Establishing a Reading Habit: Choose Enjoyment Over Pleasure

Establishing a Reading Habit: Choose Enjoyment Over Pleasure

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." — Richard Steele

Reading opens new doors, gives you different perspectives, and broadens your mind. It is the most life-changing thing in a person's life. When people read stories about other people's lives, it helps them develop the skills to understand the world through another person's perspective. Just like the writer, I was a huge bookworm when I was a child. Reading has always been a passion of mine, and I have found ways to establish a reading habit that might be helpful for others as well.

1. Set a Monthly Reading Target: Start by setting a monthly target for reading. For example, aim to read a minimum of two books per month, one fiction and one non-fiction. This will give you a goal to work towards and help you stay motivated.

2. Keep Books Within Reach: Have both of these books at your bedside table or in easily visible areas if they are physical books. This will serve as a constant reminder to pick them up and read whenever you have some free time.

3. Incorporate Reading into Your Daily Routine: Make it a habit to read for at least 10 minutes every day, either in the morning or at night, whichever is more convenient for you. Set aside this dedicated time for reading and make it a non-negotiable part of your day.

4. Track Your Progress: Use platforms like Goodreads, which has a mobile app available, to track your reading progress. This will help you stay accountable and give you a sense of accomplishment as you see how many books you have read over time. Additionally, you can consider keeping a physical reading journal to jot down your thoughts and reflections on the books you read (optional).

5. Don't Force Yourself to Read Uninteresting Books: If you find yourself disinterested in the premise of a book after a couple of chapters, it's okay to drop it and pick up an interesting one instead. Reading should be a pleasurable experience, so don't feel obligated to finish a book that doesn't capture your attention.

6. Utilize Pockets of Time: Insert reading into the little pockets of time that you get throughout the day. For example, read while commuting to work or school, during lunch breaks, or before going to bed. These short bursts of reading can add up and help you make progress in your reading goals.

There are no set rules when it comes to reading. It should be something you find pleasure in as a leisure activity. Starting with fiction is often the best way to get into reading, as it allows you to immerse yourself in captivating stories and characters. As Dr. Seuss beautifully said, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."

Now, let's connect the idea of establishing a reading habit with the concept of choosing enjoyment over pleasure. Pleasure is addictive and animal; it happens to you. On the other hand, enjoyment is elective and human; it is something you create through your own effort. When you choose to read, you are actively engaging in an activity that brings you enjoyment.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi argues that enjoyment gives you a sense of effort, forward movement, and accomplishment. It is not just a fleeting moment of pleasure but a lasting satisfaction. When you read a book and immerse yourself in its world, you commit yourself to savoring the experience and engaging in the task to have positive feelings of joy and fun.

Enjoyment can be ruined when we use it to show others how happy we are. Research has shown that voluntarily sharing photos on social media actually diminishes the enjoyment we derive from the experience. This is because sharing online creates pressure to present ourselves in a positive light, which can be detrimental to our happiness. Instead, it is important to savor the moment for our own memories and not for external validation.

Additionally, a worldview that values efficiency and productivity can also hinder our enjoyment of life. When we consider activities such as hanging out with friends or taking leisurely walks as wasteful, we actually enjoy these activities less. It is essential to shift our perspective and embrace the value of unproductive time spent with others or engaging in activities that bring us joy.

German philosopher Josef Pieper wrote, "Leisure is only possible when a man is at one with himself." Enjoyment of life, whether it be through reading, spending time with loved ones, or pursuing hobbies, holds a loftier significance than mere good feelings. It signifies a declaration of independence from our base impulses and a refusal to be managed by pleasures or joyless drudgery. It is a key ingredient in creating the life we truly desire.

In conclusion, establishing a reading habit is not just about setting goals and tracking progress. It is about choosing enjoyment over mere pleasure. By immersing ourselves in books and actively engaging in the act of reading, we create moments of enjoyment that enrich our lives. So, set your reading targets, keep books within reach, and incorporate reading into your daily routine. Remember, there are no rules set in stone, and reading should be a pleasurable and leisurely activity. Enjoy the journey of discovering new worlds and perspectives through the power of books.