LGR Holistic Wellness

“I set a goal to read 104 books last year, and I did it! In fact, I ended up reading 156 instead!”

“Wow, that’s incredible, my goal was only 52, but I managed 77.”

Have you seen these people online? Bragging about their incredible ability to consume books like the rest of us do hot dinners?

It’s a great habit to have, though. Whether you pick up a fictional story or prefer autobiographies, there is a lot to learn from books. A good reading habit will help you grow your mind. A great example is Warren Buffet. The billionaire investor is a voracious reader, spending around six hours a day with his nose in a book.

The only way to get smarter is to accumulate knowledge. Children who read or who are read to at home tend to have larger vocabularies than their peers. According to Buffet, knowledge builds, just like interest.

The only way to get the results that you want from life is to constantly learn, expand your mind, and push out beyond your comfort zone.

Reading is Fun

It has never been easier to be a reader – you can pick up used books online for pennies. If you have storage issues, you can easily buy eBooks to solve the problem. There is also a multitude of free, downloadable information, including complete books, available online.

In reality, if you had the gift of unlimited time you could easily read a book or two in a day. Unfortunately, the majority of us don’t have that luxury.

So, how can you move from rare or casual reader to veritable bookworm? You need a system! Like any habit, it takes time, practice, and a schedule until you have solidified it as part of your daily routine.

Think of reading being to your mind as physical activity is to your body. It’s a system of exercise. It’s like a software update that your operating system desperately needs. It provides you with more knowledge, which will make you a far more interesting person to converse with.

Reading can transport you to new worlds. It provides you with an insight into how others see the world. You can read the thoughts of some of the world’s brightest minds. Reading can boost your concentration, build your memory, and help you fight stress.

Develop a Habit

Start Small

To develop a habit, you have to practice it daily. The first step needs to be a small one. If you tell yourself you have to read a book a day, you’re only setting yourself up to fail. So, we’re going to start small with just 30 minutes of reading a day. That isn’t to say you have to stop when you reach 30 minutes; you can keep going. The minimum is 30 minutes.

Consistency

When you sit down for your 30 minutes of reading, then it should be at the same time of day. You can schedule your daily reading session for a time that works for you, but bedtime is as good a time as any. Reading is a great way to wind down and calm your mind. Consider turning off your screens and giving yourself a prime time of reading.

If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling social media or playing with your phone, then put it down and pick up a book for extra reading time. Just remember, this is extra reading time. It doesn’t replace your next scheduled 30 minutes.

Routine

Mesh reading into an established daily routine. There are many times you might spend minutes on your phone that are not call-related. Instead, choose a book. You can choose an audiobook during your work commute. You can choose to read over lunch or opt to read instead of watching television. Reading can become a healthy and productive default habit that combines with an existing habit.