Blog: How to make reading a part of your daily life
‘We read to know that we are not alone’ said C S Lewis. In this new world where one of the biggest malaises its population faces is a sense of loneliness and alienation from the rest of the world, books are the answer; more than ever it has been in history. Humans read and wrote even as cave dwellers. The urge to learn and grow is what differentiates us from animals. The human freewill depends on knowledge and wisdom to exercise itself in the most ideal manner.
The best means to fuel the fire to learn has been the written word. We can’t help but observe that reading as a habit has evolved enormously over the last 2 decades. For this we have to give due respect to the technology that has surreptitiously crept into every facet of our lives, including reading. Technology now has a formidable presence in our reading choices and style as well. While technology has increased the reach of knowledge, it has come with its own disadvantages as well, the prominent among that being the numerous distractions it brings with it.
A lot has been said about books to be read to be successful, but not much is really spoken about developing a reading habit or how to bring it up as a daily task or making it part of a weekly routine. When we talk about reading in the context of the present day, we would have to necessarily consider e-books, readers and audio books also as part of the spectrum because of their ubiquitous presence in our lives now. How do we keep this great habit alive in our lives this time and age with burgeoning distractions all around us. Here are some of the habits that have helped me over the last few years in developing a dedicated book reading time as part of my routine.
Keeping your phone away for anything not related to purposeful reading – Nowadays, we can manage a lot of reading on the phone. Apart from when used for that utility of the phone, it is always wise to keep your phone physically away from you during the time allotted to reading. The tendency to browse it aimlessly, principally due to the instant gratification it provides, is getting higher with even the most steadfast of reading aficionados.
Trying various formats other than physical books in paper – Embracing the use of and utilizing the options like e-books, audio books, e- readers etc. makes it easier to hold on to the habit. It also ensures that you have something available at hand at all times when inspiration strikes
Not feeling compelled to finish if you don’t like the book – There was a time when I doggedly went on to finish a book that I started bulldozing through the pages with sheer willpower even if I don’t particularly like it. The reason behind that pointless pursuit was the thought ‘How can I give up on something which many people seem to recommend highly?’ Now I don’t think that way. I realize that all of us have varied tastes in reading and it is a sheer waste of time to read something that you don’t enjoy or enrich you. There is no shame in quitting a book you don’t like.
Being experimentative with various genres – There are always some preconceived notions we all grapple with when it comes to openness in taking up unfamiliar genres to read. But experience has taught me that sometimes you gain some remarkable experiences when you are a little experimentative with your choice of genre. Maybe you thought psychology was too dry a subject or Artificial intelligence is for nerds. But every once in a while, taking a chance with unfamiliar themes and unexplored genres might make you discover a door to a treasure trove. You could use such detours to supplement the knowledge you have on your core subjects.
Reading two or three books at the same time – Human beings shift into different moods ever so quickly. What you found appealing to read in the peace and quiet of your room the previous night might not be the one you want to read in the noise of an airport. So instead of chucking the book as boring while at the airport waiting lounge, what you can do is to read something else which is more appropriate to the environment and mood. Also, there are times when reading heavy complex subjects, it would be good to sandwich it with some lighter reads
Non-negotiable allocation of a fixed time for reading daily – Your decision to read ‘sometime during the day’ is not going to be as effective as actually fixing a specific hour or hours in the day for it. You subconsciously end up planning your day in such a way as to free up that allocated time and even feel a certain excitement while you approach your reading time
Keep an eye open to book recommendations and being part of book clubs – there are many recommendations from discerning readers that are available all over the internet. You can read the summaries of them and surely be able to find a few that excites you. There are also interesting book clubs that you can be part of which forces you to make reading a part of your daily life. You also get to share the experiences and understand various perspectives when you are part of a book club
Make reading goals – Specificity powers success. Having a goal of reading a book a week or one every ten days would keep you focused on being consistent and achieving more. Quantified goals work the best.
Carry a book of some format wherever you go – Availability is a key prerequisite to pick up on the reading habit. When you travel or expect a long waiting time at a doctor’s reception, the best way to spend time is to read. Electronic reading material comes handy in situations like this.
Create rituals around reading – Creating a ritual around a habit makes it get reinforced. Try deciding to read for an hour after your nightly hot cocoa or before the morning run or yoga. Then the idea of devoting the time to reading becomes intrinsically intertwined with the other easier habit and gets solidified into your daily routine. This is in a way similar to what is known as habit stacking advocated by habit coaches. It is a proven method to stay on track with good habits you develop and stack them one on top of the other.
As the new year approaches, it is always time to sit back and take stock about how you can improve yourself to face the challenges that the year is sure to bring. If you are looking for some help in preparing yourself or your team through professional development programs, or you want to read through more self-improvement articles, do write to us at harish@harishrao.world to know how we can help you with it. We would love to work with you on this or any other business coaching needs you may have! You could also follow us in our social media handles for recommendations on some of the best books to start the reading habit.