How to pick up the habit of reading?

Some books I read during my summer vacations of 2017 where reading truly became a habit in my life. Personal favorite in this list has to be ‘Shoe Dog’ and ‘Industries of the Future.’

Reading is probably one of the best habits a person can instill in their life.

I am currently 20 years old and was not much of a reader till about a two years back.

What changed ?

I joined a summer investment club under the mentorship of a leading India investor Mr. Bishnu Dhanuka. I always thought of reading as something associated to being ‘nerdy’, and this mentor of mine completely changed my perception regarding this. I learnt that reading was the single most powerful tool that a person could use to learn more about ANYTHING in the world — at the cost of nothing.

To instill the habit of reading I have a few suggestions that worked for me (and is working for my younger sibling in whom I am trying to instill the habit of reading).

1. Visit a bookstore — Don’t know where to start, you should visit the bookstore in your locality and just spend some time out there and I am sure you will find something that interests you .
2. Buy books — If financially viable buy books that interest you, as you never know when you might be bored and just decide to start reading a book and get hooked on to it.
3. Read before sleeping — I have been following this habit religiously and it really helps. Put away your phone at night before sleeping, get in bed and read for maybe just fifteen minutes. You’ll also get better sleep with this.
4. Read a few pages — There might be days when you don’t feel like reading or just don’t have the time to read. Try and read at least 5–10 pages on that day so you don’t break the pattern. You might not even realize and read a book in 20 days like this.
5. Buy a light book that interests you — When initially trying to instill the habit of reading start with a light book based on a topic that you have some interest or prior knowledge about. Do not try starting of with a book that doesn’t interest you or one you are unable to comprehend.
6. Carry a book in your bag — On average people spend about 2 hours on social media and most of them do this in their free time, while they are waiting for something or someone to arrive, during commute and when they are bored. Carry the book you are reading in your bag and you might never know when you get bored and feel like reading.

These are some points that have helped me to instill one of the most important habits of my life-Reading.

I hope this blog post helps you do the same. Read, learn and always be curious!