On Developing a Habit of Reading

My greatest desire for anyone reading this blog is that you would pick up books and read, both on your own and to your children. But even though reading is absolutely one of my favorite things to do in my downtime, I know how easy it is to get in a slump in between books and fall out of the habit of reading. In addition, I know some of you reading this may have never been much of a reader and are wondering how to get started. Here are some things that always help me when I’m struggling to get back into reading:

1. Start small. This may sound obvious, but I know how easy it is to feel like we need to work on an area and to make a crazy, grandiose plan for how to achieve it, thereby totally missing the point (my husband can attest that I am the queen of this, as it happens in our house at least weekly!). Kendra Adachi says in the Lazy Genius Way, “A life of meaning doesn’t happen in one fell swoop but in small, intentional decisions day after day. It’s tended to and cared for. Shortcuts don’t always work, and big systems are even less effective. Small steps matter and are easier to keep taking.” Pick just one book to read and one time to read each day. Maybe that light fiction read your best friend recommended or a story you want to read with your kids eventually but want to be familiar with first. Choose one time to read each day: maybe while drinking your morning coffee before the kids get up, during your little one’s nap, or you could carry a book with you and read anytime you’re waiting for a doctor’s appointment, or to pick your kids up from school, etc. If you’re worried you don’t have time to devote to reading, set a timer for ten minutes each day and just read until the timer goes off.

2. Read what you love and stop reading books you’re not into. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself going weeks without finishing a book only to finally realize that it’s because I’m just not enjoying the book I’m in the middle of. I’ll sometimes give myself permission to put the book away for a little bit and come back to it after I’ve taken a break with a book I enjoy more. Some people even read multiple books at once for this reason (this usually works best with just two, one nonfiction, one fiction). And sometimes I’ll realize a book just isn’t a good fit for me, and I’ll pass it on to someone else.

3. Read light books. If you only listen to one tip on this list, make it this one. When you’re first trying to form a reading habit (or get back into one), don’t start with Les Misérables or War and Peace. Instead start with an easy fiction read. I also have found books with lots of pictures help (don’t laugh!); think cookbooks, home decor books, how-to books, that kind of thing. Think about what your kids read when they first learned to read: they didn’t start with classic children’s literature or long, wordy books; they probably devoured series like Nancy Drew, Babysitters Club, Magic Tree House. Although we probably don’t need to practice the mechanics of reading like our young readers do, we do need to practice the habit of reading, and light books will help.

Reading is such a wonderful activity for ourselves and our children, but we must prioritize it in our day. If you’re feeling like your reading life isn’t where it should be, I encourage you to pick up a book, any book, RIGHT NOW, set a timer for ten minutes, and READ. As my almost 4-year-old says almost daily to someone in our house: “You can do this, Mama!”