Two weeks ago, I shared on social media that I was on my third book for the year. Many people found that pronouncement mesmerizing – understandably so 😅😅. Inspired by the reactions to that post, I discuss 5 probable reasons you dislike reading and suggest solutions to these here.

❌ You limit yourself to hard-copy or electronic books. Let’s admit it; it’s fun to flip through the pages of a good old book. Especially while sipping on some juice and relaxing on a lounge chair. In reality, this is not always possible. You should know that audiobooks are also a great option. When I listen to audiobooks, I adjust the speed to about 1.4x the original speed. We tend to talk slower than we read, so increasing the speed helps balance things out.

❌ You read books you do not find interesting. There are so many genres of books that you can select from. You dislike reading because you do not find the books you have chosen engaging. To discover the type of books you would enjoy, you need to keep exploring. It might be fiction (such as novels, short stories, adventures, romance, mystery, horror, thrillers, graphics) or non-fiction (like biographies, memoirs, travel, food, health, self-help, religion, parenting, true crime, humour). There are so many possibilities. Another idea is to start with the book version of your favourite movies. There is definitely something for you; you just need to find it.

❌ You assume you must read a book from cover to cover. You absolutely do not need to read a book from cover to cover. Read the book for as long as it holds your attention. If it gets boring, it is okay to take a break and move on to the next book. If you feel like it again, you can always go back. Trust me, the most important thing is that you have learnt something new from the book. Something you can implement in your life to achieve your desired result. I have a “rule of 5”. From every book I read, I task myself to identify at least 5 actionable concepts. I execute these while moving on to the next book. (This is if I lose interest in the book.) It’s never a ‘do or die’ affair 😅

❌ You feel you do not have enough time to read. I can understand the overwhelming feeling of not having time for important things. Sometimes, it can be a valid concern. How about you devote 10 minutes of focused time to reading something you really enjoy every day? Set your timer and shut out distractions. You could opt to listen to audiobooks while doing your chores, driving or taking a shower. Look for simple ways to incorporate it into your daily routine. Even a little is better than nothing.

❌ You are not improving your reading skills. Reading is supposed to be fun and relaxing. If you haven’t learnt effective reading techniques, it can feel like a chore. Like every other skill, reading is an art you need to perfect. You can do this by practicing more, identifying your bad reading habits (we all have these), and replacing them with better habits. You need to be intentional about cultivating good reading habits. Over time and with consistency, you would observe improvements.

📩 Bonus point: If you want to imbibe the culture of reading in your kids, you need to lead by example. Let them see you reading. ‘What is good for the goose is good for the gander,’ yeah? Create family reading times. Encourage everyone to read independently during these times. Even toddlers can find this exciting.

I hope these help 😊

What do you find most challenging about reading? I’d love to hear 👂

PS: Would you like to see my reading list for the year? Let me know 🤔

Categories: My lifestyle

Tags: Book lover, Book review, Books, How to make reading more enjoyable, How to read more effectively, Reading, Self-Development