In high school and college, we are required to read numerous books that we have no interest in. Whether it was reading older “classics” or the sheer amount of work that followed, many students finish school with no desire to pick up a book. For those of us who previously loved reading more than anything else, it’s difficult to come to terms with losing this feeling. After years of not picking up a book for personal enjoyment, I decided that I wanted to start reading again. Here’s how I managed to ditch those learned, negative feelings and started to love reading again.

Don’t Feel Rushed

Even though I knew I wanted to start reading again, it was hard getting back into the habit. After so many years of speed reading and just picking up on the important parts of a story for quizzes and assignments, it felt weird not being in a hurry. I made sure to allow myself the time to read at a comfortable speed and genuinely get interested in the story.

Don’t ask for suggestions

When looking for a book that would interest me and keep my attention for extended amounts of time, I had tried asking friends what books they liked and would recommend to somebody else. When trying this approach, I found that a lot of the time the books were either too popular and were often spoiled before you even read them, or I felt like I had to finish it because it was recommended to me. If you choose a book on your own, you can just stop reading it if it isn’t interesting to you.

Think of it as a hobby

Whenever I sit down with a book, I try to pick an enjoyable spot to sit in and make myself comfortable. Now that it is no longer school related, you allow yourself to relax and not think of it as work. Treating your reading time like it is a hobby, essentially your “me” time, gives you a chance to just unwind and makes the experience more pleasant overall.

It’s not a time waster

Even though I have a hard time convincing myself to set aside time in my overly-busy day to read, it’s worth doing. Reading allows you to constantly expand your horizons, test your imagination, and provides you with an experience that only books can give. It is never a waste of time to not only enjoy yourself, but better yourself!

Instead of accepting the negative thoughts you may have about reading, pick up a book and challenge yourself to see reading from a new and more enjoyable perspective.