I never considered myself a reader. If I ever read a book, it was because I had to for an English project or because it was supplemental reading for one of my history classes. But I would never just sit down and read a book for the fun of it. Never.
My brother was a huge reader back in the day. He would down a 600 page book just for the sake of it and I would always observe in awe at how captivated he was when reading it.
I decided to change my reading habit (or rather lack of) this past summer and I have been able to read ten books in the last four months without ever considering myself an avid reader. So in this blog, I will show you how you can read more without ever being a “reader.”
Read A Little Bit Every Day
This is probably the most important advice I have for anyone who wants to read more. It’s time to get rid of the notion that reading books means sitting under a tree and spending the next few hours turning the pages in a never ending conquest to finish the book.
All it takes is no more than 15–30 minutes of reading — each and every day — to finish books you never would’ve laid a hand on otherwise. The key to this strategy is consistency rather than waiting for the rare opportunity in which you have both the motivation and the time required to finish an entire book in one sitting.
By just reading a little bit every single day, I am able to finish a 200–300 page book in a week or two, depending on my reading speed and how engaging the book is. To an avid reader, this may seem like rookie numbers.
But to a non-reader such as myself with many priorities other than reading, these numbers are very good and help me move along from one book to the next fairly quickly.
Read First Thing In The Morning
Besides reading every day, it is important to read first thing in the morning as that window of time is when you are least bothered by other priorities. When you try to read in the afternoon or the evening, it becomes much more difficult to dedicate the full amount of time required because your mind is often filled with other tasks such as taking care of the kids, work issues, or schoolwork.
Also, right when you wake up is when your mind is the most free and open to absorb new information, which is perfect for when you are trying to read a book. Imagine that you just got off a tiring shift or you just finished a school project that took you hours to complete. Are you then going to pick up your book and start reading? Most likely not.
Reading first thing in the morning means you read when you are most open to reading and, if you’re like me, establishes the day as a productive day. So tomorrow, when you wake up just pick up your book and start reading. You will thank yourself later for doing so.
Find Your Genre
It is extremely important that you find the genre you like so that you will actually have motivation to continue reading. If you have no idea which genre you like most, just try a few different books and see which one you liked the most. Explore your interests.
In the world of literature, there are so many genres to choose from — fantasy, historical fiction, science fiction, mysteries, non-fiction, and the list goes on. Personally, I really enjoy reading non-fiction books related to psychology and productivity.
By finding your genre, you can make the books feel more personal to you and discover what you truly love. And if you love the books you are reading, you will be much more likely to stick with it.
Final Words
Reading books doesn’t have to be the hassle that everyone makes them out to be. There always seems to be a negative stereotype to being a “reader” but in reality, being a reader doesn’t take all that much.
All you need is a little bit of time and some consistency and suddenly the vast world of books is at your fingertips. Make sure to find the books you are truly interested in reading and don’t be afraid to read a little bit more.
So go out there and get your first book if you haven’t already started reading. Have fun reading!
