“The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when every other pleasure fades” – Anthony Trollope

Quite a number of people have recently told me of their desire to develop a reading habit and have no clue how to begin. Some used to be voracious readers when they were younger but now with jobs, family or kids to think about, their love for reading has naturally waned. With little or no time to read or so it seems, they have asked me  how I manage to read all the books that I read despite my busy schedule.

I have been able to convince a few friends that reading like any other habit needs to be cultivated, one step at a time and I am happy that they are now on their journey to become the great readers that they all aspire to become.

Here are 5 quick tips to get you on your way to becoming the reader that you wish to be.

 

Discover the kind of books you like

This is one of the most important things to know as a reader. Many people have given up on reading books just because they started with reading genres that didn’t appeal to them. There is nothing as boring as reading something you do not like and by the time this happens more than once, you would assume that reading is not your thing. On the other hand, if you start with genres you like then, you will really enjoy reading. Personally my preferred book genres are historical fiction, Christian fiction, romance (mostly historical), humor and literary fiction. It is out of character for me to read YA, thrillers or horror books except it is a classic or the reviews by fellow bookworms I trust are really great. Discovering what you like to read is the first step towards meeting your reading goals but how can you know this? Read my article on book genres via this link Book Genres: A Reader’s Guide  and discover your preferred book genre.

 

Take it slow

Don’t start with voluminous books or set unrealistic goals because you see bookstagrammers or booktubers on social media boasting of reading through a book in an hour or two. Start small and give yourself time to develop the habit. Trust me, if you are reading the right book, the theme, plot or story will pull you to read and before you know it, you will find your rhythm.

 

Set a time and place to read

It is always good to have a plan when learning something new. Cultivating a reading habit is not different. Decide when and where would be best for you to read. Preferably a place with the least distractions. My reading time is usually after I have put my kids to bed. I take a shower, make a cup of tea and spend at least 30 minutes before bedtime reading. I also read to fill up time gaps like when I am waiting for a meeting to start or for my kids to finish their taekwondo classes.  

 

 

Always have a book in hand

I know it is usually an inconvenience to carry your hardback or paperback book around so the smartest way to do this is to have access to e-books and/or audio books on your phone or tablet to make it easy for you to read on the go. Most people we see in buses, on the train or waiting at several places for one reason or the other are usually either scrolling through their phones or listening to music with their ears shut out from the rest of the world. Therefore, it would not look awkward at all if you read from your phone as long as you don’t spend too much time as reading tiny fonts may be bad for your eyes.

 

Find a reading buddy

They say two heads are better than one therefore finding someone who likes the same types of books as you and teaming up to read a book together to later discuss it may be a good way to develop a reading habit. Buddy reading is particularly helpful when you are not meeting your reading goals as your buddy will be a source of inspiration or motivation. You may also find out about book clubs around you and become a member. Besides committing to read at least a book each month, you will also have the opportunity to meet other book lovers and enjoy having bookish conversations which ultimately affect the way you feel about reading books positively.

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So there they are, my tips to help you on your way to becoming a better reader. I hope you put them to work and wish you the best in your quest to develop a reading habit.

Do you have any tips to share? Please do. I would love to hear them.

 

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