The habit of reading is not something that is achieved overnight. Reading is not just a good professional quality, it is a pleasure in itself. There is such a variety of books at your disposal that it is impossible for you not to find a topic that you are passionate about. There are books on everything you can imagine, it’s just a matter of searching.
Before we start telling you how you can develop the habit of reading, we will show you the benefits that reading has on you.
What benefits does reading have on me?
- It provides benefits at the cognitive level. Reading on a regular basis makes your memory improve, your capacity for abstraction and imagination are enhanced. As you become a proficient reader, new neural connections are created in your brain. And this is particularly important, because your brain will work better when you reach old age. This causes degenerative diseases such as senile dementia or Alzheimer’s to progress more slowly.
- It is a good method to evade everyday problems. Especially when you are in periods of stress, having some time to read will make you forget about those problems for a while. By introducing yourself into a story, putting yourself in the shoes of another character, it will make your discomforts disappear for a moment. Also, when you stop reading, you will see things differently. And you will have given your brain a well-deserved rest, reducing cortisol levels.
- Read before you go to sleep. If you find it difficult to fall asleep and you often toss and turn before falling asleep, try reading. Reading before bed will prevent you from going to bed thinking about the things that have happened during the day. Also, when you have been reading for a while before going to sleep, your brain will create an association. So, every time you start reading, it will be easier for you to fall asleep. It will become another routine that will benefit you in many ways. It should be noted that when we talk about reading before going to sleep, we are referring to a paper book. It is not recommended that you read before going to bed on a tablet, mobile phone, computer or electronic reader. The artificial light that electronic devices have is stimulating and makes it difficult to sleep.
- Numerous studies have found that reading helps in academics. Students who are strong readers have better speech, reading, and language skills. What makes them more successful. In addition, reading also increases the ability to concentrate, analyze and interpret information and texts.
- Finally, reading frequently increases personal development. By reading books from other cultures, we are influencing our social development. We learn how people very different from us live and feel. Which helps us not to judge people based on their race, ethnicity, religion, social status, or sexual orientation. For this reason, develop empathy towards others. We will develop great sensitivity and tolerance.
Instructions to develop the habit of reading
- The first thing to keep in mind when starting to develop the habit of reading is that it is not a quick process. Being a skilled reader takes time. The longer the fewer books we have read throughout our lives. If in our childhood we read a lot but throughout adolescence and adulthood we have been forgetting to read, it will be easier for us to build a good habit. If, on the contrary, we have never been continuous readers, we must start from scratch. But there is nothing to worry about, reading is something that immediately hooks you.
- Reading is pleasure. On many occasions, we think of reading as if it were a punishment. Probably this idea has entered our heads when, at school or institute, we were forced to read books. The simple fact that a teacher forces you to read a book gives it negative connotations. Especially since there were few occasions when they let you choose said book. For this reason, it is really important to start reading books or magazines with content that interests us. It is a very common mistake to start reading classic books with difficult vocabulary just because they are considered cult books. Being a good reader is achieved by taking small steps, start with enjoyable readings that interest you.There will be time for all those books.
- Set aside a space of time a day to read. Or several. To start, allot 10-15 minutes a day to read. At first it may be difficult for you, but as the days go by, you will increase the time without realizing it. It is recommended that, in addition to that little while, you read another 15 minutes before going to sleep, to get into the routine.
- Regarding the previous point, if you do not spend a lot of time at home, have the book you are reading close at hand. If you are working or studying most of the day, take your reading material with you. So you can take a short break whenever you want and take the opportunity to read. Having what you are reading in sight is a good trick to encourage you to read. At first, it will serve as a reminder, and then you just can’t leave it at home.
- One aspect to take into account is the place where you read. If you are at home, your room will do. The bed is the ideal place to read when it is dark and you go to sleep afterwards. During the day you can also read lying in bed. But if you want to change a bit, you can sit on a comfortable sofa or chair perfectly. The site you choose should have good lighting. If it is daytime, it is best that this light is natural. If it is at night, there will be no other choice but to use artificial light. But it’s much better to read with a paper book by lamplight to read in the dark or away from the light source with an electronic device that emits its own light.
- Set goals. You can set a yearly goaland then break it down into monthly goals. If you are not very used to reading, you can set an annual goal of 12 books. One for each month. If you see that you are going faster, you can read two books a month and 24 a year. It is not advisable that you change the goals. So if you initially put 12 books a year, you have to stick to it. If it is due to excess, that is, you read more than you thought at first, then there is no problem. You can increase the goal little by little. But never diminish it, because if you don’t make an effort you will never be able to develop the habit of reading. Take it seriously.
- Have a notebook or agenda where you can write things down. You can write down when you started reading a book and when you finished it. This is very similar to the cards we used to do in school. But this time for their own pleasure and to know how we are progressing. Also, when time passes, it will be a very nice feeling to see how many books you have read.
- Find the moments to read. If you are going to make a trip in three or by bus, do not take the tablet with you. Take the book you are reading and time will fly by. If you go to the doctor or somewhere where there are usually lines and long waits, take your book.
- You don’t have to buy all the books you want to read. Visit the library of your city and get lost in the corridors for as long as you want. You will be able to see loads of books that you didn’t even know existed. You will be able to discover new worlds that you never imagined. In addition, you can stay to read right there. If you still don’t have the library card closest to your home, I don’t know what you’re waiting for. Do it and take out all the books you want. Although, surely, there will be books that you like so much that you end up buying them for the pleasure of having them at home. After all, every book you read becomes part of you. And there are even some that change you inside. All the more reason to always have it at home.
- When you are getting practice, ask for recommendations. Talk to your friends and family and ask them to recommend their favorite books.
- If you see that you don’t like the book you are reading, simply change it. You’re not reading out of obligation, so it doesn’t matter. Obviously not everyone likes the same thing. You don’t have to read something that doesn’t fill you up. Leave it, and take another one that you really like. Also, when you like a book, it hooks you from the first page, and you won’t be able to stop reading. If you insist on reading something that does not satisfy you, you run the risk of losing motivation. You better switch to something else that makes you want to keep reading.
- Visit as many places related to reading as you can. Go to all the book fairs you can find nearby. These places are attended by many famous writers to sign autographs or read excerpts from their new novels or poems. Find out what is happening in your city. Many libraries have book clubs or hold meetings. Sign up for things like this to share your experiences with others and learn many more things. In addition, you can follow reading accounts on social networks. There are many places on the net where phrases and pieces of text are shared that will make you want to read those entire books.
- Finally, when you get practiced and used to reading, you can start reading those thick books you’ve always heard about. Classic books that have a more complex vocabulary. Deep books that require a greater abstraction capacity. Capacity that you will have already been developing throughout the days and weeks.
- Good reading dear reader!
As you can see, getting into the reading habit requires consistency above all else. Do not be discouraged if at first you see that you are not progressing, it is normal. Don’t compare yourself with others, everyone has their own rhythm. But you will see that, when you have not had much time, you will not want to stop reading. And you will inadvertently increase the time you spend reading. Start with small books and accessible language. You will gradually increase the complexity.
We hope this article has helped you and that you have found the determination you needed to start reading. Don’t leave it for another day, it’s never too late to start reading. If you follow all these steps you will achieve your goals, do not doubt that. Let us know about your progress and leave your comments to help other readers get started.