How to Make a Good Habit of Reading?

China
October 29, 2009 3:17am CST
Yesterday, I posted a discussiobn about the importance of reading and received lots of responses. Thank you all. As the ideas of most responses, reading is important because information consumed via a book is different from the one online. Book consumption is systematical and complete. The online consumption is search-driven, interruptable and overall attention-deprived. Yes, reading is still a necessary part of our daily life. So, my question are: Do you spend much time on reading books per week? How to make a good habit of reading books? Thank you sharing your experience here!
4 people like this
25 responses
@Keola12 (799)
• United States
30 Oct 09
I usually make it a good habit to read book at least 4 days a week. Reading is one of my top two passions in life.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Oct 09
I'm actually really glad you asked this question because I think a lot of people push reading to the wayside in favor of "more important" things. But as I try to teach my sister, my brother and my friends, reading is one of the best things you can do for yourself. I think the best way to make reading a habit, and a healthy one, is to practice. You just need to sit down for 15 minutes a day with a book/magazine/newspaper you enjoy and calmly read. A lot of times, my days are so busy that I cannot make time to read until bedtime. But I will turn off the television, curl under the covers and read until my eyes start to droop. It's just nice to have that time to immerse yourself so deeply in a story. To make reading a common thing you have to a) want to be a reader and b) integrate it in your current life. Make time for your passions and if reading is one of them, you won't regret it.
@youless (112108)
• Guangzhou, China
30 Oct 09
If you keep a book in your bag, then you can read it when you have free time. Such as when you are in the bus, waiting for somebody etc. Then your time won't pass by in vain. You can take advantage of this little free time to read. After some time, I think you will have the habit of reading. Today I use my phone to listen to books. I listen to the books when I go to work and go home. I love China
• Japan
31 Oct 09
I love to read and spend what time I can reading!! Unfortually I live in Japan but am English and find it hard to get books to read. I order on line a lot but I miss having a good book shop or library to browse through and choose what I want. Looking at lists, even with the ability to check what is in a book, just isn't the same for me. One good thing about living here is that before the internet I had to be content with local stores and librares and all they had to offer were basically classics, all those books I had never wanted to read. But when one has no choice then it was better than nothing. I think I read more classics in my first 8 years of living in Japan than any other time. Now I can get all sorts of books and devour them. I have made it a habit in our home to have a reading evening, my kids range in ages from 7 to 17 so once or twice a week the TV goes off and we sit and read, sometimes I will read to my younger kids some English books or we just read our own stuff, my kids read better in Japanese than English. I hope that by doing this they will have a life time habit of reading!!!
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Oct 09
I love books! I usually read at the doctor's office or whenever I have an appointment so at least once a week for a half an hour. Or if I am waiting for one of the kids I read. I probably spend about three to four hours a week reading. A good way to make a good habit of reading books is to frequent the library weekly. Being around books is a good way to get into it. Have certain time a day that you read like, for me, it is bedtime.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 09
When my son is small, I used to bring him to our local popular book shop. There are variety of books available. We adults will browse through adult motivational or informative books whilst my son will look for his animation 3D books, story books or novels. We will sit at the lounge provided and read the books there. At times we will buy some books home. We will spend around 30 minutes to read on the bed before call it the day off... I always believe that reading is the powerhouse and the source of knowledge. Instill the habit of reading is GOOD! All the best and have a wonderful weekend!
