<ul><li>Read in different genre. This will add some fun and flavor to your reading experience. </li><li>Don’t always follow the crowd. You dont have to read that book because everyone is reading it. </li></ul>

Read What Interests You

Researchers studied that there are several effects of reading:<ul><li>reading just 6 minutes a day slows down your heart rate and make you feel relaxed. </li><li>reading for 30 minutes a week will make you feel 20% satisfied in life. </li><li>30 minutes of reading is as effecting as 30 minutes of yoga. </li><li>reading can increase your life expectacy by 2 years!</li></ul>

Read At Least An Hour Every Week

Challenges are one of our biggest motivators. When you challenged yourself to read a number of books a year, you’re hyped to finished (or even surpassed) the task! 😉

Try Reading Challenge 📚

Learn to let go of a book that doesn’t resonate with you. If you don’t find yourself hooked by reading about one-third of the book, chances are, you’ll never gonna finish it anyway.﻿

You Can’t Connect With Everything You Read

Try the advice from the book “How to Read a Novel” by John Sutherland:“Read the 69th page of any book and if you find the page captivating, then read the book; else, drop it, as the odds are you’ll not like it.

Go To Page 69

<figure><img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/0*X1CurW4DGb-" width="680" height="510"><figcaption class="io ip cz cx cy iq ir cb b fz cd ce" data-selectable-paragraph="" dir="ltr">Photo by <a class="ch is" href="https://unsplash.com/@jamie452?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Jamie Street</a> on <a class="ch is" href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>Do you remember the book that changed the way you see the world?Books inspire you to do tasks that you otherwise don’t dare to do. A delightful novel will have you doubting your reality. It will drag you into its plot, and your association with the characters will blow your mind away.As kids, we all loved reading books. Personally, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl entertained me all day long. However, as we grew up, <a href="https://medium.com/illumination/how-social-media-affects-reading-habits-61bc674241e1" rel="noopener" dir="ltr">our priorities and interests changed</a>, and we longer jumped into the magical lands of books.Recently, I wrote an <a rel="noopener ugc nofollow" href="https://baos.pub/7-superpowers-that-books-can-grant-you-7cd76279a1a1" dir="ltr">article</a> about my friend who lost her passion for reading to adulting. The article explains the superpowers possessed by books and how they can help us become better individuals.However, after reading it, my friend argued that, while it’s great to know books can do so much for us, it’s tricky to build an already destroyed habit. When interests change, your personality changes, and you no longer feel the spark.While she may be correct for some cases, I don’t think reading’s a lost cause. Sure, we need to build a sustainable reading habit to rekindle our forgotten joy. But it isn’t difficult when it only requires four simple steps. Don’t you think?<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Read What Interests You Rather Than What You “Should” Read</h1>Cultivating a reading habit is crucial for the overall development of one’s personality.Detective novels improve your observation and problem-solving skills, fantasies help with your imagination, philosophy enlightens you, and self-help books motivate you.Books inspire you to become a well-informed and rounded person. It doesn’t have to be from the heaviest read you’ve ever read. Simple lessons from <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201401/reading-fiction-improves-brain-connectivity-and-function" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">simple fiction can teach you a lot.</a> When my friends ask me for book recommendations, my suggestions are usually far from the typical self-help books.<h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">What you can do</h2><UL><LI>Read books in different genres. By mixing up your genres, you add more fun and flavor to your reading. You expose yourself to different storytelling styles, plus you get to experience unique setups, characters, and circumstances. For example, if you read a murder mystery this week, go crazy and read a spiritual book next. Or read a classic followed by sci-fi. The options are endless.</LI><LI>Don’t always follow the crowd. You don’t have to read Harry Potter just because it’s famous (but read it if you haven’t). Instead, find books that move you. It might be in a genre that you’ve never encountered before. Have an open mind to experience a never-imagined universe.</LI><LI>Highlight the sections you like and try applying them in real life. Books can train you. Every feeling you have and every character or situation you encounter teaches you something. Learn from them and spread the word. As you strive to incorporate these fascinating lessons, you bring the magic alive.</LI></UL><h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Commit to an Hour Every Week</h1>Training your brain to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210831911000373" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">analyze and think creatively</a> is as important as the business meeting that needs your analytical skills.Though recommended, you don’t have to spend hours reading every day. Researchers studied the physical and mental effects of reading on human beings and concluded that:<UL><LI>Reading just <a href="https://buffer.com/resources/reading-fiction/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">6 minutes a day</a> can slow down your heart rate, and you feel more relaxed.</LI><LI>People who read for just 30 minutes a week felt <a href="https://manuscritdepot.com/documentspdf/Galaxy-Quick-Reads-Report-FINAL%20.pdf" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">20% more satisfied</a> with their lives.</LI><LI><a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ895082" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">30 minutes of reading</a> is as effective as 30 minutes of yoga.</LI></UL>Now, after a tiring day, I’d prefer reading a book to trying to spend more energy or watch mindless content to keep me engaged.<h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">What you can do</h2><UL><LI>Allocate some free time for reading. While you spend hours watching television, try reading for at least an hour. On a lazy weekend when none of your friends are available, pick up a book and spend time with its characters. You can sit in your room, immersed in a fantastical, fictional land.</LI><LI>In <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121378-atomic-habits" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Atomic Habits</a> by James Clear, he talks about cues and environment. He claims that keeping a book somewhere you can see, having a particular place for reading in your house, or even using a specific chair for reading is enough to signal your brain to pick up and read the book.</LI><LI>You can also try listening to audiobooks or book podcasts when doing mundane tasks. The next time you cut vegetables, vacuum the house, or wash dishes, put on your earphones, and listen to books.