Four summers ago, I made a pledge to
read 55 books by Fall 2016. I love books and I cannot deny it. Not only did I beat
the challenge but completed 67 books. This
is the only achievement I am proud of! Just like everyone else, I had a busy
work life from 9-5, family obligation etc. Everyone I meet says ‘Hey, I want to
make time for reading but I simply cannot. I’m too busy!’ For those busybodies
who thinks that there is no time for reading, these tips may help you to kindle
your love for reading. Now that fall is here, what could be the best thing than
to curl up with a book with a steaming cup of tea by your side?
1. Just Read anything
A general trend among the Bhutanese
is they prefer nonfiction books particularly self-help and management books. Well,
there is nothing wrong in reading these genre but these books lets you lose off
your track very easily. What I would rather suggest is go for the books that you
actually enjoy. Be it a trashy romance, a thriller, a cookbook or a history,
read something that interests you. What I
normally do is I read several books at a time. If I am at work and I want to relax
a bit or take my mind off something, I read a light fiction. If it is to wind
down at the end of the day, I pick up some biographies or history.
2. Cut down your time in front of the TV
screen or scrolling through Facebook & Instagram
Most of the time, we sit infront of
the tv screen for hours and hours and spends hours scrolling through facebook
and Instagram newsfeed. There is no value addition. I’m equally guilty of
this. Time is not invested wisely here. So
make a pact with yourself to read at least 20 pages which you would rather lose
it watching tv or scrolling though facebook. Reading goes a long way towards increasing
your intelligence level. It reduces stress, helps you to experience multiple emotions and teaches you a lot about many subjects.
3. Set a reading goal
Setting a goal and tracking your
progress online helps you to track your reading progress. My personal favorite
is Goodreads.com, an online account in which you keep your overview of the
books you are reading. It helps you set reading challenge and helps you focus
on your reading. Give yourself a specific challenge to hold yourself
accountable and motivate yourself to reach that goal. You can find a plethora
of book recommendations you have ever imagined to find here.
I hope these small tips will help
you pick up a book immediately and start reading.
Happy reading!
