How I Read Every Day
Before diving into this blog post, I recommend reading the blog post "My Reading Journey" first. It will provide helpful context.
Reading has transformed my life in so many ways. As I continue to read and share my love for reading, two of the most common questions I get asked are: "What book would you recommend for (specific topic)?" and "How are you able to read so much?"
Here’s how I manage to read 80+ books a year and read every single day:
1. Make Your Reading Goal Simple
Your reading goal should be so simple it would be stupid not to do it. For me, this means committing to reading every day. I don't care if it is a sentence, page, or chapter. I will pick up a book and read every day. It’s not about quantity; it’s about consistency.
2. Create a Routine or Trigger
Establishing a routine or trigger is crucial. For example, every time I walk my dog, I listen to an audiobook. Although I don’t count audiobook listening towards my daily reading goal, I do count it towards my total completed books list. Additionally, every night, I place my phone out of reach and grab the book I’m most interested in. This keeps me engaged because it is something I want to read about and I can't get distracted by notifications.
3. Choose Books That Engage You
I only read books that make me want to keep reading. If I’m not enjoying a book or finding it hard to focus, I switch to a different one. It is like when you are trying to choose what TV show to watch. If you have been watching Brooklyn 99 and all you want to watch is Brooklyn 99, then watch it! The inverse is also true. If you are watching Brooklyn 99 and hate it, why wouldn't you switch to a different series? Try a different sitcom. Maybe "The Office" will make you want to watch the whole series. This approach—only reading what I want to read—keeps reading enjoyable and engaging. For me, I have found that I always have 3-5 books I am reading at one time. Then I only pick up and read whatever sounds best to me that day.
4. Track Your Progress
Tracking your progress has scientifically been proven to help you achieve your goals. I track the books I am reading in two ways. The first is what I call the "Completed Shelf Method," and the second is the "Progress Bar Method." You can learn about both of these methods in my "How I Track My Reading" blog. These visual representations help me to track all that I am reading, motivate me to keep going, and provide me with an enormous sense of accomplishment.
5. Build the Habit
Ultimately, you need to build the habit. Everything I’ve mentioned in the blog will help you build the reading-every-day habit, and a lot of my website is designed to give you the best possible chance of doing that. But I have found that you have to make reading a nonnegotiable. You will read, even if it is just a sentence every day. If you need book recommendations that are excellent for building habits, check out my reviews for "The Motivation Myth" and "Atomic Habits."
By following these steps, you can cultivate a daily reading habit that will enrich your life. I have seen it benefit my life, and I know it will benefit yours too.
If you want to know what book to start with, check out my List of 5-Star Reads for some of my favorite recommendations!
