How to read more

Reading was such a wonderful way to spend my time as a child. I loved escaping into the world of a book. As I grew older though, that love of reading changed and leisure reading gradually faded out of my life. In hindsight, I realized that the dense scholarly reading required in graduate school edged out any space I used to reserve for leisure reading. And like with anything else, once you are out of practice with something, getting back into it feels clunky. For years I had been saying to myself 'Oh, I don't have the time or attention span to read anymore.' This broad stroke fallacy coupled with lack of conscious effort kept my reading down to 2 or 3 books a year, if that. And it certainly didn't help that I had gotten used to the brevity of scanning small chunks of online articles as my usual source of reading. But, as you get older and reflect on the way you're living your life, sometimes you zoom in on parts that just don't sit well with you. Reading was one of those parts for me. In the past year, I have focused on living my life more decidedly. Once I decided to start leisure reading again and employed some strategies, I went from reading 2 to 3 books a year, to now completing 4 to 5 books a month. These are the strategies:

1. Clean up your thoughts about reading

Thoughts decide behavior. As the saying goes, whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. I had to sort out what I was telling myself about my reading, then replace faulty thinking with healthier thoughts. Rather than thinking I didn't have time to read, I started thinking if I have time to watch t.v. and scroll the web, I have time to read. I began listening to videos about reading more efficiently and trying out strategies. Over and over I was hearing that CEOs and billionaires tend to be copious readers. I began to think 'If they can, why can't I?' I also realized that I wanted to feel happier about how I spent my free time, not regretting how much time I spend mindlessly engaged with screens. So, by shifting my thinking, my actions began to shift as well.

2. Learn to read faster

Jim Kwik, a speed-reading and memory expert offers many tips to read more effectively. Following his tips, I have just about doubled my reading speed. Irisreading.com is another good resource. Tips such as visual pacing and reducing sub-vocalizing helped with making reading more fluid and efficient for me. And getting through books faster also makes each book feel like less of a daunting commitment.

3. Always have books with you

It's hard to read more without books around. I have a book at work, in my tote bag, at home, and I always have an audiobook cued up in my phone. This serves as encouragement to reach for a book instead of the web when I have free moments.

4. Read several books at a time

I have found that having several books in progress works well for me. Usually a mix of long and short books that are fiction and non-fiction. Having several books in progress gives me options depending on how I'm feeling. I can read what suits my mood on a given day. Books also range in chapter length, so if I have a shorter time period to read, I might choose a book with shorter chapters.

5. Read in small chunks

I used to think that if I didn't have ample time to set aside to read, that it was pointless trying. Yet another broad stroke fallacy I needed to do away with. Now, I read whenever I can in small spurts. Like when there's nothing on t.v. of interest, or when waiting for an appointment to begin, or for a few minutes before bed. I also love listening to audiobooks while commuting, walking my dog, and sometimes housecleaning. It all adds up. It's a lot like the half an hour t.v. series that you watch. Just like you catch a 30-minute episode of a show, you can catch an episode (chapter) of a book.

6. Set aside time daily to read

I read for about 15 minutes most mornings before getting ready for the day. I created the time to do that by cutting back on social media scrolling in the mornings. I also read for about 20 minutes in the evening or at night. I also listen to audiobooks on my daily hour-long commute to work.

7. Set goals each time you read

Having a goal gives you something to reach toward. My goals tend to be to read a certain number of minutes per day, e.g., 15 or 20 minutes, or a number of pages, usually 10 or 20 pages.

8. Get a good list of books to look forward to

I found an instagram thread last year where people listed their all-time favorite books. I've also read articles about best selling books and gotten recommendations from friends. I have a list of about 50 books waiting in line. This seems to help keep me motivated to plug along with my current reading.

These 8 strategies have restored my reading to a healthy habit. And the more I read the easier it becomes to continue doing so. I'm learning more, discovering new authors, spending less mindless screen time, and feeling happier about how I spend my leisure time. It's a win-win!