Top tips to help your reading habits
The world’s fastest reader, Howard Stephen Berg, can reportedly read 25,000 words per minute… For us mere mortals, it’s a different story! A third of us say we want to read more, and improve our reading habits.
Finding the time or motivation to pick up a book (rather than our phones) can be hard, especially if you didn’t get on with reading in school. In fact, it’s our childhood experiences with reading that have a huge impact on not just literacy, but more widely with achievements in adult live.
What’s more, reading can help you feel less stressed, feel more empathy and strengthen your brain. So, if you’re looking to start back up with reading more regularly, or improve your current reading habits, you’re in the right place! Here’s some handy tips to help you turn over a new leaf.
1. Start with your interests
What makes you tick? Is there a particular type of TV show or film you always go for, like a period or fantasy setting? Or perhaps you find yourself drawn to online articles about celebrity gossip or crime and court stories.
Reflecting on what you’re actually interested in will help you pick out titles that you’ll actually enjoy, rather than feeling like reading is a chore. With so many genres to pick from, between true crime, romance, historical fiction, and much more, there’s bound to be something out there to suit you. And remember, you can also explore graphic novels, comic books, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry, to keep things fresh and exciting.
2. Set realistic goals
We’re all busy people, living busy lives. It’s important that to build a habit, you set yourself attainable goals. Targets such as a chapter a day or a book a month help keep you stay motivated rather than demoralised! It’s not about how much you read, but how much you enjoy it.
Titles with short chapters can help keep that momentum going, as you’ll feel like you’re making quick progress.
3. Create a reading routine
On the topic of building habits, having a good routine will help get you in the reading zone. Whether it’s enjoying a book while you sip your morning coffee, or during your lunchbreak or before bed, a set reading time helps you stay consistent.
Why not always try to keep a book in your bag, so you can reach for it instead of your phone? You could also use memos or apps on your phone, to set reading reminders.
4. Reading doesn’t have to be on paper
We’re lucky to live in a world where, if you don’t get on with a paperback book, there’s a whole host of audiobooks and e-readers to try. Audiobooks, via apps or YouTube, are great to listen to while driving, exercising or housework. So if you always feel like there’s not enough time in the day, you can multitask!
Similarly, Kindles, e-readers or online books are helpful if you want to dip into different titles or read on the go. With adjustable text sizes, built-in dictionaries and night mode, they can also make reading more accessible and comfortable.
5. Find a bookish community
Reading doesn’t have to be a lonely activity – in fact, quite the opposite. Have a look at local book clubs, or even online groups and forums. Here, you can connect with other readers, discuss ideas and recommendations.
And if you’ve got little ones, reading together is a fantastic way to bond and enjoy quality time as a family and create special memories.
Join the Howden Book Club
For even more reading motivation PLUS free books, why not head to your local Howden Insurance branch? We’re launching our new book swap soon , where there’s plenty of reading activities to get involved with!
And, you can bring in any books you no longer need to donate, swap or simply pick up a new book for your collection at one of our book exchanges.
