You know how important reading is but for some reason, you never got to finish even a single book in your lifetime. You managed to read the first few pages only to be distracted. One book that could have been finished in one week ended up gathering dust in your drawer for years.
If you want to get out of this endless cycle, there are 5 great ways to develop a good reading habit so you can be a certified bookworm in no time!
1. Choose a Book on Your Favorite Subject or Genre
If you picked your first book just because it is a best seller, you might not be able to understand the real reason behind its fame. You might not even be able to go beyond 50 pages of that book. Instead, choose one according to the subject or genre you like. For example, if you are into science fiction, grab a book on this field. Choosing a book you can easily understand and relate to will make it easier for you to finish one page after another.
2. Set Aside Time for Reading
Unless you squeeze in reading time into your busy schedule, you can never expect to add it anywhere between the commitments and responsibilities that are piling up in your calendar. It doesn’t matter if you just devote 30 minutes for reading. What matters is that you include it in your schedule. Doing this gives it a sense of importance so you will learn to treat reading with utmost respect instead of just ignoring it.
3. Start with Thinner Books
You will only end up with a mental block if you go for a thick book. You will feel burdened with the thought of flipping through those hundreds of pages so you just put the book in the drawer.
You can gain a psychological edge if you choose a thinner book since you know that it will require lesser effort. Finishing 150 pages is so much better than picking up a monstrous read with 500 pages that you know you won’t finish at all.
4. Create Your Own Reading List
Research first if you have no idea where to begin or if your past choices of authors were downright boring or uninspiring. List down exciting stories and books but don’t go overboard. More than 20 books to read in one year might feel too much if you are just a newbie reader.
5. Target a Specific Number of Pages Every Day
Seeing all those pages in one book is enough to make you feel like you are embarking on a long journey uphill. But, if you read 10 pages per day, you can finish the book sooner than you expect. Many people can easily finish 10 pages in 30 minutes. Average books have 200 pages. It means that you can complete 18 books per year if you read at 10 pages in a day. In just 3 years, you can finish 50 books that will further boost your awareness and knowledge.
If you feel like it’s time for you to make reading a habit, follow the pointers above so you can be on your way to becoming a bibliophile.