Bring the Joy of Reading Books Back Into Your Life
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." -- Dr. Seuss.
Reading is such a powerful habit to develop. Reading can shape your ideas, dreams, visions, and hope. While also expanding your knowledge and exercising your imagination to fantasize and create worlds, build characters and perspective. Reading was introduced to me at an incredibly young age. I remember being 4 years old and going to the library with my mother and sister on Saturdays. I found my special place, the library, and my love of reading has continued to flourish. But…the time I could spend reading changed a WHOLE lot for me after having my first child. The leisure of walking through the aisles of libraries and bookstores was quickly interrupted when I had a crying baby who needed to eat or my son running down the aisle playing hiding go seek. Four children later, my desire to read has not changed, but the time I have dedicated to reading has changed. I have vowed to read 20 mins a day and for now that is working for me. I do miss getting lost in a novel for hours but taking a few minutes out my day has satisfied my cravings.
If you are like me, busy with life or just got a lot going on. You may have lost interest in reading or honestly cannot find enough time to read.
Try these ideas to rediscover the joy of reading books:
1. Read books that you really want to read. Avoid reading something just because you think you should. Not everyone needs to read In Search of Lost Time. Read Black Panther comic books if that’s what you like. You are not in school; you can read whatever you like.
2. Create the time to read. It might be 20 minutes before bed or during your lunch hour. We feel like we don’t have the time because we over-schedule our lives, watch too much TV, and spend too much time surfing the Internet. Let go of some of that stuff and read instead. Make reading a habit by doing it regularly.
3. When you’re reading, only read. This is not a time for one eye on the book and the other eye on the television or strolling through your Instagram feed. If you’re going to get the most out of it, then really commit to what you’re doing. Just set or schedule a time to read and just do it!
4. Avoid thinking that you must finish every book you start. We suffer through some things in our lives that are less than exciting, but your books don’t have to be one of those things. If it’s not exciting to you, get rid of it and find something that kindles your passion to read.
5. Don’t worry about how quickly you read. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to finish a book. The important thing is to enjoy reading it. You’ll find your reading speed will increase when you read consistently.
6. Check out the book reviews before you choose something to read. Websites like Amazon.com have thousands and thousands of reviews. You can usually read part of the book online. It’s a quick and easy way to figure out if you might like it before you buy.
7. Get a library card. Free is ALWAYS good. Your local library is a great place. Take advantage of your tax dollars and check it out.
8. Remember the used bookstores. Not only can you find a lot of books that are at least 50% off, you can also sell the books you’ve finished reading. Books aren’t trophies that need to be kept on your shelves. If you’re not going to read it again, why save it?
9. Consider joining a book club. You can read the book on your own and then discuss it with others. You’ll learn a lot more about the book and get a new social circle, too. Reading is a solitary activity, but there are aspects to reading that can provide social interactions, helping you make connections with others.
Reading opens your mind up to new possibilities.
Find a great book that fascinates you and carve out some time in your life to read it. You’ll be glad you did!
"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." -- Frederick Douglass