@joy358 (491)
• Philippines
30 Oct 09
As far as I can remember, my love of reading started as soon as I learned how to read. I remember during primary school all through high school that as soon as I received my schoolbooks I would start devouring every story I can find in that book until I finish all of the stories. I've cut my teeth on fairy tales and fantasy stories which until now has remained my favorite genre. Although I'm also fond of romance and suspense books. I'm a copyeditor so I read eight hours a day. But its mostly technical journals (which is quite boring most of the times), but sometimes I get to copyedit some really interesting articles, mostly about medicine and health. For leisure, I like to read romance which I'm currently addicted to . Unfortunately, the books in my place are quite expensive (even in paperback) so even if I want to read as much romance as I want I can only read about two romance books per month, which as much as my finances would allow.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
30 Oct 09
I do not think that the way one reads a paper book differs that much from how we read online. Maybe it depends on the person. I am search-driven when reading a novel or any kind of book, but not interruptable..of course, I'm not very interruptable on the computer either. I do think that reading is vitally important though, and whether it is a classic from Project Gutenberg or a how-to book, reading helps us escape from the stress of daily life and I think repair our brain cells.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Oct 09
hi I have always loved to read and usually read several books in a week.I have made this a habit because I learned early that a good book could take you to places you only dreamed of and meet people you have heard about but never met, you can solve a murder or pick out the red herring, you just can have a whole new world all your own. I was taught to read when I was three and kept on all my long life. now 83
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
29 Oct 09
I love to read, and set aside some time to do so each evening. I get several books from the library, and when I finish one, I begin another. When I'm done, I take them back and choose several more. This way, I always have something good on hand to read. When I find a great sale on paperback novels, I buy some, as well. Karen
@cbjones (1147)
• United States
29 Oct 09
I started a light reading regimen a few weeks ago. I find it extremely relaxing. As of right now, I'm just checking out a bunch of public domain short story books. I like to load txt files on my Sansa 260, and view them using the Rockbox firmware's ebook reader. I usually read for about 45 minutes or so every night. MOre if it's the weekend, and I have nothing better to do during the day. There are a lot of interesting public domain book to be found online. There really is no good excuse not to read something .
@ravich (242)
• India
29 Oct 09
hi friend..its true reading is really a good and fentastic habit...but many of them hesitate to read....viceversa they are many who read ...example news paper readers..there are many...with a proof of daily increase in circulationof all the papers...mostly children dont like to read news paper and will go for cartoon related book...and any interesting things many them read daily.....one adventage is improving ones creativity....reading helps you in increasing ones creativity....and if we are reading any thing enjoying.....even the class text books look very small.....the more is the irretation..the larger the size it appears.......be a good reader
@sasalove (1709)
• China
30 Oct 09
I love to read book when I was in the campus. Now after my graduation, I always take the " no time" as the excuse to read a look. I do agree that information consumed via a book is different from the online or TV information as the thinking is not the same. Book absorbing process is in active way that we will have enough time to meditate by stopping while internet information is so massive that we can not digest in a speedy and timely manner. I think I need to re-arrange my hobby in my spare time now and try to read some books to calm me down. Have a nice day.
@risaree (23)
• United States
29 Oct 09
Yes, I think reading is important. We go to the library at least twice a month and we always have some time in the afternoon when the tv's are turned off and everybody reads. This has made my kids have a passion for reading and they enjoy it. I always have a good book with me everywhere I go because I really enjoy taking even just 15 minutes to enjoy a good book.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
29 Oct 09
You have to have books that interest you or you won't read. I'm currently reading a series by Vince Flynn that my son told me about. I have a long, long reading list that I want to get to. If I didn't have to be earning some money online I would be reading a lot of my time!
@kunal0099 (233)
• India
29 Oct 09
Now a days i am learning through internet. I have forgotten reading books now, I use to read novels now, rather than some knowledgefulls.
@shibham (16977)
• India
29 Oct 09
at first i have a question to you. are u a good reader in mylot? i mean do u read all the responses that you get? i shall be on details after your answer. waiting..............
@jugsjugs (12967)
29 Oct 09
I never tend to read any books.I come on here and do alot of reading of discussions,that is the only reading i do nowadays.
• Philippines
29 Oct 09
Hi there getbrowser! I would say I'm one of the few people who still love books despite of the emerging influence of online resources. I am actually addicted to reading. I love magazines and have my collection. I also collect books from a great author, Ed Lapiz. I prefer those books which are inspiring and can help me in one way or another to live life to the fullest. I am more into short stories. I read before sleeping probably 2 hours before bedtime. I also read books during my spare time and even during watching television. It really pays to read.
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Oct 09
I read magazines and newspaper daily. Despite the fact that we can access the net anytime for everything, i still make it a point to read. I even encourage my kids to read at home and they are developing habit. My youngest son's teacher informed us that during break time instead of playing my son read his favorite book and shared what he read to his classmates. I am happy to hear this from my kid's teacher.