Reading is a heavily beneficial hobby to develop. It helps reduce stress, helps you concentrate, improves your literacy, and is a good form of entertainment. Reading also helps with your imagination of the story and the different parts that come with it. For me, reading has been a fun habit for me since I was in elementary school that had resulted from me picking up a book about fairies. It saved me from boredom, while also giving me beneficial skills!
Additional tip:
Try to know what format of books work for you. There are printed books, online books, and audio books to choose from. Many books are in all of these formats so try to see which one works for you.
Step 1: Find what genres you are into.
If you have not been into reading before this, try to think of genres of movies/ tv shows you tend to enjoy. For example, some of my favorite movies are ,“10 Things I Hate About You” and “Clueless”, which are romantic comedies. Another way to find a genre you would like is to think about what your likes and dislikes are. If you like to keep things light hearted try going for the romance, comedy, and satire genres. If you dislike that and would rather go for something darker, try to go for horror, thrillers, or even tragedies. Are you more into learning about real things? Go for nonfiction books! There is a wide range of books you are able to find in each genre.
Step 2: Finding books from your chosen genre.
There are many ways to find books from the genre you like. Whether you are in a library, shopping in stores, or shopping online, all books are separated by genre! Find the location of where your genre of books is located. Do not be afraid to ask any employees for help if you need it. Most books have a description of what the book is about. If you are looking online, you should be able to scroll down until you find it. If you are looking in person, flip the book over to the back cover where there are usually descriptions of the book. When you look through the descriptions, find a story that captures your attention. Once you find that book with an interesting story, purchase, rent it, get it from the library, or even get a digital library subscription!
Step 3: Find the time to be able to read your book.
This step is the trickiest part for many people and often prevents people from getting into reading. Depending on your schedule, see what free time you have. There are no requirements for when you need to read! If you do not know when you should start reading I would recommend during work breaks, during school breaks, and before you go to bed. If you find that you have been using your electronics for too long, taking a break and reading is a good idea too. Reading for 10-15 minutes at a time is a common pace to read for many readers. If you get into the book you might end up reading for longer than that at a time, which is good too.
Step 4: Find the right place to read your book.
Being in the right atmosphere is critical for you to focus on your reading. Based on your schedule, try exploring different places to read. Find a room in your home that has a comfortable place to sit and good lighting. Reading with a dim light affects vision negatively. If you want to change environments, try reading in a coffee shop, book store, in a park, or in a library. Try exploring with what places you enjoy reading at until you find a place where you are able to focus. You are also not bound to one spot, so you can change your environment as much as you want!
Step 5: Take your time developing your habit.
Taking your time developing your reading habit is important. Finish the book you picked out based on your schedule. The first book you read is not always going to be the one for you. Exploring your reading preferences helps you start getting into reading overtime. If you find that these steps did not work for you the first time, try them again differently! Pick a different genre, find a different book to read from the same genre, pick different times to read, and find a different place to read. Remember that different things are for different people. If you enjoyed the book, find another book similar to yours or get the next book in the series if it is a part of one! Ways you can find similar books to yours is by getting one by the same author or asking other readers for recommendations similar to that one (librarians or book store workers).
When you follow all of these steps, you can say you are a consistent reader! Remember that this is a hobby that develops with time. Do not beat yourself up over missing your reading times for doing other activities. Reading allows you to enjoy a story that is supposed to pique your interests. Allow yourself to explore different stories and you will heavily enjoy this newly developed habit!
