Reading is one of those things that often ends up at the bottom of your list of priorities. Between work, family, a social life and all-around being an adult, it can seem like there isn’t enough time in the day to do the things you have to do, let alone the things you want to do. Even then, a lot of people—men in particular—don’t exactly count reading as their number one hobby when they do have a little free time.
A 2014 study commissioned by the Reading Agency found that being too busy, not enjoying reading and preferring to spend their spare time on the internet were all reasons men read fewer books, read more slowing and are less likely to finish them than women. The study which polled 2000 British men and woman also found that 63% of men admit they don’t read as much as they think they should.
That means that while men know there are benefits to reading, they simply don’t make it a priority. With the internet, movies, podcasts and plenty of quality TV shows to choose from, why bother with reading? Well, studies have shown that reading not only improves vocabulary and memory but it can also make you more empathetic, relax you and even help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Sounds like a few good reasons to carve out an hour a day to dedicate to reading. Here’s a few tips to make reading a habit you’ll actually stick with—and enjoy.
Read what interests you
Luckily, this isn’t grade 10 English class and you don’t have to read The Great Gatsby if you don’t want to. A lot of people associate reading with being forced to read Shakespeare, poetry and the Bronte sisters and while there’s something to be said for reading the classics, it’s totally understandable if that type of literature has a way of putting you right to sleep before you can finish a page. There are hundreds upon thousands of books and magazines out there in a range of diverse genres so there’s just no way you won’t be able to find something that interests you. From horror, science fiction and fantasy to true crime, biographies and memoirs, there’s literally something for everyone in a bookstore—you just have to look.
Try an e-Reader
Books take up a lot of space, they’re heavy, they’re expensive—these are all common excuses you’ve probably used to avoid reading. Except there is a solution to every single one of them. Yes, books are heavy and take up a lot of space when they start to accumulate. So why not get an e-Reader? The Kindle Paperwhite holds thousands of books (seriously, you’d need your own personal library to store this many physical books), connects to Wi-Fi, and has a battery that lasts for weeks and a glare-free display to mimic the experience of reading an actual book. There are thousands of e-books available for less than $4.99 and even when you buy a recent best-seller, the Kindle version is a lot cheaper than buying the hardcover. Most libraries have e-books available to borrow too—so the “books are expensive” thing is on longer a valid excuse.
Track your progress
Reading is a solitary activity, which is another reason it might not appeal to you. If a little competition is what you need, sign up for Goodreads. You can save books you have read, are reading and want to read as well as follow what your friends and acquaintances have on their lists. The site also recommends must-reads based on your lists and you can rate every book out of five stars. Every book has a cumulative score and reviews from other readers so you have plenty of information available to determine if a book is worthy of your precious time. Finally, if you’re the goal-oriented type, you can set a reading goal for yourself like reading 25 books in the next year. It’s satisfying to add another completed book to the list and at the end of the year you’ll be able to share how much you accomplished on your other social media accounts.
Make it a routine
Life gets in the way of goals sometimes, but if you make reading a part of your daily routine, it won’t feel like such a struggle. Read for 20 minutes before bed, read during your commute or read during your lunch break—it doesn’t matter when it is, just take a few minutes every day to get your mind off everything you have to worry about and escape into another world. Once you’ve found what you like to read and made it a part of your life, you might actually start to miss it if you go a day without reading a chapter.
