Reading is not just a hobby for me. It’s a part of my life. Every day, I try to read and learn more not only to hone my skills in writing but also to enrich my life with new knowledge and ideas.
As I was reading 11 Reasons Why You Should Read Books Every Day, I realized that there are so many benefits of reading.
I couldn’t remember the very first time I held a book in my hands but I surely know when was the last time I read one. This afternoon
I try to read at least one chapter every day but I found it hard to stop with just one chapter. So what I usually do is plan my reading time in advance. That way, I will know how much time I will spend and when I will finish reading the whole book.
To beat boredom before it even starts, mix the genre of books you’re reading. Here’s a list you can start with:
Self help
Health
Poetry
Science fiction
Satire
Drama
Action and Adventure
Romance
Mystery
Horror
Guide
Travel
Journals
Prayer books
Series
Trilogy
Children’s
Religion, Spirituality & New Age
Science
History
Art
Cookbooks
Diaries
Biographies
Autobiographies
Math
Comics
Fantasy
My top favorites are self help, poetry, biographies, autobiographies, history, science, fantasy, mystery and series. Don’t limit yourself with just your favorites. You will never know what lessons you’ll learn if you step out of your comfort zone. I used to think that biographies and autobiographies were boring. I was wrong. It’s fascinating to read about the lives of different people, especially those that you will never be able to meet.
One of my favorite quotes about reading says, “Because books tell the stories of people we don’t know, places we haven’t been, and worlds we can only imagine“, which is true. I guess my love for traveling is also fuelled by the travel books and articles that I read.
The good thing about reading today is you have more options on how you will read. You can use your laptop, a kindle reader, your phone and other gadgets available today where you can store an eBook or ePub.
Another tip I found useful is to change the environment where I read. Go to the library and read from there, go to the bookstore and buy a book then head over to the closest cafe or simply light some scented candles in your living room and read from there.
Personally, I love cafes and my reading nook in my bedroom.
But when I’m traveling, it depends on the country I visit. In the Philippines, my favorite is Panglao Island in Bohol. It’s not too crowded and there are spots where you can just sit down and read a book while enjoying a cold mango shake.
The best time to read for me is in the morning or before I sleep. But if I miss my reading time, I use my break time at work to sneak in reading. I really don’t believe that one is too busy to do something. It really depends upon one’s priority.
I will end this article with a quote that speaks to me in volumes, “reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are”.