</LI></UL><h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Create or Take Part in a Reading Challenge to Stay Motivated</h1>To many, reading is an individual hobby that requires no competition. I wish to disagree.As kids, we often participated in group activities like dramas, elocutions, and storytelling competitions. However, as we grew up, we forgot about these joyful experiences, and our lives became sad solo hustles. I think challenges are a great way to bring back the fun.Besides, as research points out, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90240826/this-is-how-competition-affects-your-brain-motivation-and-productivity" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">challenges are one of the biggest motivators</a>. When you challenge yourself to read 15 books a year, psychologically, you’re hyped to complete the task. You push yourself to stay driven and hold yourself accountable.<h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">What you can do</h2><UL><LI>You can find reading challenges online. I use the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/11650?ref=nav_profile_rc" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Goodreads Reading Challenge</a> every year to prompt me to read more books. I also think that it’s a great way to know about the books others are reading too. Some of the other famous reading challenges include the <a href="https://bookriot.com/book-riots-2018-read-harder-challenge/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge</a>, <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blog/reading-challenges" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Penguin Random House Reading Challenges</a>, <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-Challenge-2017-42561300" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">POPSUGAR Reading Challenge</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/174195-around-the-year-in-52-books" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Around the Year in 52 Books</a>.</LI><LI>You can find or create challenges with a twist. My friend picked an author and read all his books as part of the challenge, and my cousin ticked off books from a celebrity’s recommendation list. I once did the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/21757-the-seasonal-reading-challenge" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">winter reading challenge</a>, where I tried to read one Christmas-related book every week for the whole of winter.</LI><LI>You can also form a challenge among your friends or at your reading club. This way, you’re not alone. You can share book ideas, intriguing quotes, and excerpts, find new books and authors, and enjoy reading together. Maybe even gift each other small tokens of appreciation for participating and completing the challenge.</LI></UL><h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Learn to Let Go of the Book That Doesn’t Resonate With You</h1>You can’t connect with everything you read.I always believed I could relate to any book I read. I took pride in a notion about which I can’t be more wrong.Honestly, a lot of books make me fall asleep. <a href="https://www.alaskasleep.com/blog/8-ways-reading-can-help-you-sleep" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">Reading can help build a peaceful sleep routine</a>, and I’m living proof of the claim.Besides, I can’t stop reading a book halfway, even if it’s boring. So, I’m scared to read most masterpieces, fearing that I’d be stuck with it forever. I know it’s wrong, and I’m trying to outgrow my habit.<h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">What you can do</h2>People often tell me I can save a lot of time and energy by giving up a book that doesn’t work out for me. By saving time, I can instead move on to read and learn interesting information from other books.A friend of mine advised me to read about one-third of the book before deciding to continue. If you don’t find yourself hooked by then, chances are you’ll never be interested in it. That’s a piece of solid advice that I’m currently working on developing.I also came across this weird yet intriguing piece of advice from the book ‘<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/288288.How_to_Read_a_Novel" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">How to Read a Novel</a>’ by John Sutherland. In this book, he asks his readers to read the 69th page of any book and suggests that if you find the page captivating, then read the book; else, drop it, as the odds are you’ll not like it.Though I’ve never tried this trick, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2008/jul/23/tofindyourperfectnovelsee" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">people on the internet swear by it</a>. They noticed that when a book confuses you to the point that you don’t know if you want to read the book or not, reading the 69th page can give you a distinct outline of the story.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Final Thoughts</h1>Books can shape your personality, your way of thinking, and your analytical skills. They can nurture your spirit, encourage, and realize the change in you. They can even improve your <a href="http://testyourvocab.com/blog/2013-05-09-Reading-habits" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">language skills</a> and make you sound <a href="https://geediting.com/9-science-backed-ways-reading-makes-your-smarter-infographic/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">smarter</a>.However, often, people have the same couple of reasons for giving up reading; books are bulky, old-fashioned, and expensive.Contrary to what many think, reading is not an expensive hobby. There are several cost-effective ways to build your reading habit. You can get a membership at the library, borrow books from friends, buy second-hand books from thrift stores, ask your friends to gift you books, or opt to read Kindle versions.And if you think books are bulky, expensive, and space-consuming, then choose a different format. Audiobooks are great. You can also adapt to read ebooks on your phone or Kindle.<h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">To put them in a nutshell:</h2><UL><LI>Nowadays, you can find book recommendations for building every aspect of you. Some may work, while many won’t. So, take inspiration from them, but try to find your books. They should interest and captivate you in a way that you can’t stop talking about them. Only you can find such books.</LI><LI>If a book doesn’t wow you, don’t read them. Unless it’s your textbook, in which case, you have no choice. But, try reading the book for a while, and if you don’t want to know more, then it’s just not for you.</LI><LI>Just like your programming, cooking, or dancing skills, your reading skills also require regular practice. Try to read for at least an hour every week.</LI><LI>Group activities are always fun. To motivate you, and keep you accountable, join reading challenges. Or start a book club with your reading buddies to find inspiration.</LI></UL><h2 data-selectable-paragraph="">Book recommendations to inspire you:</h2><UL><LI><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54968118-the-code-breaker" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" dir="ltr">The Code Breaker</a> by Walter Isaacson</LI></UL>

