“Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible.”

This quote by Barack Obama exquisitely epitomizes the importance of Reading. You may hear a lot many times that reading is essential and one should make it a habit to read at least 1 hour daily. But many a times it coincides with our professional life and this not so practiced habit goes neglected. But,

• What if I tell you, this vital skill not only helps you in improving your verbal ability but relaxes your mind as well!
• What if I tell you, Reading doesn’t Require you to sit for hours but a quick read of 10-minutes would help you the same!
• What if I tell you this practice can keep you entertained rather than being a tedious tradition!

In the upcoming write-up, we are going to probe through exactly these and many such hesitancies.

Let’s begin with the Significance of Reading:

Although there are some obvious advantages of being an avid reader, for instance, it:

• Improves your communication skills
• Enhances your knowledge
• Helps you in mastering a language

But, I would also like to touch and explain a few important points which make you better as professional if you are a reader.

• Exercising your mind – Reading reduces stress for you. When you read, you imagine and go places, it relaxes your mind and body to a significant extent. Afterwards, you are refreshed with new thoughts and ready to take up any challenges. Studies show that Reading slows your heart rate and minimizes the muscle tension.
• Helps you in improving analytically –  Not only you get better in one language but reading profoundly stimulates your brain and allows you to think with perspective in all the tasks you plan to do.
• Keeps you entrenched/rooted – It Increases your ability to empathize. People who read daily tend to understand others emotions better and share their feelings more openly. 

How to make it a habit?

• Read fun and compelling books – Make your reading time your favorite time of the day. Find books that spellbind you and grip your attention. Even if they aren’t literary masterpieces, they make you want to read — and that’s the goal here.
• Find your genre – Many people prefer humor while some others dive into Inspirational Non-fictions. I am a whodunnit fan myself. So, find your favorite type of books and you will definitely not loose interest in gaining from Reading.
• Sidestep the binge-watching from time to time – I know, I know, it’s compelling. But trust me, once you get infatuated with the power of reading, that would be equally or even more appealing to you than the weekend watch-spree.
• Have a reading hour during the weekend – That is, if you are not able to manage time during the week.
• Read actively – This means thinking about what you are reading, highlighting the passages that you feel are important or interesting, writing comments and notes on the margins. If you are reading on your smartphone or eBook reader, enjoy the benefits of their highlighting text and note features.
• Get a reading partner – Start reading the same book with your reading partner and then discuss it as you read or once you both finish reading the book. If you have children, you must, must read to them. Find some great children’s books and read to them. In the hindsight of developing a bond, you’re developing the reading habit in yourself.

What should you be reading?

Although everyone nowadays can access extensive libraries in the form of ebooks, but If you have lesser time, here are a few options to start with :

• Blogs or articles on trending and Niche topics – Join some Inspiring bloggers of your interest and choice. You can stay up-to-date while keeping your reading mode at par with the News articles.
• For mentorship, read Non-fiction books written by some inspirational people – For Example; Think Again by Adam Grant, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne etc.
• My personal favourite, Short Memoirs, some of these you can finish during your lunch break – These do not require much commitment, you can read them in a jiffy due to short length. You see examples of short memoirs all the time on sites like Buzzfeed and The New York Times. My attention was captured recently by this one written by E. G. Harrison Scott Key,  “My Dad tried to kill me with an Alligator”.

To conclude this topic on undeniable importance of reading, Let’s just say, keep trying and keep searching for the right style of your reading. It’s there and once you find it; it will change your life for the better.

As ALAN BENNETT puts it- “Let’s ignite the imagination.”