Reading is an excellent habit to develop. You can read about anything that interests you and acquire virtually an infinite amount of knowledge. You might not ever be able to travel to Antarctica in real life, but you can “be there” in a flash with a book.
Young children love to read and to have books read to them. Then, to our own detriment, many of us lose interest or simply can’t find the time once we grow up.
Try these ideas to rediscover the joy of reading books:
1. Read books that you really want to read. Avoid reading something just because you think you should. Not everyone needs to read War and Peace or Paradise Lost. Read old Superman comic books, if that’s what you like. You’re not in school; you can read whatever you like.
2. Create the time to read. It might be 20 minutes before bed or during your lunch hour. We feel like we don’t have the time because we over-schedule our lives, watch too much TV, and spend too much time surfing the Internet. Let go of some of that stuff and read instead. Make reading a habit by doing it regularly.
3. When you’re reading, only read. This isn’t a time for one eye on the book and the other eye on the television set. If you’re going to get the most out of it, then really commit to what you’re doing. Just read during your reading time.
4. Avoid thinking that you must finish every book you start. We have to suffer through some things in our lives that are less than exciting, but your books don’t have to be one of those things. If it’s not exciting to you, get rid of it and find something else. Life is too short to be bored any more than absolutely necessary.
5. Don’t worry about how quickly you read. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to finish a book. The important thing is to have a blast reading it. You’ll find you’re your reading speed will increase when you read regularly.
6. Check out the book reviews before you choose something to read. Websites like Amazon.com have thousands and thousands of reviews. You can usually read part of the book online. It’s a quick and easy way to figure out if you might like it before you buy.
7. Get a library card. Free is good. Your local library is a wonderful place. Take advantage of your tax dollars and check it out.
8. Remember the used bookstores. Not only can you find a lot of books that are at least 50% off, you can also sell the books you’ve finished reading. Books aren’t trophies that need to be kept on your shelves. If you’re not going to read it again, why save it?
9. Consider joining a book club. You can read the book on your own and then discuss it with others. You’ll learn a lot more about the book and get a new social circle, too. Reading is a solitary activity, but there are aspects to reading that can be very social.
Reading opens your mind up to new possibilities. There is so much you can learn, and with a library card, reading can even be free. Find a great book that fascinates you and carve out some time in your life to read it. You’ll be glad you did!
