Are you a person who doesn’t like to read? If this is your case, know that there are many people in this situation.
On average, Pakis read 5 books a year, but 2.4 are only partially read. Much of this is derived from reading difficulties. This because:
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- 19% said they read too slowly;
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- 13% do not have enough concentration;
- 9% do not understand most of what they read;
- 4% claimed not to know how to read.
A survey carried out by the pro-book Platform showed that Pak lost more than 4.6 million readers between 2015 and 2021. In percentage, this means that only 52% of the population has the habit of reading.
These data are worrying, however, it is possible to change and acquire this habit. The ideal is to establish a reading routine since childhood. On the other hand, it’s never too late to start. In this post, we will bring some tips. Check out!
How important is reading?
If you don’t like to read, know that reading is of enormous importance in anyone’s life.
It increases the imagination, allows one to live new experiences and elevates the cultural repertoire. That is, from books you acquire knowledge of various subjects.
In addition, reading improves interpretation and writing, generating several benefits. For example:
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- improves brain function, expanding memory and logical thinking;
- it increases the critical sense due to the questioning of universal questions and the search for answers to complex questions;
- strengthens empathy, as it is possible to have a different point of view and better understand situations that we do not experience.
At the same time, reading also soothes. According to a survey done by Unimed, reading a book 6 minutes a day decreases stress levels by 68%. That is, there are several reasons to acquire this habit and learn to enjoy reading.
7 tips for those who don’t like to read and want to acquire this habit
Now that you’ve seen the benefits of this practice, see how to start reading with 7 simple and practical tips.
1. Choose themes that you like
Every person has their own style. So the first step is to find out which one is yours. Of course, you will have to read other subjects throughout your life, but take the opportunity to start with what attracts you. This will encourage you to check out other works.
In case you don’t know what kind of books you like, think about the movies and series that attract your interest. Some of them are adaptations of works, so they can be a good starting point.
2. Start slow and read short texts
Start your reading with a small book, as finishing it will encourage starting another. That is, it will be an important stimulus.
Another tip is to opt for short stories. They have a short and easier to understand narrative, not to mention that they can be quite attractive.
3. Take a few minutes out of your day to dedicate yourself to this practice
If you start with a very long book and want to read 1 hour a day, you will probably fail.
The habit must be built up gradually. So set aside time every day, for example 15 minutes in the morning. Another option is to set a daily goal, such as 1 or 2 pages per day.
These goals will help you commit to routine. This way, you can set the best time, according to your routine. However, try to maintain regularity – if you choose to read before bed, do it always.
4. Always leave a book within reach
Take advantage of mobile devices to always have a book at hand or carry a thinner, easier-to-carry work. That way, you’ll have time to meet your goals.
5. Carry a book to read in your spare time
Among physical or digital works, there is no best. The important thing is to always have them close to enjoy the free moments.
The idea is to change the periods in which you would look at social networks to open a book and take advantage of the waiting period at the doctor’s office, on the bus, before going to sleep, among other moments with free time.
6. Write down important points
Taking notes is a way to better understand the reading. If you don’t like to read, it’s also a way to better retain information and create that habit. After all, if you get lost among the words, you can look at the notes instead of going back a few pages.
Plus, annotations let you share your reading experiences . There are even social networks for this purpose, such as Goodreads. Thus, you interact with other people and still have an extra incentive.
7. Don’t persist if you’re not enjoying the book
If you’ve started a work, but you’re not liking the content, change it. There is no problem with that, as the most important thing is to maintain the pleasure of reading. However, avoid making the change after only 1 or 2 pages. Some stories take a while to engage the reader.
So how to do? Try to read the first 50 pages. If you don’t like it, change the book. That way, you avoid the fallout and loss of a great book just because of the bad opening pages.
