How to Transform Reading into a Pleasure: Tips for Overcoming Perceived Burdens and Enhancing Enjoyment
Reading can be a valuable activity but whether it feels like a burden or a waste of time depends on your personal goals and interests. Here are a few points to consider while exploring ways to make reading a more enriching and enjoyable experience.
Purpose
The first step is to reflect on why you want to read. Are you looking to learn something new, escape into a story, or improve your skills? Having a clear purpose can make reading feel more rewarding. If you set intentions, you are more likely to find the content that aligns with your goals.
Choose Wisely
If you are not enjoying what you are reading, it might be worth exploring different genres or topics. Finding books that genuinely interest you can transform reading from a chore into a pleasure. Experiment with various types of content to discover what captures your imagination and keeps you engaged.
Time Investment
Consider the time you invest in reading compared to other activities. If reading enhances your knowledge or enjoyment, it may be more valuable than you realize. Evaluate the returns on your investment; if the benefits outweigh the time spent, reading can be a worthwhile pursuit.
Balance
It is okay to take breaks or not read at all for a while. Reading should be enjoyable and enriching, not a source of stress. Establish a balance in your lifestyle to ensure that reading remains a positive and fulfilling experience.
Alternatives
If traditional reading feels burdensome, you might explore audiobooks or shorter articles that align with your interests. These formats can offer a flexible and engaging alternative that still nourishes your mind.
Enhancing Reading with Speed Reading Techniques
There is a great line in the movie A Walk in the Woods - “books are television for smart people.” While this isn’t a suggestion that you are not smart, it highlights that perhaps you find reading a burden because you are not reading fast enough or are not retaining enough information. Most people read at a fairly slow pace, but with the right techniques, you can read faster and with better retention.
I’ve been a speed reader for several years, and I cannot stress enough how much more information I retained after learning speed reading techniques. And as a result, how much more I enjoyed reading. There are many speed reading courses and programs out there, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money on an expensive course or an app. All the apps and courses will determine your current reading rate and then teach you some “special” skills that allow you to read faster and with better retention.
The Special Technique: USE YOUR FINGER
What is the special technique? Use your finger. Really. Move your finger smoothly across each line, and slowly increase your speed. It requires concentration, but it works. When your eyes move across a line, they tend to jerk from word to word. Using your finger eliminates this jerky movement, allowing you to take in the information with less eye fatigue and faster.
There are other techniques that help with review, but really, use your finger and push yourself to read faster. Just doing this one thing can easily increase your reading speed by 20% or more!
A Highly Recommended Book: Breakthrough Rapid Reading
I highly recommend the book Breakthrough Rapid Reading by Peter Kump. It is a workbook that provides you with some very easy lessons and a methodical 30-day plan with easy daily exercises to track your improvement. I made it required reading for all my staff, and they all swear that it improved both their reading speed and enjoyment.
Onward,
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