3 Tips for Reading More

I have an abnormal reading schedule. If I had to guess, I’d say I’ve read fifty or more books this year and it is only September.

I don’t say this to brag, it just is what it is. I make reading recommendations all the time and the most common response is, “I’d love to read that, I just don’t have the time.”

Yes you do.

What I didn’t tell you is that this year I have also maintained being a full-time employee, student, husband, and obviously I write and make videos.

“Yeah, but you don’t have kids.” Fair enough.

Here’s some tips. Disclaimer: they will only help if you actually want to improve in this area. If you don’t actually want to, you’ll find any excuse in the world.

1. Commit. That’s why the first step is to commit and stop making excuses. I know that is simplistic, but it is really the most important step based on the obvious: we don’t do things that we don’t want to do. If you don’t want to read more, you never will. So, ask yourself, do I really want to read more? Why do I want to read more?
2. Read what you want. What are you interested in right this second? Right this second, I’m very interested in the Thomistic arguments for the existence of God and the reliability of the Gospels. So, guess what I’m reading. Not long ago, I was interested in Business and Economics, so guess what I was reading. If you don’t know where to start, just start with what interests you and see where that goes.
3. Schedule. I have a daily routine (most days). I wake up at 5:00 a.m. (yes, really). Take the dogs out. Pour a cup of coffee. Study the Bible where I left off the day before. Post a blog. Then, I read whatever book on whatever topic I’ve been studying. I can usually get in a chapter at this point. Then I have to go to work. Don’t tell anyone, but I usually find a way to read at work (kindle has an app and a website), even if it is just on my lunch break. When I get home, I usually have homework because I’m a philosophy student right now. I have to eat, of course. And if my wife and I aren’t doing anything, I usually read a little bit more. Things come up, but this is my normal routine. Without it, I would never make time to read.

I have a freakish reading schedule, but it is important to me. I want to know everything about the topics I study and write about. You obviously don’t have to, if that isn’t your goal, but these are some simple (not easy) tips that I use to ensure I’m reading as much as I would like.