t set lofty reading goals.
It’s easy to get caught up in the trap of setting unrealistic goals. You know we humans get overly optimistic in our quest to lead better lives, and as a result, we often set unattainable goals-Ones that are too difficult for us to meet and then you get bored or burnt out and you quit early. So, it’s better to start by establishing a reasonable reading goal, such as reading one book per month or 20 pages per day. When you will not over-commit, you will find the reading experience more pleasurable and less stressful.
4. Stock up
Surround yourself with books, Instead of dropping your cash on clothes or junk you don’t need, Buy yourself a bookshelf and stock it up with the piles of books. It may sound absurd at first, but huge piles of books are one of the best motivators for me to read more because once you finish a book, you can view your bookshelf and decide what to read next.
5. Skim reading is the new normal
Skimming — getting the gist of a piece of writing without reading all of the words. Although it may sound strange, skimming a book before reading it helps us extract more value from it. I used to believe that a nonfiction book should be read in the same way that a fiction book should be read — front to back — and that anything else was cheating. I am wiser now. The ability to skim a nonfiction book correctly is a very useful skill. Simply put, there are more books out there than there are hours in the day to read them, and they aren’t all good. One must learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.
6. Use the 50-page rule.
I grew up in a home where the 11th commandment was to “Finish what you start.” So it was only natural that when it came to reading Once I started reading a book I had to finish it even if I am slogging through that book. It wasn’t until I came across this Nancy Pearl’s Rule of 50 for dropping a bad book. The rule is straightforward. Choose a book that piques your interest and commit to reading the first 50 pages. If you’re not compelled by the book after 50 pages, put it down. Return it to the library, give it to a friend, whatever!.. Break up with this book with #noregreats. You do not have to feel bad about this.
7. Audiobooks
Personally, I enjoy reading physical books. Nothing beats the feel of holding a book, admiring the cover art, and ah yes, the smell of a real book. But, Physical books are difficult to carry around. Today, you can read a book on your Kindle or iPad. Even listening to an audiobook is a convenient alternative to an Old-fashioned reading. While commuting, working out, or cleaning the house you can listen to the best sellers. Isn’t that amazing? So, stop giving excuses and start reading. The digital revolution is here to stay.
