How to Make Reading a Part of Your Everyday Life
While a lot of the attention I get for my work with Juniper Books tends to focus on design and aesthetics, I’ve always been an advocate of reading the books in your home and on your shelves. Reading is entertaining, informative, relaxing, and one of my favorite forms of self-care. I believe we should all try to read for at least 15 minutes every day.
When I was writing For the Love of Books, I wanted to help people engage and interact with their books in meaningful ways, so I came up with several tips for structuring your time in a way that makes it easier for you to read. I want to share some of my ideas with you here!
Reading Tip #1: Wake Up a Little Earlier
Make reading a part of your morning ritual. I love that reading is part of how I start my day; it makes me feel focused and centered, and I carry that with me throughout the day.
Reading Tip # 2: Take a Book With You Wherever You Go
Most days, you’re going to have a few minutes to kill here and there. When you find yourself with those little pockets of time, be prepared with a good book.
Reading Tip #3: Embrace Audiobooks
They’re a great way to immerse yourself in stories when it’s inconvenient or impossible to read, like during a morning commute or while exercising. And being drawn into a narrative via an audiobook can make you more likely to reach for a physical book for a similarly immersive experience.
Reading Tip #4: Detox from Your Digital Devices
Consider having a dedicated time of day (or week, or month, or year) where you don’t use your devices and instead focus on being fully present in conversations, work, art, writing — or the book you’re reading.
Reading Tip #5: Make a Dedicated Space for Reading
You can create that space in your home — For the Love of Books offers lots of ideas for doing that, and so will this blog — or find it somewhere else, like a library, park, coffee shop, or on your commute. When you associate reading with being in a place you want to be, it’s going to become even more appealing.
Ultimately, there are a lot of little things you can do to facilitate reading. Think about what works best for you and your schedule and lifestyle. As you observe the benefits of reading start to permeate your life, you will find the right balance of time. Like other good habits that can make you feel better — exercise, for example — you will notice that daily reading has a calming effect and improves your ability to move through life with new effectiveness and focus. Trust me, it’s worth the effort.
Happy reading!
Thatcher