Make Reading a Habit
Do you ever feel like it’s all too much? Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Make Reading a Habit
If you read last week’s post, Making Time for Fun, you know there are benefits to adding downtime to your schedule. Reading is an excellent way to add fun and relaxation to your day or week.
Below are some of the benefits to becoming a person who values making time to read.
Benefits of Reading
Exercise for the brain
Improves concentration & focus
Supports better sleep
Improves your level of knowledge
Provides motivation
Reduces stress
Increases your imagination and creativity.
Getting Started
How to make reading a habit:
I recommend starting small.
The goals is to form the habit first and then grow your practice.
You may want to start with a length of time or a number of pages. For example, you could choose 5 minutes a day or 5 pages a day.
Pick what time you are going to read.
I would recommend stacking your reading habit with another habit that you already have in place.
Below are a few ideas:
Read while having your morning coffee.
Read while having lunch.
Read during your morning or evening commute.
Read after you brush your teeth in the evening.
You probably want to account for what type of reading you are planning on, when deciding what time is best.
If you are reading for fun, reading before bed might be great. However, if you are reading a book to support your personal growth, you may be too tired by that point in the day.
If you are listening to an audiobook, but want to be able to take notes on a few valuable take-away's, this would not be the best book to listen to while driving. However, it might be perfect for your morning walk.
If there is a "boring" but "important" book that you have been meaning to read, your best decision might be to simply listen to the book all the way through and then set aside 45 minutes to flip through a physical copy of the book and type up some notes.
Decide exactly where you are going to do it.
It's important to make these decisions ahead of time, so that they too become part of the habit.
If you are going to read, while having your morning coffee, is the kitchen table best or a comfy chair next to the window?
If you are planning on listening to a book during your morning walk, pick a route for your morning walk and stick to that.
Decide if you are ok with reading multiple books at once or if you would benefit from reading one book at a time.
Habits are effective because they take the decision making out of the equation.
You may find it harder to form the habit, if you are deciding on a daily basis which book to read.
If you enjoy having options, but are struggling with becoming a reader, you may want to try having one "fun' book and one "growth" book happening at the same time. You could designate different times of day, such as reading your "growth" book on your morning walk and your "fun" book before bed. Or you could designate different days of the week, such as reading your "growth" book Monday through Thursday and your “fun" book Friday through Sunday.
Set a reminder to support your new habit.
Depending on the habit you are pairing this with, there are a few options for how to remind yourself to read.
If you are pairing this with a habit that happens at the same time every day, you can simply set an alarm. Remember to label the alarm, so you know what to do when it goes off.
If you are pairing it with a habit that is not at the exact same time each day, you can put in place a physical reminder.
If you want to listen to an audiobook, while on a walk, put an index card, with a reminder listed on it, in your walking shoes.
If you want to read while having your morning coffee, place a sticky note, with the reminder listed, on top of your coffee canister.
Create some outside accountability.
Check-in with your network and see if anyone else is working to implement the habit of becoming a reader.
Choose an accountability partner and commit to texting each other daily with your successes or setbacks.
How to decide when to increase the length of time you are reading daily.
I think it's best to not increase time for the first month.
If after 30 days, you are still feeling some resistance to reading, I would consider if the time of day you chose is working for you.
Remember, when forming a habit, we want to take motivation out of the equation. After 30 days, it may be beneficial to simply continue to commit to "5 minutes a day" or "5 pages a day". There will be days you want to read longer and that is great. However, on those busy days, you know you succeeded with being a reader, as long as you achieved your minimal commitment.
Happy Spaces’ Tips & Tricks
Which reading method is best for you?
You should take a few moments to consider which reading method works best for you, based on your goals. It's likely you may want to incorporate both into your daily life.
Audiobooks are an amazing option. They allow you to "read', while on the move. They can improve your daily commute, make you look forward to doing the dishes, and can be a great companion on your morning walk.
Reading a physical book or on an electronic device can provide some benefits that audiobooks cannot. However, they do require your undivided attention, which can be challenging to make time for.
Where do I source reading material?
Audible is a great option for listening to audiobooks. In my experience, they have the largest audiobook library.
I would also recommend checking out the options from your local library. Most libraries provide access for you to "check-out" books through an app, so that you can read or listen on your phone or e-reader.
Additional Resources
I highly recommend the book, "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. This is my favorite resource on implementing lasting habit change.
A Note from Happy Spaces
The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:
Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.
We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.