One thing I want to improve upon in 2018 is the amount of books I read. I started reading “Think and Grow Rich” in 2017 but in 2018, I want to track how many books I actually read for the year.

Sometimes it can be hard to sit down and focus on a book when there are so many distractions. Social media, t.v., roommates, friends, and family were always competing for my time and it was always easier to place reading lower on my priority list.

Over the last 90 days, I made two changes and they have led to a massive difference in the amount of information I’ve been able to consume.

Two Changes I made:

First, I downloaded an app called Audible. For those of you, who feel like you have ADD and you are constantly getting distracted or interrupted by your thoughts as you read, this is a great solution!

With audible I could read while I cleaned, showered, or cooked. I could also “read” whenever I was commuting and didn’t have to worry about getting motion sickness. Also, being able to read while completing other tasks meant that I didn’t need to set aside extra time to read, which meant I didn’t have to choose reading over hanging out with friends or going to the gym. Instead, I could just insert it into my typical routine.

Second, I dedicated 20 minutes to reading everyday. I found that no matter what kind of day I had, 20 minutes was a relatively “easy commitment”.

If you can read 20 minutes a day and get through at least 20 pages that means you are able to read 7,300 pages a year. If the average book is 200 pages that means you should be able to read 36 books in one year by incorporating this habit alone. Imagine if you decide to dedicate more time.

For those of you who think reading may seem like more of an “anti- social” task, it really isn’t. I can say reading has contributed to all areas of my life including dating! Think about it, when you read, you have much more value to add to conversation and you become way more interesting to talk to.

Action:

I encourage you to incorporate this 20 minute reading habit into your schedule! Start a 30 day challenge so that you stay consistent and keep yourself motivated. It helps to check off your calendar everytime you read for 20 minutes so that you feel accomplished every day that you remain committed to your goal. If you read 20 pages for 30 days straight, at the end of the month you will have read 600 pages or about 3 books!

Also, FYI, I will be posting book reviews as I incorporate the habit I’ve shared above. Feel free to visit my book recommendations if you want suggestions on books to read.