Why You MUST Build a Reading Habit

We all have this vague notion that we should read more. But why? What makes reading so special? And how do you implement reading into your already busy life? Let's find out.

I.

Reading/writing has a major advantage over all other forms of media — you can refine the written word indefinitely. Even if you start out with a crappy first draft, it can still turn into something amazing.

Writers rightfully like to point out that the writing process is overrated. The magic is in the editing. You keep iterating until it's perfect.

You can't really do this with other types of media. You probably won't go back to your feature film and reshoot it because you don't like that one actor's accent. You won't repaint your oil painting because you don't like that one bush in the background.

II.

Through this cycle of refinement, good writing becomes more and more dense. You keep cutting the fluff until you are left with just the distilled idea.

The effect you get from reading this is a bit like getting slapped in the face. The idea in front of you is so clear, so potent, it wakes you up. It makes you look at reality in a new way.

III.

You should read fiction.

Good fiction gives you a perspective that you normally never get — for a while, you get to live inside somebody else's head. You get to experience how other people think and feel.

Crossing this gap will change your personality forever. You will develop empathy. You will truly understand where other people are coming from (and be able to use that to your advantage, too).

It will also rub off on your own personality. Your inner world will become more nuanced. There is more "substance" to an avid reader than to a non-reader.

IV.

You should also read non-fiction.

Most of us live our lives on autopilot. We do what everybody does — work, eat, sleep, and distract ourselves.

Good non-fiction will pull you out of this stupor. By asking pointed questions, it forces you to confront yourself. Are you really living your life as you should? Or are you wasting your time?

In this way, non-fiction will help you discover your truth. You will learn about yourself and what you value most. And you will learn about strategies to bring that hidden self out into the open.

V.

How do you get the most out of reading?

Reading is like exercise for your mind. And just like physical exercise, you need to have a routine, or it won't happen.

This means having a designated training time. For example, I read after lunch every day. I keep that time slot open, no matter how busy the day. If I can just manage 10 or 15 minutes, so be it. But I don't break the chain.

Also, just like with working out, you need to make sure the stimulus is sufficiently challenging. Reading the new John Grisham will likely not introduce growth; reading Dostoevsky will.

However, also don't "overtrain." If you go from zero reading to working through Freud's collected works, you will probably give up soon. The challenge needs to be big enough to grow, but small enough to be sustainable.

Finally, you need to apply. You need to take what you learned at the "gym" and bring it into your life. If reading remains this removed intellectual pastime, there is little point to it.

There are a few ways of doing so:

• Take notes. Then, after you are done with the book, go through your notes and ask yourself how you can apply what you learned.

• Tell your friends about what you are reading and what struck a chord with you. By verbalizing your findings, their applications will become more apparent.

• Talk to yourself. It might sound strange, but I have been having imaginary discussions with my favorite authors for decades. Long walks in nature are great for that.

All of these will have a transfer effect. You will go from being a passive consumer to someone who chews content over. By making them your own, these ideas will start to seep into your life — and change it forever.

My early Friday morning hymn to reading. But I will take a break now and send this out later. I have two coaching calls today and a bunch of administrative stuff to catch up on. But always feel better if I got the most important task of the day already out of the way.

Until next week,

Niels