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Cultivating a long-standing reading habit.



Perhaps, it is indeed difficult to work on a lifetime habit in this age of  ever changing trends. Life is too short to toil too hard only to pay the hefty bills that you incur as a part of your hyper-consumerism lifestyle. We are in the era of short-term amusement for short-periods of time such as live streaming a 20-20 match, minute to minute update of the social media homepage etc. Having said all that, taking reading as a continuous lifelong habit can look really tedious.

Reading cannot be just deemed as a habit or a hobby, it is a bare necessity in all our lives for all ages. Apart from being an essential one, reading can be sown in as a habit which could offer you innumerable fruits that support your life in unimaginable ways. So let us cultivate a lifelong reading habit by following these tips,

As to what exercising is to body, reading is to brain.

True. Reading helps brain think, imagine, rehearse, emote, fantasize and what not? For most people thinking ability thrives only if we use it, or else we lose it. Reading a book or a magazine promotes it. So, like a routine yoga session or an exercise session add reading newspaper to your morning schedule. By saying reading I don't mean skimming through headlines, actually reading the entire contents of the articles. This helps in acquiring knowledge and forming opinions. So subscribe to magazines and newspapers for your morning routine.

Do it while you commute

Commute in an urban set-up occupies most of your valuable time these days. Carry a book and read while you travel to work or when you wait for your vehicle. Of course it may be distracting, but long waits can give you enough time to peruse a magazine or a half- finished novel.
 
Read to your child or partner.

Who says reading benefits only you? Your family can reap the rewards of your reading out aloud at times. Reading to a child even in the womb is considered a very positive form of parenting these days. A 5 year old will never say no to a fantasy book during bedtime. Being read out loud to a your life partner can increase your time-together and lead to small chit-chats about the read topic, yeilding intimacy.

Visit libraries and book shops

Trip to libraries once in a month can prove immensely useful when it comes to choose a title. You also get to make a list of widely read topics and genres through one visit. Another important thing is that you can meet like-minded people and get new suggestions from your newly made friends at the library. Though bookshops can give some idea about the bestsellers, a used-book stall helps you identify the best books by looking at how much used they are. The more battered the more it must have been loved.

Avoid TV and gaming

A stay at home mom is enticed with loads of serials and game shows that are solely promoted to increase your consumerism. Limit  TV time and step into a world inside a book. By all means put away that smartphone out of your leisure time and grab something to read. Though smartphones can come in handy if your book is in epub or pdf format. Though a research suggests that reading a hard copy boosts memory retention, over an ebook.

Make reading plans

Always plan to read beyond the current book. Choose authors and make a list of "want-to-read" books in your notes. Reading alternatively between genres may make you less bored even of your current not-so-interesting book. Set goals such as "5 books to finish by the end of this month", which may teach you to spend time wisely.

Always read yourself to sleep

Even if your day is hard-pressed for time, you always have the option of bedtime reading. Reading during bedtime can ward off the thoughts of unpleasant things that happened the day. Make sure you read fiction at nights, so that your brain calms down resulting in a soothing sleep.

Most importantly, never give-up halfway

If not chosen carefully, books with never ending sentences and unappealing plot can harm your appetite for more, wanting to give up. So be careful what you choose. Of all said and done, the foremost thing is not to give the habit halfway. Fortunately researchers found that consuming written words is exceptionally good for your brain.

Every living literate love at least one genre, be it classical literature, fashion magazine, biographies, self-help books, chick-lit. Just pick a book and get engrossed in it. Best wishes.

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