How I Read More Books
I’ve had people ask me how I’m able to read more; specifically, how I decide to read over other activities like doomscrolling or watching Netflix.
For context, I've loved reading books ever since I was a kid (I’ve gotten multiple scoldings for having a huge book open on the dining table during meals); I just fell out of the habit as I grew older. In the past few years, though, I made a conscious decision to rebuild the habit of reading. Here are some tips that I found helped me.
Have an adversarial relationship with your phone
I initially read about this idea in Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, and I think it’s a fantastic mindset. The idea of not giving tech billionaires any more of my precious time than I have to is very appealing to the rebel in me.
I might have taken this to extremes, because I decided to delete my Facebook and Instagram accounts recently. With no social media, the ultimate timesuck on my phone is Youtube.
When I feel like I’ve spent too much time on screens, I either turn my phone off and place it in a drawer, or hand it over to my husband. Having my phone out of sight really helps me focus on reading because I’m not distracted by notifications (real or imagined).
Set a goal
Keep the initial goal small, like reading a page a day or reading for 5 minutes straight (set a timer if you must). The important thing is to build momentum, and you can only do that by starting.
Remember: the goal has to be achievable! You have to start so small that you’re not intimidated. Early setbacks can be disheartening so make sure you’re not taking on too much and setting yourself up for failure.
Read what you want
I am a self-professed book snob and will automatically side-eye books that purport to be “BookTok approved”. But don’t let snobs like me deter you from reading what piques your interest. Again, the important thing is to get started; plenty of time later to explore different genres if you're so inclined.
If you don’t know where to start, try reading a book that’s been made into a movie you already watched, like The Hunger Games or Harry Potter (another tip: children’s lit or young adult fiction is usually easier to read). Since you already know from the movie what happened, you’ll be able to focus on the nuances and details that only the book could provide. Having that level of familiarity can help you get your bearings.
It’s sort of like how when I was in high school, everyone was a self-taught guitar player who started by learning simple songs they like (you couldn’t enter a classroom without someone strumming a Spongecola song).
Always have something to read, everywhere
We default to our habits because they’re ingrained and usually, we’ve made them easily accessible. In this case, to remind myself to default to reading instead of scrolling, I put my Kindle app on my phone’s home screen, and relegated the distracting apps like Youtube to a folder several taps away (or uninstall it completely for a time).
This especially applies to physical books. Place books in areas of your house where you can easily access them, like on your nightstand or your coffee table. Remove the friction from picking up a book, and add that friction to the habits that you wish to break.
Have something to read for every mood
This is why I read several books at once. I have light, easily digestible books for when I feel too drained to process very complex ideas, and I have more difficult books to challenge myself for when I have more energy and focus. It’s important for me to have books all along that spectrum so I never run out of choices. That means I’m more likely to pick reading over other activities.
Reading is a skill. Like any skill, it takes dedicated, intentional practice to get better at it. You’ll have to consciously choose it and devote time to it, which takes discipline.
I know all this sounds daunting. But I hope you give it a try anyway and discover the joys of sitting down in a quiet corner with a good book.