Create or find a good reading environment.
Find a place that is quiet, well lit, and comfortable. You can even make a
reading nook in your room. Constant distractions from the book in front of you
can make it hard to concentrate, and no one likes reading the same passages
over and over. Finding the proper environment in which to read can be just as
important as finding the right book for many people.
- Sometimes, people may suffer from light sensitivity, which can cause headaches when you read. Avoid high-contrast print, glossy paper, and fluorescent lighting.
- You don’t have to read only at home, either. Check out the coffee shops, cafes, or bars in your area.
Set times to read. Try to set aside time to read every
day. Even if it just starts as ten minutes on a lunch break, twenty minutes on
the bus, and fifteen minutes before bed at night, that’s suddenly forty-five
minutes that day you’ve spent reading.
- You can even turn this into a little game with yourself. Set a daily goal for reading time and give yourself a reward when you hit it. Eventually, you may come to find reading is its own reward.
Always carry a book with you.
You never know when you might find a few extra minutes to read. Sitting in
waiting rooms, commuting on public transportation, waiting at a restaurant for
a friend to arrive, etc. are all situations where we tend to pull out our
phones and send text messages or check Facebook. By having a book in your bag,
you can help develop your love of reading.
- If you have an e-reader, you’ll be able to carry an entire library around with you. The choices are endless.
Keep a reading list. Whether
it’s in a pocket notebook, a memo on your phone, or someplace else, try to keep
a reading list of books you hear about that you want to read.[7]
Remembering titles and authors is difficult and drawing a blank once you’re at
the bookstore or the library is frustrating. By having a list handy, you’ll
always remember what books sounded interesting.
- If you’re at the library or bookstore and see a book that intrigues you, snap a photo of the cover. That way, you’ll remember it for later.
Track authors or series you enjoy.
When you find an author whose style you love, try tracking down his or her
other books. Even if the plot or subject of the author’s other books don’t
necessarily grab you, loving a particular writing style can lead to enjoyment
of books you might not expect. Try looking into the other books of an author
you find yourself really enjoying.
Socialize around reading. Look into
book clubs or reading groups that specialize in the books you enjoy. Reading
can be more of a solo activity than watching movies or television shows, but it
doesn’t have to be. Books can be just as fun to talk about with others as other
media.
- Finding these groups locally isn’t always easy, so remember to look online for reading communities as well.
Try audiobooks. Sometimes school, work, or other
obligations might not leave you as much time to read as you’d like. In these
situations, try listening to audiobooks to still get your daily dose of books.
Even having books read aloud to you will still keep you involved and enthralled
with reading during the period where you cannot pick up the actual book.
Visit your local library. Your tax
dollars pay for libraries, and you can try out as many books as you would like
for free (as long as you remember to return or renew them on time).
- Many public libraries even loan out e-books so you can read them from home.
Visit
the bookstore.
Bookstores, whether the big chains or intimate used book shops, are also great
places to browse if you prefer to own your books. Sometimes being surrounding
by cases and cases of books is all it takes to reignite your passion for
picking up a few new ones.
Education
