How to read more books ?

Hi , I absolutely love reading. It's one of my favorite hobbies, but it's not always easy or that convenient to get tons of reading done. I'm sure you can understand.. the daily demands of work and family catches up. Many of us experience this overwhelming sense of competing demands on our time. We hanker for the space to read more. We buy the books, they pile up, but we never get round to reading them. The Japanese even have a term for it - tsundoku. A US survey found that more than one-third of adults report a desire to read more books, with book reading second only to exercise as the most wished-for activity. Surprised? If you’re one of these people, opening a book might have become something to do when you haven’t got anything else going on, which is almost never. It’s as if you decided at some point, likely without conscious thought, that even though you love books, book reading is effectively the least important thing in your life – you’ll squeeze it in, if you can. So how can you get serious about reading more? The key is to make it a Priority. Which really means changing your daily habits and routines to accommodate more reading. Sometimes, you just need the slightest encouragement to displace something that isn’t earning its keep in your routine. For example, I find it really easy to read every night because I don't watch television. That could help you realize that it is really easy to stop watching television, because you get more from books than from the vast majority of television programs. No need to keep up with the Kardashians or Real Housewives! 😅 Habit formation begins with the need for sufficient motivation. So think about why is it exactly you want to do it? What would the benefits be? Answering these kinds of questions can spur your motivation to read. And especially when starting out, you're more likely to prevail if you choose books to read that are inherently enjoyable for you. Because the real thing that you’re focused on is building the habit of reading, not necessarily the knowledge. So start by reading whatever helps you fall in love with the act of being a reader or the habit of reading. And once you fall in love with the habit, then it’s easy … Now you’ve got a lot of options because it’s become part of your life. A related point is giving yourself permission to quit books that you’re not enjoying. This way you're less likely to give up the habit. A next preliminary step is to look at your surroundings. How easy is it for you to grab a book – paper or digital – and start reading? The more frictionless a habit is, the easier it is to pick it up! Again, I got myself a kindle so that I can read any time and can easily purchase a book on the spot without having to go to a physical book store or having to order it online and wait for it to ship to me. The process of reading becomes easy and effortless. A final preliminary step is to consider your goals. Have modest goals for your new reading habit initially. Give yourself the permission to read just one chapter a day or something that is achievable. By getting into the routine of just "showing up", the new activity is more likely to become an entrenched part of your daily routine. And don't forget to track your progress by recognizing every day that you managed to read, rather than by ticking off completed books! After two weeks or so, you should start to feel that your new habit is deepening. Getting into the habit of reading is just half the battle won. Understanding and absorbing what you are reading should not be neglected as it makes your reading experience meaningful.