How To Make Reading Less Boring

There’s nothing quite as special as beginning a new book, where the story transports you to a completely new and exciting world. If you find reading boring, then this is probably a feeling you haven’t experienced in a long time, or ever. Whether you are overwhelmed by a pile of school or university books that you just can’t get through or you want to introduce reading to your daily routine, you’ve come to the right article. The reality is that loving to read takes practice, and some material is harder to get through than others. Take a look at how you can make reading less boring and even begin to enjoy it!

The benefits of reading

• It stimulates the brain and can slow down mental disorders like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
• It reduces stress and the symptoms of depression.
• You’ll gain knowledge about interesting topics.
• It helps expand your vocabulary and writing skills, regardless of the type of book you’re reading.
• You’ll improve your memory and recall information faster.
• It can help you with better focus and concentration if you read for just 20 to 30 minutes daily.
• Your ability to empathise is increased when you read literary fiction.
• It may even help you live longer. A study of 3635 adults over 12 years found that those who read books lived 2 years longer than those who read magazines or nothing at all.

This is why you find reading boring (and what to do about it)

You’ve given up too quickly. The reward of Dopamine release you can get from reading takes time. The gap between motivation and reward is much longer and it takes self-reinforcing to experience the same joy you might experience from other hobbies, like watching TV or playing video games.

You’re distracted. Eliminate distractions! Turn off push notifications (or better yet, put your phone away entirely) and get yourself into the right headspace to enjoy your book. Often, it’s because we are preoccupied and not able to fully devote our attention to the task of reading that the material seems boring, when really the book isn’t the root of the problem.

You aren’t feeling rested. Try to read when you’re feeling mentally alert! With a tired mind, even the most interesting books can feel tedious.

You’re trying to read too much all at once. Break down your reading task into smaller chunks and you will soon start to feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete each section. Instead of aiming to finish the whole book quickly, have a goal of reading one chapter at a time (for example).

You can’t seem to focus. Feel like your eyes are darting all over the page? Try incorporating a visual guide to help your eyes remain focused. As you read, use your finger or a pencil to move along the text and act as a guide for your eyes.

You’re struggling to consume the material. Use your imagination to fill in the blanks. Don’t just read the words, but allow yourself to visualise the imagery as you read.

You’re reading alone. Sometimes the best thing you can do is join a book club or ask for book recommendations from a friend. Reading the same material that somebody else has read means that you will have opportunities to discuss the storyline together.

Your brain is struggling to engage with written words. Some of us don’t find it easy to engage with written words (maybe because we can’t hear the voices of characters and narrators in our heads). Try an audiobook or reading out loud.

You can’t picture the characters. If this is you, why not begin by choosing a book that’s been turned into a movie? Watching the trailers may help you better visualise what you’re reading.