by Drishya Singh
Today, where people obsess over movie adaptations of novels and binge-watch series, they find inculcating the habit of reading a mammoth task. The reasons can be many but the one that I find most dominating is that none of us were ever asked to develop the habit of reading as a child. And so, we never developed a habit or even a small liking for reading.
And now when we try to develop the same, it doesn’t work. Unread, half-read books take up our tabletops or bookshelf. At one point, people give up trying to develop the habit of reading. But no worries! Having gone through the same cycle, I’m here to share some of the ways that got my declining interest.
Read what you like: If you are new to the world of books, start by reading what you like or have an interest in. Some people like murder mysteries, some like self-help books, some find interest in reading romance novels whereas to some, reading about ancient civilizations or biographies is more worthwhile. So, it depends upon what you enjoy reading.
Avoid the Opposite: Most people will advise you to read non-fiction. Surely, it has its merits but that doesn’t mean reading fiction is a total waste of time. If you like fiction, start with fiction. Starting to read with what you like will enhance your reading habit and then, you can either switch or mix up to reading what you find more worthwhile.
Set Target: A lot of us aren’t able to develop a habit because habits require consistency. And for reading habits, one needs to set a target. You can either set up a target of reading one chapter every day or you can also do it by the number of pages. It all depends on how much you can read in one sitting. And do not go overboard.
Same place, Same time: To develop any habit, one needs to do the same activity for the same duration at the same place regularly. Usually, it takes 21 days to develop a habit. So, if you’re starting to read, choose your time and place. Before sleeping or early after waking up, it also depends upon the kind of book you are reading.
Newspaper: If you’re someone who despises reading newspapers, don’t worry; you’re not alone, I hate it too. But if you want to develop the habit of reading the newspaper, I’d suggest that you read the newspaper right in the morning. Start by going through the whole newspaper select what you want to read and stick to that only. You can also start by reading news of your interest and slowly move towards the news that is important or relevant for you.
Reading can be fun and trust me, it is fun. It only requires time and patience. Surely, Instagram reels and memes have their place but when it comes to spending time with yourself, nothing can beat a book!
