What do you do every day to grow personally and professionally? If you are here, I’ll bet anything that you want to learn how to develop your skills, and there is nothing better than a book to do so. Reading has already become part of my self-care routine, and I would love for you to experience its benefits as well. People like Keith Richards (guitarist for The Rolling Stones), Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, or Barack Obama have already incorporated the reading habit, along with many other successful people. It can't be a coincidence. Reading provides us with remarkable benefits, beyond the pleasure of reading: it improves our grammar and spelling, sharpens our memory, and increases our levels of empathy and concentration, among others. Furthermore, according to a study, just 6 minutes a day is enough to reduce stress by 68%. Are you still thinking about whether to adopt the daily reading habit? To be able to include reading in your daily routine, you can use these tips that I am going to leave you below. They will make the process much easier, and you will finally be able to enjoy all the advantages that reading offers.
1. Set when and how much you are going to read
For a habit to last over time, whatever it may be, it must be concrete. That is, we must fix it in time. For example, you can mark on your calendar that every day, half an hour after waking up, you will read for 15 minutes. If you think you will enjoy reading more at night and you know that you usually go to bed at 10 PM, you can take advantage of going to bed 15 minutes earlier to read. It also wouldn't hurt to have an alarm to remind us, especially at the beginning when we are just starting and aren't used to it. Another tip that can help you is visualizing yourself, before going to sleep, reading at the time you have set. This way, the next day you will be much more mentally prepared and predisposed to it.2. Choose books that you enjoy reading
If you already read and want to pick up the habit again, it will be much easier for you to choose books that you think you will like. You can start with short books to benefit from the pleasure of finishing a book. It will be easier for you. If, on the other hand, you have never been a reader, look for topics that you might like. A good idea is to take a look at which series usually catch your attention the most and extrapolate that to books to get started. It may happen that halfway through the book you feel it is not for you. Do not feel guilty. If you are not loving the story or it is not providing you with new knowledge, put it down and start another one. This way, you will find wonderful new books and make better use of your reading time. What book or books are you going to choose for your new reading habit?3. Adapt the environment
I believe that every routine we implement in our life should bring us enjoyment and joy. That is why I like not only to focus on the act of reading but also on the environment and how it completes the experience. Only you know yourself like no one else and you know what would make you happy during your little bit of reading time. If you are going to read at home, you might want to light candles, incense, or an aroma diffuser. If you want to acquire the habit of reading on the way to work, you might prefer to listen to relaxing music in the background to help with concentration. It’s up to you.
4. Start little by little
There is no need for you to read for two hours straight on the first day, with the excitement of this new habit, because you will be bored by the third day. What has worked for me is starting little by little, without pressure. Starting with 5, 10, or 15 minutes a day can provide you with the benefits of reading and start creating this habit from scratch. In this way, it is much harder for you to get tired and think that it is not for you. Remember: good things, if brief, are twice as good. Later on, when you already have this reading habit implemented in your routine, I do advise you to extend the time you dedicate to it. However, at the beginning, it would be interesting for you to start little by little, with a firm and determined step. If you are currently trying to integrate another habit in addition to reading, wait until that other habit is automated and you find it easy to do before starting this one. Habits are small changes in customs that need a process (it is usually advised to take 66 days), so take it easy and one at a time, for effective integration.5. The two-day rule
Since the mind is capricious and sometimes wants to play tricks on us, it is important that we set "rules" so that the reading habit lasts over time. I call it "the two-day rule," and it consists of not going more than two days without reading. Any habit can fall apart after two days of not practicing it. Therefore, I advise you to use "the two-day rule" to ensure that you don't lose all the progress you've made, especially if you are in the first 66 days during which a habit is formed.6. No pressure
You might have seen various challenges out there, such as reading a book a week or even more. Don't let yourself be influenced. Start little by little and don't set goals for now, since you are just starting to integrate it. If you feel very overwhelmed, cut those influences off at the root. I want you to integrate these habits in a healthy way for your mind and body. Acquiring new habits can be very frustrating when you see people who are more advanced in what you want to achieve, but you must take it easy.7. If you can, talk about it
Reading is a habit, like many others, that you might find difficult if you are alone on the path. Have you ever talked to a friend who would also love to integrate it? Tell her about your idea! I’m sure you will advance much faster and better with that mutual support. In addition, it will serve to enrich your relationship.
If you still don't know what book to start reading, take a look at "La joya eres tú": my first published book in which I help you discover which piece of jewelry best suits your style, how to take care of your jewelry, or what precious stone defines you best, among other topics. Also, soon... you’ll want to have it! I can't tell you more, but we have a surprise prepared for you. These are the tips and strategies that have helped me to cultivate that daily reading habit, and I can assure you that it is very worth it. Implementing habits is not a task for everyone, as it takes time, but the benefits are spectacular. Tell me: what habits have you already integrated into your life that you are proud of? I’ll read your comments.