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So, here are some things I do that help me read every day:
1) Take a book everywhere
I usually put a lightweight paperback book in
my purse and take it with me everywhere. This way, whenever I have a break I
can do some reading. I realized I actually do a lot of reading during the day
when I take advantage of several short periods of time. Needless to say, you
might as well take any other electronic device you have that allows e-books
(Kindle, IPad or any other ultra modern gadget that I have only heard about)
2) Set up a deadline
I really don’t like starting anything without a
clear deadline for it. Having a goal helps reading a little each day. So what I
do is: I divide the number of chapters or of pages by the days I want to spend
reading the book. For example, my edition of “Sense and Sensibility” has more
or less 300 pages. I wanted to finish it in 15 days. Therefore I needed to read
20 pages a day. It’s not necessary to stick to this too strictly, the most
important is to be realistic. 20 pages for me is doable but 50, not so much.
3) Avoid distractions
I get really frustrated when I need to read the
same paragraph five times. It’s way too time consuming. If you really benefit
from a quiet, interruption free environment, look for quieter places when
reading.
4) Engage
other people
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This tip is
usually given to people that work out, but I really think it applies to reading
too. Reading doesn’t necessarily need to be solitary. If you can get a friend
or family member to read the same book you are reading, you can always talk
about it and encourage each other to read it. You can also join a local or
online book club. When the activity is fun we tend to do it much more often.
5) Listening,
instead of reading
I can’t read on buses because I get headaches. To take advantage of my commuting time I use
audio books. You can find lots of titles available in different formats. I use Librivox, it's free and all the books there are in the public domain.
Hopefully
some of these tips might help you read more.
I would love
to hear what you guys do to increase your reading habit!