How to Develop a Reading Habit

Reading is not only an essential skill for professional growth but also a way to enjoy enriching literary works that inspire creativity and add valuable experiences to your life. Like any important skill, developing a reading habit requires both time and dedication. However, reading remains an endlessly enjoyable pastime and a hobby that doesn't cost much, as all you need is a book in your hands.

Improve Your Reading Skills. To create a reading habit and fully appreciate the benefits of reading, begin by practicing good reading techniques. For example:

• Read for understanding. When reading, focus on the main idea of each paragraph and the supporting arguments. Always keep a pencil handy to make notes or underline the key points of each section.
• Look up unfamiliar words. Online dictionaries are a rich and excellent resource for defining new words. Simply underline or list any unfamiliar terms, then look them up as you read. Reread the sentences with those words to understand their context and usage, especially if a word has multiple meanings.
• Learn how to assess context. When encountering unfamiliar words or concepts, often the literary context, historical, or social background of the text can offer clues about what the author or characters are trying to convey. This may require additional research to fully grasp the different levels of context in a text.
• Get familiar with rhetorical devices. Especially if you enjoy novels and short stories, learning the art of language used in literature is crucial to becoming a better reader. Understanding rhetorical devices such as metaphors, similes, parallelism, personification, and alliteration can enrich your reading experience.
• Don’t rush. Reading with the aim of both learning and enjoyment is not something that can be done hastily. Instead, take your time, develop your skills, and go at your own pace. Don’t be discouraged if you’re a slow reader, especially in the beginning. With each passing day, as you continue reading, your brain will apply previously learned reading techniques and gradually improve your efficiency.

Always Have Reading Materials on Hand. Just like basketball players need their ball and shoes to practice, reading books requires consistency and the right resources. Here are a few ways to ensure you always have new materials to read:

• Subscribe to long-term publications: Subscribing to industry magazines is a great way to ensure a constant flow of updated materials. There are also literary journals like 'Tạp chí văn nghệ' and 'Tuần san văn hóa văn nghệ,' which feature a variety of unique fictional works.
• Visit libraries: Libraries are a rich, free source of books. If you don’t have a library card, get one and see what your local library offers.
• Consider e-books: In the U.S., companies like Barnes & Noble and Amazon offer many e-books for sale or rent. Libraries also often provide free e-book rentals.
• Read online: Many university libraries offer complete digital copies of literary works. For example, the 'Gutenberg Project,' managed by Ibiblio at the University of North Carolina, offers nearly 50,000 essays, novels, and short stories, with 50 new novels added every week.

Incorporate Reading into Daily Life. Developing reading skills is easier when you establish a daily reading routine. Here are some suggestions to help make reading a habit:

• Join a book club: Participating in weekly or bi-weekly book club meetings is a great way to stay motivated to read and meet others who share your love for books. It’s also an opportunity to discuss what you’ve read and learn valuable insights from other intelligent and interesting readers.
• Download reading aggregation apps: Free services like Feedly or Digg help you follow blogs, newspapers, or online magazines. These apps allow you to organize your materials into categories like 'read' and 'unread.'
• Find a dedicated reading spot: Whether it’s your favorite corner at a coffee shop or a quiet nook at home, find a space where you can unwind and read in peace. Make it a habit to always carry the book you’re currently reading.
• Set daily or weekly reading goals: There’s no rule for how quickly you should finish a book or magazine. However, if you’re an ambitious reader with a list of things you want to explore, setting achievable goals is a great way to stay on track. For example, you could aim to read for an hour a day or finish a chapter or 10 pages of a magazine.

Consider Your Interests and Passions. Reading can be much more enjoyable and fulfilling when you focus on topics that excite you.

• Search for blogs, books, and magazines that address your hobbies or interests. This helps create motivation to read and allows you to make the most of the joy that reading can bring.

Ask for Recommendations from Friends. Word-of-mouth recommendations are invaluable when choosing what to read.

• Talk to friends or online readers who share similar interests. They can point you to books you might find interesting.
• Goodreads.com is an excellent online book recommendation platform with detailed descriptions.
• Visit local bookstores. Most bookstore employees love books and will happily recommend something based on your tastes. If you have second-hand bookstores nearby, that’s even better.

