Before I say anything, I would like to express myself. I have hated reading for almost my whole life until now. I never say reading is my hobby; however, it is a time that I will dedicate to self-improvement.
The tips below may help you, as they help me, but I can say they depend on what type of personality you have and how much commitment you will put into reading.
Now let’s get back to our topic. I trained myself in reading not because I like to read but because it helps me to expand my point of view and knowledge so that I make or create my own opportunities in my life as well as in my career.
1. Choose the thin book
For starters like you and me, the thin book is the best choice ever. It doesn’t matter if it is a novel, leadership, business, adventure, or financial book as long as it is short and something you will complete in a short period of time. This was the first book I read, 3-Minute Motivation, by DaraLy, the author. Then keep sleeping and keep dreaming, which were both written by the same author. Those two books were thin; as far as I remember correctly, they were less than 100 pages.
2. Time limit
Time is important in reading. You can set a goal for how many books you would like to finish in a year. Mine is 4. It doesn’t matter how thick or thin the book is. My personal formula was four books in a year, and I set out to finish one book every two months. So, if you divide 100 pages by 60 days, the result would be 2 pages a day. It takes only two pages a day to complete. You only spend around 10 minutes each day, and within a month or two you will start to feel that you can read more than 2 pages a day. And that will go on until you can read more than 10 pages a day, or even a full book a day if you have time.
3. Punishment
Why punishment, you ask? I call it self-discipline. In 2 months, if I cannot complete a 100-page book, there will be no Netflix or K-drama for a week or 2. You can set up your own punishment (try not to make it too easy or simple). But remember, when you set a punishment, stick with it. Because no one is going to help you unless you help yourself.
4. A reward
We have punishment in reading; we should also have a reward, right? Yes, a reward. You can reward yourself with anything. For me, it was a week off from reading. You may ask, “If you take a week off, will you never take up reading again?” Well, punishment will step in again. Why? Because we set a goal, remember? We can get a reward, but at the same time, don’t forget about our punishment.
5. Repeated the process
Noting is going to work out without practice. You need to practice, practice, and practice, and repeat the process until the end of the year. So, at the end of the year, you will see the result of your commitment, and trust me, this feeling meant the world to me. And you will see how much you change (in a good way) and how you can steal time for yourself to read.
I hope those 5 tips above can help you as much as they have helped me. It will help you become your own reading Hobbit, even if you don’t like to read like me.
Oh, you can also use this method for thick books. I have still used these methods up until now. Now I read 10–15 pages a day, and the books I read most have more than 200 pages.
Recommended book for the second year:
- The Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma
- Start with why by Simon Sinek
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon L. Lechter
- Leading Ladies by H.E. Koung Sorita
I wish you the best of luck on your journey through reading, and let me know if these tips help. All four of these books offer important advice for achieving success in life and in business.
Thank you for reading