“To read or not to read — that is the question”
You may or may not be familiar with the famous line from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In a world so full of information, the necessity to read cannot be overemphasized. This, however, doesn’t make it easy to love reading. Many people advocate reading in order to get away from the world, to see new places or even to challenge yourself. I personally recommend reading in order to enhance one’s reading skills and expand one’s vocabulary. Most of the words in my vocabulary have come about as a result of reading. I read anything and everything, even the fine print in contracts and the superfluous ingredients on my favorite juice. One can never have a boring conversation with a well-read person as they generally use exciting and interesting words to express themselves.
Take for example, describing someone. “He was so lugubrious last week” sounds so much better than “he was so sad last week.” Take “It was such a decadent affair” which sounds more sophisticated than “there were a lot of shiny things.” I think you get the point. Words are meant to color our language, to express what cannot be seen at that present moment, and to be able to convey an otherwise abstract notion.
With this in mind, I have detailed a few tips to help you on your way to reading and enjoying it.
1. Choose material you enjoy
This cannot be said enough. You cannot hope to gain anything if you’re reading science articles when you’re more interested in fashion and beauty. Be practical.
2. Be reasonable
By this I mean be practical as to how much you can actually read. Don’t force yourself to read for an hour when you can only realistically read for 15 minutes without being distracted.
3. Talk to others who love reading
Find out from such ones what they do to enjoy the hobby and maybe try some of the tips they share with you. You’d be surprised how easy it might become for you.
4. Do it with someone
It’s generally easier to do something difficult if you have someone to do it with and push you. To that end, ask a partner, marriage mate, child, friend or someone to embark on this journey with you. The benefits will be worth it.
5. Join a book club
This will help you get with like-minded people and see for yourself how others have benefited from reading.
There are my 5 tips to help you on your way to reading. Hope they help. All that’s left to say is: Happy reading!
