How to Develop Reading Habit?

Some habits are very helpful. Reading is one of these. Reading is like food for the brain. A growing mind is one of the most important requirements in the future to survive. Without a growing mind, real successful life is not achievable.

Habits are difficult to develop, but not impossible. Initially, it will become very difficult. You will soon lose interest. You can’t keep persistence. But with organized planning, it will become easy and automatic.

No habit is unachievable. Some need more hard work than others. Most of these require time to develop. But with persistence and hard work, every habit is acquirable.

If you are interested in the READING HABIT, here are some helpful activities.

1. Start with Short Stories

Everyone likes stories. In old ages when we were kids our grandparents use to tell stories at bedtime. Those were the most informative and interesting stories. In this age of technology, storytelling and reading have many forms. We can read them from the internet and social media. We can watch stories in the form of movies on TV and YouTube. But the real essence of reading the stories comes only from books. By reading you can create imaginative pictures of the story in your mind. You can allow your imaginations to go wild. Thus, you love reading.

Initially start with short stories. The defect with long stories, in the beginning, is the loss the track of character and context. With time you can switch to long stories and novels.

2. Create an Environment

Although you should read whenever you find time and where ever you have space. But, for beginners, it would be difficult. Reading becomes easy when you create an environment. An environment, free of all types of distractions.

Select a chair and table in a specific place of a specific room. All the necessary things used for reading should be in reach, e.g. book, notepad, pencil, highlighter, dictionary, etc. Once you sit down, there should be no need of standing up for something to get. Electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops, and tablets should be out of reach. Turn off the devices or keep them in another room.

The time of reading should be selected carefully, free of distractions and disturbance. At night when all family members were sleeping, the distractions will be lowest. Similarly, the early morning is also free of disturbances. Evening time is not suitable because there are different sorts of distractions at this time.

If possible, shut the door of the room for that specific time. Tell everyone not to disturb you while you are busy reading books in your room.

3. Start the Day with a Book

The most energetic time of the day is the first 4 to 5 hours of the day. First, offer prayers and spend few minutes in mindful activities like yoga or meditation. Before start reading a light workout boosts your energy.

Select a book that is interesting and helpful. Fully concentrate on what you are reading. If possible, make notes of important points from the book. Good reading in the morning will make your whole day energetic and productive.

4. Take a book to the bed

The last thing you do before sleep will affect your mind. When you are sleeping, the mind will process the things that you read at the last moment. A good reading will submerge good thoughts in your subconscious mind. With time you will get used to reading before bed that it will become inevitable not to read a book.

5. Always Keep a Book with You

Where ever you go, take a book with you. You will find time for reading. For example, when going to work or school you may have few minutes in the metro. The best way to pass this time is to read a book. Otherwise, we can’t do any productive activity. When you are waiting for a bus or a friend you can utilize this time for reading something.

Some experts say that it will take 21 days to acquire a new habit. Others claim the time will be 63 days. But in reality, even after 21 or 63 days, it is not guaranteed that your new habit will not break down. You become relaxed and want to take a few days of break. And without even recognizing you will again go back to your old habits.

Acquiring a new habit is an ongoing process. After a specific period, it may become easy and automatic. But still, there is a chance of slipping off the track.

Here are some book recommendations for developing habits.

• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
• Mini Habits by Stephen Guise
• The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

So, develop a habit of reading and start enjoying new experiences.

I hope this article will help you develop the most interesting and helpful habit.

Relax, Think, and Start.

Are you willing to start a new journey?