How do I start reading? A question I get asked the most- The Bloggers League 2022 

The habit of reading has been with me from a very young age. But it’s not necessary that you can be a reader if you have been into books from a long time. The most common question I get asked is “How do I start reading?” Trust me if you dedicate your self to it, you too can befriend books.

Since this question has come to me time and again, I thought to share some tips on the same.

1. Set aside a time of 15 minutes

   Books are a great way to unwind and end the day. Take a break from social media. Avoid all distractions and sit down with a book for at least 15 minutes to start. Trust me when the book starts getting interesting, you will move from 15 minutes to an hour, and you would not even realize how much time has gone by.

   

2. Start small

   The best way to start is to start small. Read articles or blogs to begin with. Gradually move to small books. Don’t dive directly into books with 300 or 400 pages.

3. Commit

   When you practice anything for 21 days, it becomes a habit. So don’t give up. Try and stick to the book. In case you lose interest in a book, remember most of the books get interesting from the 2^nd So, stick around. As the pages go by, you may start liking the book.

4. Ponder

   Reading a book is not just going through the pages and then forget about them once the book is closed. After you are done reading, think about what you read. Think about the characters and what happened to them. Where do you think the story will go? What will happen in the end? When you do all this, you get excited to read the next day and feel connected to the book.

5. Get a friend

   When we do things in a group, it becomes even more fun. So, get hold of a friend. Start reading the same book at the same time. Discuss the book once done. With a friend involved, you will enjoy the process of reading and talking about books.

   

   6. Follow Bookstagramers

   Instagram is filled with book influencers and there are some accounts which do a fabulous work of recommending and reviewing books. Follow their page and check the books that they have reviewed. This will give you an idea about a book and make it easy for you to decide your next read.

6. Join a library

   During my collage days, I convinced few of my non reader friends to join a library with me. From random scrolling to picking a book, they gradually got interested in to reading. Library gives you a variety of books to choose from when you feel lost on where to start from. You can pick a genre that excites you like a romance, thriller or fantasy and just start reading.

7. Maintain a Reading Journal

   Start tracking your reading. Maintain a journal and write down about the book you are currently reading. How are you liking it? Is it a good read and or you are losing out on it? What you want to discuss about this book with your buddy and what did you learn from it? This will quip your interest and help you finish the book.

Reading as a hobby can be built over time. All you need to do is take a dive and get yourself immersed in them. With no time you will realise that you have got a new habit- Reading.

If you are looking for some quick reads to begin with, check out my blog “5 reads under 200 pages for a quick read”

This blog is a part of Book Marathon by https://outsetbooks.com/

This article is written as a part of The Bloggers League conducted by Vidhya Thakkar Neelam Sharma and Siddhi Palande powered by Penguin India, Dreamland Publications and Acclidesign should not be repurposed, republished or used otherwise. The content herein is owned by the blogger. Hosts are not responsible for any infringement caused.”