Hello and welcome to the first post in an ongoing series I’m calling ‘SELF Improvement’. Throughout this series, explored firstly on YouTube and in further detail here on this blog, we’ll look at the many ways I personally practice self-improvement.
For this first post I wanted to focus on something that’s drastically changed how I approach my life; reading.
Books contain detailed knowledge on a broad array of topics, often from experts in their fields. Learning and applying this knowledge to my life has been my primary method of practicing self-improvement. That’s why I wanted to start this series with the topic of reading.
If you’re someone who reads regularly, check out the post on the Key Notes System to never have to reread a book again!
I find time to read every day. It’s important for me to do this as it ensures I’m consistently growing. This habit, in particular, is at the core of my self-improvement practice.
By being a reader, you’re automatically put into a growth mindset. You’re actively seeking to learn, grow, and improve. This helps keep your mind open and activates the growth mindset.
These features of wanting to learn, grow, and improve are congruent with that of a growth mindset. From there, those features can easily transition into daily life. This prompts a desire to learn and improve in other areas.
How To Read More – How To Find Time To Read
To help you read more, the number one thing that you can do is have access to physical books. Being able to pick up a book and read a chapter, as either a break or when you have 15-30 minutes spare, will naturally allow you to read more. Physical books reduce friction when beginning to read.
Further, you can take physical books anywhere. Digital or ebooks may be difficult as they require battery life or sometimes WIFI to read. Physical books offer flexibility in this regard.
Dedicate Time To Read
Instead of trying to find time to read, you can make time.
If you have existing routines or habits in place, use habit stacking and block out a chunk of time for reading. Add the habit of reading on top of your existing habits, such as in your morning routine, and you’ll be reading more before you know it. Include 30 minutes of reading in your morning or evening routine to ensure you’re learning and growing every day.
The Habit Stacking Formula – After/Before [Current Habit], I will [New Habit].
Make It Easy
By reducing friction and making reading easy, you’ll be picking up a book more often. Reading becomes ‘easy’ when there is little friction in comparison to other activities.
Leave a book where you would normally leave your TV remote, making it easier to begin reading rather than watching TV. Place a book on your TV stand. Leave a book where you’d normally keep your phone. Replace common unproductive activities with reading by using this tactic.
Start Small
By ‘small’, I mean really small. Read a single word. That’s all you have to do.
Break down the book into chapters. Break down those chapters into paragraphs. Break down the paragraphs into sentences. And break down the sentences into single words.
I’m sure you can find the motivation to read a single word. But here’s the catch. By reading the first word, you’ll probably read the second word, and then the third.
By focusing on reading just a single word – focusing on getting started rather than the finish line – you’ll find it much easier to begin reading and, as a result, read more.
When approaching the task of reading as one big project, it will seem overwhelming and difficult to get started. To read a whole book takes time and commitment. To read a single word, not so much.
Change Format
Alternatively, if you’re always on the go, you could switch to audiobooks. I’ll do a follow up post on audiobooks specifically in the future, so make sure you’re following the blog so you can learn more when that post is live.
Audiobooks are particularly useful for absorbing information while doing other activities, such as walking, exercising, or doing chores. Listening to audiobooks doesn’t require much physical effort, meaning you can combine this activity with physical activities to make use of both your mind and your body.
If you’re always busy, this is one way you can learn or read more.
Next Steps
One of the best actions I took to help with this habit of reading is signing up to the local library. With thousands of books available for free, it makes complete sense to sign up. Even if you’re only going to borrow a book once a month, it’s worthwhile.
Yes, many of the books found in libraries aren’t the most popular – you can go to a bookshop or read a PDF online for copies of bestselling books – but a load of useful information can still be found in the books you’d normally ignore.
For example, a book I’m currently reading called ‘How To Write Better Copy’ doesn’t stand out as much as a popular book would. The cover is basic and simple.
But, from reading the first two chapters, the content is incredibly useful and well explained. The information provided makes a lot of sense and has helped me develop my own copywriting practice.
I find that some of these ‘less popular’ library books take a different approach to many bestseller self-improvement books. Often, with bestsellers, the author supports a single point with many examples and stories. Although this can be good for understanding a topic in detail, I normally find I get the point quite quickly. To have a point I already understand repeatedly explained doesn’t serve much value.
But with library books, it’s primarily information. Rarely are there extended stories or unnecessary examples repeatedly explaining a point. Instead, these books choose to focus on providing useful information and practical tips.
For gathering large amounts of knowledge, library books are great.
For understanding specific topics in more detail, read a bestseller.
Unsure what to read?
Well, good news! Recently, we released a comprehensive reading list of some of the best self-improvement books. Many of these books have changed my life. If you’re struggling for choice, I recommend ‘The Chimp Paradox’ or ‘Atomic Habits’. Currently, I’m reading ‘Grit’ by Angela Duckworth.
Thanks for reading.
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