The tab it of reading remains a very important habit to develop, even in this digital age. It is a disappointment that the number of people who read books on a daily basis remains relatively low. On this website we have posted on the importance of reading several times, but the idea is worthy of repeating. Here are a few tips and comments that hopefully will give you motivation to read more.

Leaders are readers. This is an old saying that you may have heard before. Despite this being a little cliche, it is true. All of the famous thought leaders and influential people employed a consistent habit of reading books.

Lack of reading keeps you behind. If you do not read regularly, how can you learn and consider new ideas, develop understanding on matters? People who read have a greater capacity to understand concepts, analyse situations, and bring new ideas to the table that lead to creative solutions.

Reading is NOT boring. This is a total myth and people say it all the time! All you need to do is choose an exciting novel, or a non fiction book on a topic of your interest. Start reading and in a few minutes your attention will be absorbed by the ideas and images communicated to you in the text. The main thing is to get started and after a few minutes you will be engrossed.

Here are a few other tips to help you grow your reading habit:

  • Choose the best time for reading – usually this is first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
  • Set up your environment – find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Make sure the room is well lit and comfortable.
  • Make it easy – you do not need to read for hours! A daily habit can start with just 10 minutes. as the habit sticks you can increase your reading time.
  • Avoid distractions – put your phone in another room. Turn off your computer and forget about background music! You can go back to distractions after you have finished reading!

And for more advice, let’s watch what Ryan Holliday has to say: