We all know how it feels to try and make time to read every day. We all promise ourselves that we will read more, but somehow it never seems to happen. Another new year goal, challenge or a flick of motivation to do so. Unfortunately, we usually fail.
My personal experience 🚌
I used to struggle with this too, and I would often find myself prioritizing all kinds of stuff, and leave my book aside to wait as a “nice-to-have” trophy. In 2022, it all changes. It happened when I made a big change in my life: I sold my car.
This change in my daily routine made all the difference. I soon discovered that by taking the bus, I had approximately an hour of free time each day (!!) that I could use to read. Each bus ride was long enough to get through a chapter, and before I knew it, I was reading a book a month. And it's getting better because I’m improving my reading speed!
Reading on a daily basis can be a challenge, but I hope this experience that I share with you will show that by making small changes in your daily routine, you can make reading a habit. And it's not just about the books. It is about the all benefits that come from reading them, such as concentration and me
mory retention, getting back the satisfaction from delayed gratification (which completely different from instant gratification that we get from social media and games), expanding knowledge and it gave me a break from the screen time- and for all tech workers among us, means a lot.
Whether you're an avid reader or someone just like me not long ago who struggles to pick up a book, I hope you will make the best of this blog post. I share my personal experience and tips I've learned that dramatically increased the number of books read.
So grab a coffee, and let's get started on this reading journey together!
Part 1: Settings a goal
We are about to do something great, and the very first step is to set a goal. The same holds true for lifting weights or running a marathon: it gives you direction, focus, and motivation to move towards the target.
With a reading goal in place, you'll be able to see how far you've come and how much you've accomplished. There is nothing better than being able to look back at the retrospective at the end of the year and see how many books you've finished, and all the things you’re learned from them.
Determine the right goal for you 🏆
The key is to find a balance between setting a goal that is challenging, yet achievable. Before setting up the goal, here are some questions to ask yourself:
Consider your current reading habits: How many books have you read in the past year? Use this as a starting point to set a goal for the upcoming year.
Think about the type of books you want to read: Reading books that you are passionate about will keep you engaged and motivated. You should also take in mind the types of books that you usually read, a technical oriented book would take longer to finish than a common novel.
Stick to your schedule and other commitments: It's not realistic to set a goal to read 50 books in a year if you're a busy person. Be honest with yourself about how much time you can realistically commit to reading.
In my case, I know I usually read non-fiction books and I have approximately 1 hour a day, 5 times a week.
Don’t be afraid to adjust your goal as necessary on the go! The most important thing is that you're making progress and reading more.
Part 2: Building the habit
"Your habits are not something you do occasionally; they are something you do automatically." - Charles Duhigg
Forming a reading habit can be challenging, but by identifying pockets of time throughout the day, you can make reading a regular part of your routine. Look for opportunities to read during small breaks in your day, such as during your morning commute, lunch break, before bed or whatever works best for you.
Incorporating reading into your daily routine can help make it a habit. Another option (which I personally not a big fan of but it might work for you) is to make the most of your leisure time, such as reading for longer periods on weekends, or trying to squeeze in a few pages before you go to bed.
The trigger effect 🕹️
The trigger effect for habit formation refers to the process of linking a new habit to an existing routine or cue in your daily life. The trigger serves as a reminder to perform the new habit, making it more likely to become automatic.
For example, if you want to form a reading habit, you can link it to an existing routine, such as reading for 15 minutes before bed every night. This trigger cue, of getting into bed, will remind you to pick up your book and start reading.
In my case, my reading habit was to hop on the bus → open the book.
The key is to find a trigger that is easy to remember and consistent in your daily routine. The trigger should be something that is already a part of your daily routine, and that you can consistently act on. By linking the new habit to a trigger, it becomes more likely to become automatic over time.
The compound effect 📈
The principle of compound effect states that small, consistent actions over time lead to significant results. This principle can be applied to reading by making a commitment to read a small amount each day, which over time will compound into a significant increase in the number of books read in a year.
For example, reading just 10 pages a day for a year will result in reading a total of 3650 pages, or about 12 books. Similarly, reading 20 pages a day will result in reading 7300 pages, or about 24 books in a year.
It's important to remember that the compound effect is not immediate and results may not be visible at first. But with time and persistence, the small actions you take today will compound and lead to significant results in the future.
The key is to be consistent, if you miss a day, don't give up, just get back on track the next day. This way you'll be able to make reading a habit and enjoy the benefits of the compound effect.
Habit forming takes time and effort, but by being consistent and persistent, you'll be able to make reading a regular part of your life.
Part 3: Reading like a pro
Now we are getting to the good stuff! It’s time to level up your game and start to read more like a pro. Here’s how:
Increase reading speed ⌛️
The faster you can read, the more books you can finish in a shorter period of time. Reading speed is usually measured in WPM (Words per minute), and there are many tools online that help you measure it. Here are some techniques for increasing your reading speed:
Previewing: In this technique, our goal is to gain an understanding of the text's purpose and the main idea. We examine the headings, subheadings, images, captions or any other introductory materials.
Skimming: This technique involves quickly scanning the text to get a general overview of the main ideas. This can be done by reading the headings, subheadings, and first and last sentences of each paragraph. Usually faster than previewing.
Chunking: This technique involves grouping words together and reading them as chunks, instead of reading each word individually. This can be done by focusing on a few words at a time and then moving your eyes to the next group of words.
Avoiding Subvocalization: Subvocalization is a (bad) reading habit where we speak the words we read in our mind. Avoiding subvocalization is a technique that aims to increase reading speed by reducing the amount of time the reader spends articulating words in their mind. This can be achieved by training the reader to focus on the meaning of the text rather than the actual words on the page.
Note that some may work better for some people than others, so it's important to experiment and find what works best for you.
Improve reading memory 🐘
While reading fast is a really cool skill to possess, the material we comprehend from the books we read is not less important. Here are some methods:
Mind Mapping: This method involves creating a visual representation of the information in the text by creating a diagram that shows the relationships between different concepts. This can be done by creating a central idea and then connecting it to related ideas, keywords, and key points.
Active Reading: A method of reading that involves actively engaging with the text, rather than passively absorbing information. This can be done by highlighting or underlining important information, taking notes, asking questions, and summarizing key points.
The End of the Road
"Reading is the ultimate workout for your brain." - Bill Gates
Remember, the compound effect is real, so start small and build on it.
I hope my tips and strategies have inspired you to start your own reading journey and to make it a habit.
Happy reading!
Yarin