From 20 to 25 years old, I barely read any books at all. Here’s how I was able to start reading again

The Problem

Reading is a fantastic hobby to get into. After all, books and writing changed my life. However, I do acknowledge that it’s hard to get into. If you’ve never read a book before, 350 words can look daunting. How can I read that much? you ask yourself with heart clenched tight. If you used to read but fell out of it, you might think how can I find the time to read that much?

You’re not alone. I used to be a voracious reader, but from 20 years old to around 25 years old, I barely read anything. I felt busy, tired, and I thought that my reading days were behind me.

But I was wrong. When I got back into it, I learned that I can read even more than I used to, even while feeling busy. Now, let me tell you how using 4 simple steps

5 Magic Steps

These are 4 steps which I used to go from reading 0 books per year to reading 25 books per year without feeling stressed at all, and while still doing all sorts of other things:

• Step 1- Learn how to read in Sips: This is something I saw Stephen King talking about. The exact quote is “The trick is to teach yourself to read in small sips as well as long swallows.” instead of reading a full hour…try five minutes! Five minutes usually mean around two pages. If you do nothing else, this will get you to 2 books per year.
• Step 2- Keep your Weapons Handy: I’ve learned to always keep a book nearby. There’s one in my car, one by my bed, and one in my bag. My goal is to always start reading whenever I’m bored with nothing else to do. Hopefully, I’ll soon finish one of my books, The Small Book of Big PR, purely in this way.
• Step 3- Embrace the Medium Path: Too many of us look down on e-books and audible books. But trust me, they can be a big help! I find non-fiction hard to get through, so when I read a marketing or PR book, I’m usually doing it through Audible. Last year, I finished the 11 Cradle Series books by Will Wight purely through audible, and they were some of my favorite books! If you’re confused about where to start audio, I have a podcast called Majan Chronicles where I read you 10 short stories all about the daily dramas of our lovely lives.
• Step 4- Reward yourself: I think reading is a grand hobby, a fine hobby indeed. Reading fiction helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving pathways in our minds, as well as empathy. However, while reading can be its own reward, I think it’s nice to read for 30 minutes, then maybe reward yourself with a piece of chocolate. Personally, I’m trying to make reading my pre-bed hobby, so sleep becomes my reward!

Step 5- Now Start Reading!

I hope these tips help you out. If they do, comment below and let me know what you think!