A Simple Reading Ritual Cheat Sheet

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

I’ve managed to start reading more consistently over the past four weeks. The good news is the process of making consistent reading happen doesn’t have to be difficult. But I know it can be a challenge to get started.

That’s why I put together this “reading ritual” — to help you get started right away.

Let’s go through each step.

Step One: Set a reading goal

I use Goodreads for this and have for many years. I’ve only hit the mark once before (back in 2012) so I know I needed to do more than just set the goal…but I’ll get to that in the next step.

Make sure that your goal is specific and reasonable. If you’re just getting started with regular reading, then start small. Think you can read a book a month? Then shoot for twelve books in the year. Feeling a tad more ambitious? Aim for 15 or 20. Once you’ve set a reasonable goal then move on to the next step.

Step Two: Create a framework that supports your reading efforts

This isn’t something that you can just throw together. You need to come up with a plan and framework so that you can hit you mark — or even exceed it.

Here’s the framework I’ve put in place:

1. In Todoist, I created a task for one book that I would read every two days and then another task for another book I would read on alternating days. This means I’m reading two books at once (either print or digital). This provides me with variety in my reading and gives me the best chance possible to hit my annual reading goal. When I complete a book, I take the corresponding repeating task and “move” it to history (a feature in Todoist that stops tasks from repeating). Then I create a new task with a new book title that has the same parameters, being read on days when the other title is not being read.
2. I also created a task in Todoist that repeats daily for Scribd titles. It’s simply called “Read Scribd book” and has the labels “@25min” and “@reading” attached to it so I know it’s what I can do when I’m in Reading Mode or enter 25 Minute Mode. I often listen to Scribd books when I’m walking home after dropping the kids off at school, or when I’m doing household chores.
3. Finally, I set up a task in Todoist called “Read Blinkist blink” which I have repeating daily as well. Blinks take me about 15 minutes to read (or listen to), but they provide me with insights into other books I may want to read in full. In the past four weeks, I’ve marked off two books in my Blinkist library that I want to read in the original form (and I’ve added them to my Want to Read list in Goodreads).

Step Three: Read on (and Review Later)

Now all I need to do is read. I “dog ear” paper books in sections I would like to review in the future. I highlight passages in digital books that I read on my iPad (the only ebook reader I use). I use bookmarks in Audible by skipping back thirty seconds and then touching the bookmark button on my iPhone. I also send Blinkist snippets to Evernote.

The key is that I don’t just leave a book when I’m done with it and never touch it again. I always create a task that compels me to revisit it for research purposes.

Whether you decide to shoot for fifty books a year or ten, you can use this cheat sheet to build a framework will help you read more and consistently. This consistency will help you keep the reading ritual for years to come, no matter whether you read paper books, ebooks, or audiobooks.