As we all know, it takes 21 days to form a habit. And that’s not a lot of time. If you’ve felt the need to read more lately, whether it’s for pleasure, to expand your knowledge, or to give you something to talk about the next time you see your in-laws, here’s how to build in a habit of reading every day:
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO READ?
My favorite place to read is in a coffee shop. I like to curl up in one of the comfier chairs with a cup of coffee and my book, and the background noises of a coffee shop are just loud enough that I’m not distracted. I have ADHD, so in order to focus on what I’m reading (and not read the same sentence over and over again), it’s important to find the right environment. If you have any type of attention problem, think about the best place for you to focus and absorb the information you’re reading.
LOOK AT YOUR SCHEDULE
You don’t have to dedicate two hours to reading every single day. Make a goal for yourself; aim for 1-2 chapters a day or even just 20 minutes. Depending on where you like to read, think about what time of the day would be most convenient for you. If you like to read in bed, instead of watching a new episode of How To Get Away With Murder before you go to sleep, take that time to read.
PICK A FEW BOOKS
If you’re a fast reader, it’s not unlikely that you can finish a book within a week or two. If you’re in the middle of building a habit, it’s important that you’re prepared! I got into the habit of journaling every single day this summer, and when I ran out of space in my journal and didn’t have a backup, I went over two months without writing. Buy a few books so that you’ll have something to move on to when you finish your first endeavor.