Often, people stop reading because they have other priorities and interests. But reading is so beneficial that rebuilding the habit is crucial. And when only 4 steps are required, it's even easier.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

habits

Habits

writing

Reading & Writing

Do you remember the book that changed the way you see the world?

Books inspire you to do tasks that you otherwise don’t dare to do. A delightful novel will have you doubting your reality. It will drag you into its plot, and your association with the characters will blow your mind away.

As kids, we all loved reading books. Personally, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl entertained me all day long. However, as we grew up, <a href="https://medium.com/illumination/how-social-media-affects-reading-habits-61bc674241e1">our priorities and interests changed </a>, and we longer jumped into the magical lands of books.

Recently, I wrote an <a href="https://baos.pub/7-superpowers-that-books-can-grant-you-7cd76279a1a1">article </a>about my friend who lost her passion for reading to adulting. The article explains the superpowers possessed by books and how they can help us become better individuals.

However, after reading it, my friend argued that, while it’s great to know books can do so much for us, it’s tricky to build an already destroyed habit. When interests change, your personality changes, and you no longer feel the spark.

While she may be correct for some cases, I don’t think reading’s a lost cause. Sure, we need to build a sustainable reading habit to rekindle our forgotten joy. But it isn’t difficult when it only requires four simple steps. Don’t you think?