Read classic works. A well-rounded reader should know what constitutes great literature. Immerse yourself in books that have shaped Western history, while also considering the following:

• Expand your understanding by exploring the classical works of different cultures around the world.
• Discover how each generation of authors has approached, analyzed, and reinterpreted pivotal historical events for their contemporary audiences.

Read critical works. It's often said that every reader is a critic, and personal taste holds only relative value; however, cultural trends develop because certain phenomena resonate widely at specific moments in time. Some benefits of reading critical reviews include:

• Developing a different set of reading skills. Reading critical works differs from reading fiction or non-fiction. It's essential to cultivate the skills needed to understand the purpose and value of literary criticism.
• Gaining insight into a book without purchasing it. Reading reviews allows you to gauge a book's content and helps you decide whether it's worth your time and money. Critiques can also guide you in discovering your personal literary preferences.
• Engaging in enriching discussions. Perhaps you and your book club just finished a book that was poorly rated in a major newspaper. Share the review and discuss its main points. See what others think, and develop your own opinions about the book.

Create a reading list. Listing the books, magazines, and blogs you're interested in is crucial for knowing what to read next once you've finished your current book. Goodreads.com is a useful platform for tracking this process; however, even a simple note in your personal journal can be an effective tool to keep track of what you'd like to read in the future.

Volunteer for reading programs. Schools, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and even homeless shelters welcome volunteers to read aloud. Volunteering to read is a meaningful activity for several reasons:

• Not every child has the opportunity to develop a reading habit with their parents. In single-parent households with multiple children, it can be difficult for a parent to support a struggling reader. Volunteering gives you the chance to help shape a child's future educational and career prospects.
• Not every adult is literate. For various reasons, some individuals don't learn to read until adulthood, which can limit their career opportunities and ability to live independently. By volunteering to read for adults, you can have a positive impact on their lives and self-esteem.
• You can help establish long-lasting learning habits. For elderly individuals with vision impairments, reading may no longer be a viable option. If they were avid readers in their youth, having someone read to them not only offers an educational experience but also provides warmth, companionship, and an opportunity to exchange knowledge.
• Some communities offer volunteer programs that involve recording textbooks and other written materials for the visually impaired or people with learning disabilities.

Start or join a book exchange program. Search online for resources like paperbackswap.com, or find a secondhand bookstore in your area that participates in book exchange programs.

• If you're into fiction, romance novels, or science fiction, exchanging books is a cost-effective way to keep your bookshelf stocked.

Attend book fairs. Whether you're looking to discover new authors or meet familiar ones, book fairs are a fantastic opportunity for both. There are other benefits as well:

• Discounted books: Publishers and retailers attend book fairs and often offer discounts on books by authors featured at the event.
• Get autographs: Especially when authors release new books, they are often invited to book fairs for promotion. You can enjoy getting autographs and even keep them as a collectible.
• Listen to book readings: Book fairs often feature guest authors reading excerpts from their latest works or hosting reading sessions to inspire attendees or commemorate notable authors.

Start a book review blog. A book review blog is a great way to track books you've enjoyed, write critiques for those you didn't, and monitor your reading progress. Additionally, a book blog can:

• Help you meet new people: By sharing your posts publicly, you can engage with readers who stumble upon your blog and even receive feedback on your thoughts through comments.
• Improve your writing skills: Reading and writing go hand in hand. Practicing your writing, even imitating the style of your favorite authors, is excellent exercise. It also helps you become your own editor when revisiting your work to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Learn to read in another language. If you're already enjoying reading in your native language, why not try learning to read in a new one? Here's how you can start:

• Buy a dictionary for your chosen language. You can find one at the library or purchase it from a bookstore.
• Begin with children's books: Books aimed at young children often feature simple, easy-to-understand text, using basic vocabulary tied to everyday events that are easy to translate. Starting at this beginner level will prepare you for more advanced reading later on.
• Choose poetry translations: Pick a famous poem in your chosen language and look for a book with the original text, as well as a translated version in your native language. Read carefully and compare the translation with the original. This method is an effective way not only to learn a new language but also to explore a new culture.