Table of contents
1️⃣ Why
Improve your writing style and way of thinking.
Rediscover the beauty of words and your love for writing.
2️⃣ How
How to read.
The conflict between these two – most books don’t need to be read to the end, but some books can change your life – means you need two things to get a lot out of reading: Lots of inputs and a strong filter. —Morgan Housel
Track your progress.
A spreadsheet (Google/Excel).
A habit-tracking app.
Follow James Clear’s Four Laws of Behavior Change.
Make it obvious.
- Use a Kindle (or a dedicated device for reading).
- Read before bed.
Make it attractive.
- Start with the genre you enjoy.
- Get interesting books, especially fictions!
- Having books I looked forward to reading had, at some point, attracted me to start my bedtime early, so that I could read early.
Make it easy.
- Read 1 page/day.
- Read 1 min/day.
Make it satisfying.
- Get interesting books!
- Use external rewards, e.g., I can have a cookie if I read today.
Get a Kindle, if possible.
Portability.
- No more carrying heavy paperbacks around if you travel often.
- Read all the books you want from a single device.
Frictionless.
- Opening a paperback, keeping it open and turning the pages have significantly more friction than using a Kindle. Being used to scrolling on your phone means using a Kindle is super easy.
- For e.g., you can read easily with a Kindle at mealtime without worrying about keeping the page open with your hand (as with paperback).
Free (or cheap).
- E-books are cheaper than paperbacks.
- There are ways to get them for free too. Check this out!
E-ink.
- You can read on Kindle under the sun without needing a backlight.
- No blue light = protect your eyes :D
Distraction-free (vs tablet or phone).
- Kindle has no notifications ⇒ you won’t be distracted by them.
A dedicated device for reading.
- To build a habit, dedicate the cue for one purpose only — your habit.
- Kindle is a device for reading. You’d see it as a cue for reading by default.
- A tablet has multiple functions. Your mind will be confused.
- Cue: See iPad
- Routine: Write notes, check news, watch Netflix etc. (which one?)
- The same goes for building a sleep habit.
- If you read, eat and sleep on bed, your mind will take more effort and time to register that the bed is for sleeping. Hence, it’s harder for you to fall asleep on bed.
- So, dedicate your bed for sleeping only.
Get an accountability partner.
- Set a clear and measurable goal.
- Read 5 pages/day
- Read 5 mins/day
- Forfeit something precious to you, e.g., money, if you fail.
- Read more: Accountability