Read What Interests You Rather Than What You “Should” Read

Cultivating a reading habit is crucial for the overall development of one’s personality.

Detective novels improve your observation and problem-solving skills, fantasies help with your imagination, philosophy enlightens you, and self-help books motivate you.

Books inspire you to become a well-informed and rounded person. It doesn’t have to be from the heaviest read you’ve ever read. Simple lessons from <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201401/reading-fiction-improves-brain-connectivity-and-function">simple fiction can teach you a lot. </a>When my friends ask me for book recommendations, my suggestions are usually far from the typical self-help books.

<ul><li>Read books in different genres. By mixing up your genres, you add more fun and flavor to your reading. You expose yourself to different storytelling styles, plus you get to experience unique setups, characters, and circumstances. For example, if you read a murder mystery this week, go crazy and read a spiritual book next. Or read a classic followed by sci-fi. The options are endless. </li><li>Don’t always follow the crowd. You don’t have to read Harry Potter just because it’s famous (but read it if you haven’t). Instead, find books that move you. It might be in a genre that you’ve never encountered before. Have an open mind to experience a never-imagined universe. </li><li>Highlight the sections you like and try applying them in real life. Books can train you. Every feeling you have and every character or situation you encounter teaches you something. Learn from them and spread the word. As you strive to incorporate these fascinating lessons, you bring the magic alive. </li> </ul>

Training your brain to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210831911000373">analyze and think creatively </a>is as important as the business meeting that needs your analytical skills.

Though recommended, you don’t have to spend hours reading every day. Researchers studied the physical and mental effects of reading on human beings and concluded that:

<ul><li>Reading just <a href="https://buffer.com/resources/reading-fiction/">6 minutes a day </a>can slow down your heart rate, and you feel more relaxed. </li><li>People who read for just 30 minutes a week felt <a href="https://manuscritdepot.com/documentspdf/Galaxy-Quick-Reads-Report-FINAL%20.pdf">20% more satisfied </a>with their lives. </li><li><a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ895082">30 minutes of reading </a>is as effective as 30 minutes of yoga. </li> </ul>

Now, after a tiring day, I’d prefer reading a book to trying to spend more energy or watch mindless content to keep me engaged.

<ul><li>Allocate some free time for reading. While you spend hours watching television, try reading for at least an hour. On a lazy weekend when none of your friends are available, pick up a book and spend time with its characters. You can sit in your room, immersed in a fantastical, fictional land. </li><li>In <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121378-atomic-habits">Atomic Habits </a>by James Clear, he talks about cues and environment. He claims that keeping a book somewhere you can see, having a particular place for reading in your house, or even using a specific chair for reading is enough to signal your brain to pick up and read the book. </li><li>You can also try listening to audiobooks or book podcasts when doing mundane tasks. The next time you cut vegetables, vacuum the house, or wash dishes, put on your earphones, and listen to books. </li> </ul>

Create or Take Part in a Reading Challenge to Stay Motivated

To many, reading is an individual hobby that requires no competition. I wish to disagree.

As kids, we often participated in group activities like dramas, elocutions, and storytelling competitions. However, as we grew up, we forgot about these joyful experiences, and our lives became sad solo hustles. I think challenges are a great way to bring back the fun.

Besides, as research points out, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90240826/this-is-how-competition-affects-your-brain-motivation-and-productivity">challenges are one of the biggest motivators </a>. When you challenge yourself to read 15 books a year, psychologically, you’re hyped to complete the task. You push yourself to stay driven and hold yourself accountable.

