DEVELOPING A HEALTHY AND EFFECTIVE READING HABIT; How I overcame my nonchalance towards reading

Today, A couple of people see me as an avid reader. Lol

I don't know if I qualify to be called that but I have definitely come a long way as regards learning to read books and eventually loving to read books.

As you might guess, I once struggled with reading self help books (I still lazy around sometimes. lol) but God and a couple of Men have helped me learn to inculcate a healthy and effective reading habit. 

I'd like to share some tips on this subject.

"WHY DON'T I READ AS MUCH AS I WANT TO?"

I personally believe that there is an inner desire in every one for knowledge. 

If this is so, why do people find it hard to read?

Why do we start books but never finish?

Why do we allow weeks and months to pass by without picking up a book?

Here are possible reasons:

1. No real interest in subject matter- Most people while starting a quest to cultivate a healthy reading habit pick up books at random, sometimes following a friend's recommendation, a popular book or the first book seen hanging around your family's book shelf without having a real interest in the subject matter of the book.

2. Wrong motive

Why do you want to read a specific book?

Could it be because alot of people have read that book or is it to impress people around you? 

That may not particularly help you as far as cultivating a healthy reading habit is concerned.

I found out quite early that having the wrong motives strains effort to developing a healthy reading habit.

You might start out great but later have problem with consistency.

3. Lack of discipline- This is probably the most prominent problem. We may really want to read but are lacking in the discipline required to start and finish what we've started. Lack of discipline may give room to other issues like procrastination.

Here are ways that have personally helped me overcome the challenges I have faced while trying to cultivate a healthy reading habit and I believe this could be of help to you too.

So here we go;

3 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO CULTIVATE A HEALTHY AND CONSISTENT READING HABIT

GENUINE INTEREST

A burning interest and passion for a subject matter is the greatest motivation for reading.

What sparks your interest? 

What are you interested in getting information about?

What problems are you having that you desperately wish to solve?

Are you interested in gaining influence, in beating procrastination, winning in love or leadership or academic excellence?

Well if so, then don't go picking up books on finance or gender, at least, not just yet. 

So start your reading journey, not with random books but with a focus on your area of interest.

READING PLAN

Try to avoid reading without a reading plan, chances are that you may read the book for longer than expected or end up never finishing it.

For instance, you get a book of 100 pages; don't try to finish it all in one day or read until you get tired.

I advice that you decide to do 10 or 20 pages per day and try to stick to it (the next point will help you stick to you plan).

A reading plan not only helps you get disciplined and build consistency but also allows you time to digest/ ponder upon what you've learnt so far from the book and ways you can apply the lessons to your life.

READING PARTNER

This helps with accountability which motivates discipline.

The knowledge that at the end of the day, you'll have to answer to someone on why you weren't able to read or share the lessons you've learnt from the book, I find, is a great motivation to read. 

It's preferable that this person is an already disciplined Reader.

BOOK CLUBS

This also helps with accountability and discipline.

You get to have a family where you can practice cultivating a healthy reading habit.

Practice they say, makes perfect.

So if you have access to a book club, join.

                          .  .  .  .  

The above are tips to read healthy but the goal is not just reading but actually learning Yes?

So here are some bonus tips to help you benefit maximally from the self help books you read:

1. Read on a particular subject matter per season- This is especially when you're keen on gaining expertise in a part. 

By this point, I mean, when you're passionate about a subject for instance Leadership, it is advised that to really build yourself in that area, you focus on it for a specified period of time before moving to another subject you want to learn on.

Doing this is more learning effective than moving between subjects in short period of times. 

So avoid going from Relationship Goals by Micheal Todd(love) to 5 levels of leadership by John Maxwell(leadership) to Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter(finance) instead go for 3 to 4 books on leadership before moving to another subject. 

2. Take notes while you read- I know this can be tasking but it's a very effective way to learn and not just read and forget.

Even if you can highlight on your phone's book reader, it still yet doesn't hurt to get a pen and paper and take notes.

 While listening to informative podcasts, YouTube videos or christian messages, make sure you're taking notes.

When you are done with your book, you can always fall back to your notes to refresh your memory on salient points. Do this from time to time.

And get a specific jotter for this purpose.

I hope these points are of help to you and will add life to reading for you.

Please share the link to anyone you think this post could help.

Until my next Blog Post, Stay happy!!!