We live in the golden age of content.Nowadays, there are a lot of entertainment options. A click of a button can bring you thousands of shows, videos, podcasts and movies. But, amidst all this, it seems as if we have forgotten about our former favourite, books. People probably don’t love books as much as they used to, which is indeed saddening. A lot of the times, even if one wants to read, they find themselves constantly distracted by something or the other. Reading can be extremely relaxing, and has multiple benefits. It can enhance creativity, boost your vocabulary and so much more. So, here are 4 ways to read more

• Pick up your reading material.

Yes, this might sound obvious , but often people have trouble just getting started on reading. Pick up any reading material, whether it is a book, an article, a newspaper, anything that interests you. Start by reading short segments or paragraphs, then gradually work your way up from there. This can help develop a habit from reading, especially if your reading habits are a bit rusty. Remember, every little step counts.

• Reading what interests you

Often times, we hear our friends or family talk highly of a particular book or book series.So we give it a try.  But when we read it, we might not find it compelling or interesting . Still,  we force ourselves to finish the book, no matter how much we hate it. After we’re done, we lose our interest in books and don’t read for days or months on end. My advice on this is that if you don’t find your reading material interesting, then don’t read it. You are under no inclination to finish a book that you don’t find captivating.Find something that genuinely absorbing. Whether it be YA novels, classics or plays, it doesn’t matter.Literature is not just limited to Shakespeare. An interesting book will not allow you to put it down and will motivate you to finish it, maybe even start a new one.

• Set up reasonable goals and deadlines

Procrastination is a huge waste of time, and it is more common than you would think. To stop wasting time, set up goals for yourself which you would like to accomplish in a day. For example, try setting up a goal of reading 50 pages, or one chapter in a day. It gets the momentum going, and allows you to not put off reading. Slowly, but surely you will see progress. Remember to set up reasonable goals, and not aim to finish the whole 850 page  book in one day (unless of course, you can do that. In that case I say go for it.)

• Always carry a book with you

You might not realise it, but the 10 minute breaks you take throughout the day, or the time you spend between classes, is time which can be put to efficient use. In  such cases you should try carrying a book with you, and read it in any free time you find. Even reading 2-3 pages in between breaks can really add up throughout the day. Now of course I’m not saying to spend every minute away from work reading. You definitely should know when you want to read, or when you just want to watch Netflix.

Happy Reading!