<ul><li>You can find reading challenges online. I use the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/11650?ref=nav_profile_rc">Goodreads Reading Challenge </a>every year to prompt me to read more books. I also think that it’s a great way to know about the books others are reading too. Some of the other famous reading challenges include the <a href="https://bookriot.com/book-riots-2018-read-harder-challenge/">Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge </a>, <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blog/reading-challenges">Penguin Random House Reading Challenges </a>, <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-Challenge-2017-42561300">POPSUGAR Reading Challenge </a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/174195-around-the-year-in-52-books">Around the Year in 52 Books </a>. </li><li>You can find or create challenges with a twist. My friend picked an author and read all his books as part of the challenge, and my cousin ticked off books from a celebrity’s recommendation list. I once did the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/21757-the-seasonal-reading-challenge">winter reading challenge </a>, where I tried to read one Christmas-related book every week for the whole of winter. </li><li>You can also form a challenge among your friends or at your reading club. This way, you’re not alone. You can share book ideas, intriguing quotes, and excerpts, find new books and authors, and enjoy reading together. Maybe even gift each other small tokens of appreciation for participating and completing the challenge. </li> </ul>

Learn to Let Go of the Book That Doesn’t Resonate With You

You can’t connect with everything you read.

I always believed I could relate to any book I read. I took pride in a notion about which I can’t be more wrong.

Honestly, a lot of books make me fall asleep. <a href="https://www.alaskasleep.com/blog/8-ways-reading-can-help-you-sleep">Reading can help build a peaceful sleep routine </a>, and I’m living proof of the claim.

Besides, I can’t stop reading a book halfway, even if it’s boring. So, I’m scared to read most masterpieces, fearing that I’d be stuck with it forever. I know it’s wrong, and I’m trying to outgrow my habit.

People often tell me I can save a lot of time and energy by giving up a book that doesn’t work out for me. By saving time, I can instead move on to read and learn interesting information from other books.

A friend of mine advised me to read about one-third of the book before deciding to continue. If you don’t find yourself hooked by then, chances are you’ll never be interested in it. That’s a piece of solid advice that I’m currently working on developing.

I also came across this weird yet intriguing piece of advice from the book ‘<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/288288.How_to_Read_a_Novel">How to Read a Novel </a>’ by John Sutherland. In this book, he asks his readers to read the 69th page of any book and suggests that if you find the page captivating, then read the book; else, drop it, as the odds are you’ll not like it.

Though I’ve never tried this trick, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2008/jul/23/tofindyourperfectnovelsee">people on the internet swear by it </a>. They noticed that when a book confuses you to the point that you don’t know if you want to read the book or not, reading the 69th page can give you a distinct outline of the story.

Books can shape your personality, your way of thinking, and your analytical skills. They can nurture your spirit, encourage, and realize the change in you. They can even improve your <a href="http://testyourvocab.com/blog/2013-05-09-Reading-habits">language skills </a>and make you sound <a href="https://geediting.com/9-science-backed-ways-reading-makes-your-smarter-infographic/">smarter </a>.

However, often, people have the same couple of reasons for giving up reading; books are bulky, old-fashioned, and expensive.

Contrary to what many think, reading is not an expensive hobby. There are several cost-effective ways to build your reading habit. You can get a membership at the library, borrow books from friends, buy second-hand books from thrift stores, ask your friends to gift you books, or opt to read Kindle versions.

And if you think books are bulky, expensive, and space-consuming, then choose a different format. Audiobooks are great. You can also adapt to read ebooks on your phone or Kindle.

<ul><li>Nowadays, you can find book recommendations for building every aspect of you. Some may work, while many won’t. So, take inspiration from them, but try to find your books. They should interest and captivate you in a way that you can’t stop talking about them. Only you can find such books. </li><li>If a book doesn’t wow you, don’t read them. Unless it’s your textbook, in which case, you have no choice. But, try reading the book for a while, and if you don’t want to know more, then it’s just not for you. </li><li>Just like your programming, cooking, or dancing skills, your reading skills also require regular practice. Try to read for at least an hour every week. </li><li>Group activities are always fun. To motivate you, and keep you accountable, join reading challenges. Or start a book club with your reading buddies to find inspiration. </li> </ul>

<ul><li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54968118-the-code-breaker">The Code Breaker </a>by Walter Isaacson </li> </ul>

Rekindling Your Lost Joy Is Not As Difficult As You Think

Read What Interests You

Read At Least An Hour Every Week

Try Reading Challenge 📚

You Can’t Connect With Everything You Read

Go To Page 69

CURATED BY

CURATOR'S NOTE

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