Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Thoughts that Bind. I’ve been reading a lot more lately, and that’s made me reflect on all the times in my life when I was reading vs. when I simply couldn’t manage. So let’s decode that, and take a look at how you might be able to get yourself reading more, too.
Why read?
There are all sorts of different kinds of media to choose from these days, and it’s not immediately clear as to why you might want to choose reading. Which is fair. You’ve got other options for both entertainment and learning these days, and they’re just as valid as reading, in their own right.
But let me tell you something. I personally, feel so much better when I’m reading on a regular basis. It stimulates my brain and relaxes me at the same time, whether I’m reading for learning or entertainment. And I’m not the only one. Many people find they feel the same when they make a habit out of reading. If the idea interests you, then I think you ought to give it a shot.
Let’s talk tips
Even though a lot of people think they should read more, they tend not to get around to it these days, and I don’t blame them. We live these fast paced lives and hardly have time for anything anymore. And yet, it’s not impossible to inject more reading into your life. In some ways, it’s really less about the time you have and really more about how you carve out your life. So let’s talk about how you can manage to get yourself reading more.
Don’t read difficult books
Okay, so I’ll be honest, I don’t really even agree with this statement as written. But hear me out. It’s true that reading more can make you smarter if you’re learning more words or learning about the world around you. And getting smarter is a worthy goal, in general. But there is a balance to be had.
If all the books you’re trying to force yourself to read are chock-full of words you don’t understand and topics that are so confusing, you’re not going to get in the habit of reading. Why would you keep picking up the book if you don’t understand it and the experience is just terrible? I mean, really. That’d just be nonsensical.
So I’m not actually saying don’t read difficult books or don’t try to stretch your comfort zone. But try to strike a balance. Read things that are a little bit of a challenge for you, but not entirely outside of your ability. As you read more and learn more things, you can build on what you know and get around to the books that are more “impressive”, if you still want to. Just be sure to give yourself the proper preparation.
Try making a ritual
Something that avid readers seem to latch onto often is making a ritual of reading. Maybe they like to snuggle up under a blanket with some coffee, or make camp under their favorite tree or in bed before they fall asleep, but one thing is clear. Turning your reading into a pleasurable experience with ambience will make you prioritize it in your regular schedule.
It’s the little things that’ll keep you coming back for more. That applies to most things, including reading. If you find a relaxing ritual that includes curling up with a good book, you’re going to be so much more likely to keep picking it up. Because now reading has become an activity instead of a to-do.
So find your stride with it. Get a fuzzy blanket or find your favorite chair. Make a cup of tea or build a reading nook. This builds coziness, and overtime, nostalgia that will keep you coming back for more.
Pick the right book
Okay, so on the surface, this tip is obvious. Pick a book that you like instead of one that sucks. You can’t expect a book that’s terrible to keep your attention and make you want to read more often. We know that. But here’s the thing. We’re often enough not very good at picking a good book.
I know, they say don’t judge a book by its cover and all that, but I’m convinced nobody is actually referring to books when they say that. The fact is, you want to be selective with what you read. Don’t try to force yourself to read things that “should” interest you or “the classics”. If you’re not interested, just don’t read it. Just like any other sort of media, there’s no objective good or bad books–it’s all about what you want to read. So many times, people will conclude they don’t like reading just because they didn’t enjoy the books that they think they “should”. And that’s a recipe for never reading again.
So my point is, if you’re not into the Thomas Hardys or Fyodor Dostoevskys, who cares? If you don’t want to read nonfiction, that’s fine. There is no “right” reading list. Read what you like. Forgo what you don’t. Life is too short to do anything else.
Just a little bit
And then the last one is solely time oriented. I feel this tip applies to every habit you want to instill that you kind of enjoy, but I wanted to put it here because if you’ve taken all of the other things into account, it can make all the difference.
Don’t expect yourself to read large swaths of texts at once. Just plan for a little bit at a time. You’ll find your own idea of what “a little bit” is. But essentially, feeling like you have to do something sucks. So when you’re sitting down to read, you don’t want to go into it with that feeling. If you agree to only do a little bit, then you can decide after you’ve gotten into it if you feel like doing more. Maybe for you it’s just two pages or five minutes, but give yourself some low level of commitment. Something you can easily check off your list for that hit of dopamine, but that will get the feelings going if you’re feeling into it.
I find for me, committing to the next beak in the text (whether that’s a chapter, page or paragraph) works the best. If I finish that piece of the work and I still want to keep going, then I do. And if not, well, I did it. I read. Now I’ll move on with my day and my life, no big deal. Doing things this way takes the tension out of “deciding to read” and lets me just open up my book and enjoy myself.
Conclusion
I hope you found some of these tips on reading helpful. Having a hobby of reading opens up whole worlds of ideas to your brain, and when done in balance with the rest of your life, can really bring you more health and fulfillment. If you know anyone else who’s looking to crack more books, be sure to share this post with them. And if you have any more tips, leave a comment below so we can all learn from each other. Let’s get reading!
