5 Tips to Improve Your Reading Habits

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”

– Dr. Seuss

Even though today the world is changing rapidly because of the development of information technology, we still need to take a specific amount of time to sit and read a book or two.

Why? Because it is widely believed that reading raises our chance to master lots of things. 

Reading has several benefits, including sharpening the brain, improving literacy skills, boosting empathy, building vocabulary, encouraging better sleep, and stabilizing mental health.

That is to say, developing reading skill at a young age is crucial because we want to keep those benefits as we grow older.

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5 Tips to Improve Reading Habits

Some people fail to read books because they consider it as a chore, not something that can be enjoyed while chilling on a couch. 

To tackle this, here are some tips on how to cultivate better reading habits.

Pick your favorite genre

Do you like romance novels? Read it. Do you prefer dark mysteries? Go for it. Or do you think nonfiction self-improvements are better? Just dive in.

Whichever you like, it is not a big deal. Some of you might feel inferior for preferring novels over self-improvement books since most people would think that reading fiction is just a waste of time, but it is not.

According to Harvard Business Review, a recent research in neuroscience proves that reading fiction develops the qualities of emotional intelligence. It helps people to increase their empathy and critical thinking.

For nonfiction lovers, do not be discouraged. Reading about life lessons will upgrade your brain in terms of knowledge and analytical thinking.

Whatever your preference, as long as you read, it does not matter!

Read 20 minutes a day

Is it too much? Then make it 10 minutes a day.

Set a certain time of the day dedicated to reading only. Spending time reading also boosts mental health and stimulates the brain. 

Fun fact, if students read for 20 minutes each day, in a year they are exposed to 1.8 million words of text. Imagine what this will do for your language subject in the class!

Try to make a plan for your reading of the day. Either in the morning before preparing for school or at night before bed.

Unplug yourself from social media

We all know the temptation of using social media the whole day is undeniable. Make sure your device is out of reach whenever you are trying to read.

Sounds difficult, right? But as the habits are developing, it can get easier. 

Start small by just turning off the notifications or internet connection, then advance it by putting the phone out of your room.

Let go of your fear of missing out on a piece of useless information. Choosing to read a book instead of scrolling through social media is one way to increase your attention span. 

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Set reading goals

Just a realistic one. One book a month may be enough for a starter but too little for a master. 

Do not be intimidated by other people who read piles of books every week. It takes a long time for them to be in that position. Set your own pace and work for it every day. 

Start small, a book in two month will be a book a month if you are seriously cultivating this habit and sticking in accomplishing it.

Remember to list all the books you have read as your habit tracker!

Carry a book wherever you go

If you are about to go outside, bring your current reading book in your bag and read them if you have available time.

Waiting for pick-up? Read a book. Have nothing to do in the car? Read a book. Waiting for your order in a cafe? Read a book. You will thank yourself later for reading a book to sharpen your mind instead of just doing nothing but waiting.

If your current read is too heavy to be carried everywhere, then pick a small-sized unread book. 

Those are the tips you can try to improve your reading habit each and every day. Starting small is not a defeat. Having the courage to improve the habit alone is a great leap and investment for your future. 

If you are currently confused which book to read, we recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear, Educated by Tara Westover, I Want to Die but I want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se Hee, The Alpha Girl Guide and Filosofi Teras by Henry Manampiring.

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We do hope that your reading habit will have a positive impact towards the future you are trying to build today. 

Are you interested in improving your study habits too? Then feel free to download Pijar Belajar! It provides school materials for elementary and high school students which can be accessed anytime and anywhere.

Get yours on Google Play and sign up!

References:

The Case for Reading Fiction, Christine Seifert, https://hbr.org/2020/03/the-case-for-reading-fiction, 2020.

How to Develop A Reading Habit, Mark Ways, https://www.speedreadinglounge.com/how-to-develop-a-reading-habit, 2022.

How to Develop a Reading Habit, Productive Club, https://productiveclub.com/how-to-develop-a-reading-habit/.