12 Tips To Build a Sustainable Reading Habit

by Sarah Toh

We all know reading is good for us.

There are so many reasons to be reading, the list could fill the pages of all the books in our library!

The truth is that it is easier said than read.

Of course, we can all read: the ABCs, the sounding of words, putting words together to make up sentences and the constructing of meanings in our heads. That is the easy part. The part that is more challenging is reading consistently, over an extended period, on a regular basis.

Why? Because there seems to be as long a list of excuses not to read as could fill all the webpages in the internet!

Do we then fight back with willpower or surrender to outside forces?

We all agree that developing a reading habit is the first step to many successes in our future. The problem is how do we build a reading habit? Is simply setting a goal to read enough?

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, has this to say about goals.

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

What this means is that the way to reach your goal is dependent on the system you have set up to get there, a plan with clear steps to take.

Atomic Habits is a treasure trove of principles to establish good habits or break bad ones. Admittedly, following his convincing arguments behind the effectiveness of these principles somehow makes them more powerful. This YouTube video of an interview with James Clear will give you a sliver of his logical reasoning.

The best way to be impacted is still to read his book firsthand. In fact, it is worth reading and re-reading every so often.

The next best option is to check out Clear’s cheat sheet found here.

In summary, he formulated four laws that can contribute to creating any good habit. Based on these laws, I have put together steps you can take specifically to develop a regular reading habit.

1st Law - Make it obvious

- Make cues of your habit obvious and visible.

1a Design your environment

Find a comfortable spot you intend to read. It could be a specific armchair with your favourite cushion. You may wish to drape a soft blanket in a stylish manner so it looks inviting. With equal attention to detail, position your book on the armchair so you see it waiting for you. You will be reminded to read because the book and intentional set up will be calling out to you.

1b Write your habit down

Be specific about what you intend to achieve. “I will read for [x] minutes at [TIME] in [LOCATION].” Write down your reading goal and pin it up where you will see it frequently. It could be on your laptop or a mirror in your bedroom. You might have to change this visual reminder by writing it on a very different paper, or change its location once in a while so you don't get used to seeing it and not notice it anymore.

1c Stack your reading habit with something else you are already doing regularly

Find a current habit you can use as a cue for your new reading habit. For example, you could plan to read after your shower, or after packing your school bag for the next day. Write your intention down. “After [CURRENT HABIT], I will read.” You are less likely to forget to read because your reading goal will be kept at the forefront of your thoughts as you go about your other activity.

2nd Law - Make it Attractive

- Motivate yourself by making the experience of reading pleasant.

2a Pair reading with something else you enjoy

Think of another activity that you look forward to doing that is not mentally demanding. Perhaps if it is your habit to drink a hot cup of herbal tea just before bedtime. You could read and enjoy your tea at the same time. You will soon associate reading with that same pleasant experience.

2b Join a culture where reading is the normal behaviour

Find friends who are readers so you can read together of chat about the book you read. Alternatively, join a book club. A big community of readers in our school will be the participants of the SIC Reader’s Quest! Consider joining the quest and follow along other questers’ progress on Instagram (@acgsic) so you get to see what they are reading. Be open, curious and inspired. Immerse yourself in a reading culture.

2c Do something with what you read

You might read and come across valuable information that you wish to remember, ponder about, or save for future reference. If the book belongs to you, you could underline or highlight it with your favourite colour. If illustrating is your strength, your book could be peppered with your unique touch at significant sections. Annotating can also serve to crystalize what you have read. If the book does not belong to you or if you are reading a digital book, you could write quotes or your thoughts down on a journal. This journal can become a playground for self-expression during reading or later when you have time for deeper reflection. Coupling these activities with reading will make reading attractive as you will begin to see how it is the foundation to your creativity, self-development and understanding of the world you live in.

3rd Law - Make it Easy

- Think ahead of potential problems that might trip you and be proactive in reducing friction or decreasing the number of steps to your habit.

3a Design your environment

Refer to this same point in the 1st Law on making it obvious. Setting your ideal reading environment up beforehand while you are energized at another time of the day will make it easier for you to jump right into reading at your assigned reading time. All you need to do is pick the book up, sit and read. No need to waste time searching for the book or be distracted by figuring out how to get comfortable. Anticipate any other problems. For example, if you think your noisy siblings will be a distraction, you could close the door to your room or even have ear plugs set right next to your armchair ready to be used if necessary.

3b Decide what you wish to read ahead of time

Research and gather the books before your scheduled reading time. You may want several books to choose from as sometimes your moods might vary. It is perfectly fine reading several books at a time. It is like following several TV serials; you watched X or Mondays but Y or Tuesdays. Trust that your brain can manage that. You could prepare say 4 books: 2 fiction books of different genres and 2 non-fiction books of different subjects. A variety of different genres and a combination of light and heavy reads will ensure that you have just the right book to match any mood you might be in.

3c Start by downsizing your reading habit

Often, it is starting to read that is the hardiest. Normally, once you start reading, you will be hooked. You could commit to reading for a brief minimum time, like say just 10 minutes. Set a timer to sound with something soft and non-intrusive. You can choose to stop or continue to read after the timer goes off. This way, you won’t feel overly invested so the initial inertia will be reduced. After reading for 10 minutes, you can at least claim you have read, but allow yourself the option to feel even better about yourself, if you choose to continue reading. After successfully establishing your reading habit, you can consider increasing your reading time to a more significant stretch.

4th Law - Make it Satisfying

- Reward yourself for keeping to the habit.

4a Make a chart you can cross out

For every day that you read, add a cross, or a star, or even a sticker to that day on the chart. Put the chart in a conspicuous place. Looking at your progress will make you feel proud of yourself for keeping to your reading goal. Your family members might even praise you for it – an extra morale booster.

4b Keep track of your reading habit streak by using some kind of habit tracker

Similar to the above tip on crossing out a chart, this time aim to not break your habit streak. There are other apps available on mobile devices for that but a physical one will ensure that you “make it obvious” (See 1st Law.) Be motivationally rewarded for not breaking the chain of say 5 days of crosses in a row. Alternatively, you could approach it from the “never miss twice” rule. This just means you aim to not miss reading more than a day. Sometimes slipping up is alright. You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. Just avoid missing two days in a row. Make a reasonable rule for yourself and hold yourself accountable. If that does not work, tell somebody to hold you accountable.

4c Reward yourself immediately

Decide how you want to reward yourself for reading. Eg. A lolly or a few jumps on the trampoline after an intense time of reading. On a daily basis, a little indulgence that does not take up too much time or effort is ideal. You can save the bigger rewards for when you complete a month of reading.

It won't be possible for you to implement all these steps at once. Choose a couple that might work and keep at them for at least a month. You could also use the same principles and customize your own system.

Remember that if you do not have a workable plan, your goals will forever remain as goals that cannot be reached.

Share with the library team what has been the most effective way for you by commenting here or direct messaging the library team on Instagram. We love to hear any other tips you might have.