If you’ve ever wondered how to motivate yourself to read books, this article is for you.
Many people consider reading to be a boring and frustrating task. But, while it does take a little more effort than watching television, it is also essential to living in a world where information comes at a pace so fast that hearing it out loud simply is not an option.
Educating yourself through reading can make the difference between success and failure in school, work, and social life. If you can make yourself love to read, that love will pay major dividends in the future.
Finding ways to encourage yourself to read more can be difficult, but reading is like exercising: the more you do it, the better you will be at it.
Here we will go over some tips and tricks to help get you started down the path of becoming a proficient and frequent reader.
How To Motivate Yourself To Read Books:
Tip 1: Do Not Overdo It
One of the most common mistakes people make in general with any new habit is to burn themselves out by attempting far too much at the beginning.
If you are someone who reads very rarely, and you attempt to jump right in and start reading for two hours a day, every day, you are likely to quickly burn out and sink back into the habit of never reading again.
A good method to follow is to start small, keep a steady pace, and slowly increase the amount you read.
If you are reading a fictional novel, a good benchmark is a chapter every other day. If you are looking to begin with more technical reading, such as a textbook or how-to book, you might want to set a time limit instead of a length limit.
Twenty minutes or so of difficult reading can be more than enough to get you used to reading, while not frying your brain from overdoing it.
As you spend more time reading, you can slowly increase the amount, but be sure to keep to a reasonable amount based on your schedule and how much you can endure.
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Tip 2: Practice Reading One Thing at a Time
It might seem like common sense, but read through only one thing at a time when you practice reading. According to studies, many of us are losing the ability to read thoroughly through one piece of written work.
The information says that as we spend most of our time these days browsing online, we are used to constant floods of new information, and we are used to going from one material to the next.
This can come back to haunt you if there is a major report you need to read for work, or if you are wanting to read full-length novels.
The way to incorporate this into your new reading habit is simple: only read one book at a time.
Even if you have to read for other occasions like a class or seminar, dedicate your scheduled reading time to just one thing at a time.
Turn off your laptop computer, silence your smart phone, put aside other books and focus only on the thing you are reading at the moment.
This decision to focus will help you complete more of your desired reading in the short term, but it will also give you a sense of completion and enjoyment that will make you want to read more in the long term.
Tip 3: Pick Reading Material that Interests You
While it might be a noble effort to try and read through an advanced world history textbook as a way to practice reading, if you are not interested in history, then you will only put a damper on your attempts to read.
The focus should be on getting yourself to read (1), and not specifically addressing any other issue.
You will be more motivated to read if the reading material is inherently interesting to you.
Even if you decide to read a Harlequin novel, a biography of your favorite sports star, or a fantasy/sci-fi novel, you are helping yourself get used to the act of reading itself.
Once you are more comfortable in sitting down with a book in hand, you can then expand to material that might not be as entertaining.
Tip 4: Find the Reading Media and Locations that Work for You
With the advent of the age of technology, we are no longer stuck with just the choice between hardcover and softcover for our reading material.
You can choose to spend your time reading eBooks on a desktop computer, sitting on a couch while you run your eBook through the family big screen television, or taking a laptop or tablet PC to any place you might take a regular book.
There is no right or wrong reading method, and you should focus on what makes it most enjoyable and relaxing for you. Some like to take their reading out into a park or public area in order to enjoy the outdoors while they read.
Others like to read in bed, enjoying the comfort and solitude of their own room. Experiment with different locations and reading materials in order to find what works best for you.
SEE ALSO: How To Study Better: 10 Study Tips Every Student Should Know
Tip 5: Keep a Dictionary on Hand
While you may not need a physical dictionary with you, given the availability of online versions, the fact remains that as you read more, you will be exposed to words with which you are not familiar.
The important thing to remember is that this is one of the benefits to reading more frequently. You will get to see these new words in context, and have a good reference for their usage.
This does not mean you should rely entirely on the context to understand the word.
Looking up the definition and usage in a dictionary will give you a firm understanding of the new word, expand your vocabulary, and give you the satisfaction of learning more than just the content of your reading.
Other reference books might be useful, too.
For example, if you are reading a history book, a biographical dictionary could be a valuable reference to aid your understanding.
Tip 6: Keep at It
There are many more reasons to read than mentioned above, and many more ways to make reading enjoyable and fun, but you will only enjoy reading if you keep at it.
If you have trouble maintaining a reading schedule (2) on your own, you can find a “reading buddy” or a book club to help give you peer motivation.
If time or events interrupt your scheduled reading, try to make it up as soon as possible to avoid slipping out of the habit.
Remember, reading is like exercise: it will come easier the more you do it, and it is healthy for you to do.
Conclusions
By reading this article, you have acknowledged for yourself that making yourself read more is important.
Use the tips discussed above to gradually increase your level of reading over time.
With these techniques, you can create the desire and opportunity in your life to radically increase your level of reading.
Like any exercise in self-motivation, increasing your reading level will take effort, but you can overcome all of the hurdles preventing you from achieving your goal, and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Thank you for reading this article about how to encourage yourself to read books and I really hope that you take action my advice.
I wish you good luck and I hope its contents have been a good help to you.
