Wake up at 6. Get to work by 7:30. After work, the kids soccer practice. Help them with homework. Make dinner for the whole family. Get the house cleaned up. Pay some bills that have been stacking up. And… now I don’t really feel like picking up Jane Austen. As the school year starts, it seems like everything just gets busier, no matter what stage of life you are in. It can be incredibly challenging to make time for reading, especially if you are trying to read more intellectually challenging material. I think part of this is because of how our culture has designated reading as a chore, something to dread or drag your feet about. We need to rewire our brains to see reading as a gift, something enjoyable or even relaxing.

The Problem

Almost always, the first reaction people have when I tell them I am reading any book written before 2010 or about a more academic topic is one of shock or disgust. They seem not able to understand how something like that could possibly be considered pleasant. You can almost hear the question echoing in their brain: why would you choose to do that on purpose??? They typically follow up with some story about how they were forced to read some similar book in school and it was the most miserable experience of their existence.

In our culture, reading is made out to be a chore of some sort. Books are something you are assigned to read at school. Hundreds of platforms offer summaries and explanations of books, causing us to think that there no point to reading the whole story. It is just pointless when you could look at Sparknotes. Our online world has decided that things like TV and social media are “fun” whereas reading or other non-screen forms of entertainment are chores, tasks to check off of a list. This view defines books as “work” instead of relaxation.

An interview featured on the American Psychology Association with Gloria Mark, PhD discusses the attention span and screen time/ social media correlation. It turns out that the median attention span when someone is working on a task is about 47 seconds. This means they might spend 47 seconds typing on a word document or doing research before they switch over to checking their email or scrolling through social media. Basically, screens have shaped our brains where anything that requires focus and a time commitment is undesirable. This is why reading is considered such a chore to people. If 1 minute of undivided attention is difficult for people, hours of uninterrupted reading time takes more willpower than 100 push ups! This view is destroying our country’s interest and ability to read, especially if we already have to work hard in many other areas of life.

The Solution

Maybe you started a really great habit of reading during the summer. Maybe you found a renewed sense of pleasure in the act of reading this past vacation. Or it could be that you want to become an active reader but think fall is a bad time to start. I would suggest that the greatest thing holding you back is the view that reading is work. You probably think that being a reader has some benefits or you would not be reading this. But maybe you view it as something similar to going on a run: a very beneficial process for you but extremely unpleasant and not worth dealing with. This viewpoint needs to change.

Did you know that reading can be something fun? That it can be entertaining? If you cannot enjoy your reading, you will not get many benefits from the process. You need to reshape your viewpoint from “reading is work” to “reading is fun and relaxing.” Just because it requires more time and thinking than instagram does not mean that it is a chore. It just means that our culture has lied to you and said that short term or fast is the only way to success. If you can reshape your mind, you will get far more out of a book than if you only view it as a boring task.

Not only will it be more pleasant for you, but you will actually grow your attention span by reading. It will make other tasks more pleasant as well. It has been found that elementary kids with higher levels of reading comprehension had longer attention spans and faster reaction times. The actual act of reading lengthens your attention span, making it easier to do other tasks as well. Reading not only rewards your mind but also your work life and school time.

Some Practical Tips

You might say, “That’s all fine and good but how do I make reading fun instead of hard? I can’t just flip a switch.” This is absolutely true. However, there are a few steps you can take that will over time rewire your brain for a new perspective on reading. They are easy and effective.

• Start with fun books. I am all for reading variety and trying out new genres. But if you are just starting out, it might not be a great idea to jump into Moby Dick first thing. Start out with a fun fiction story. They can be just as entertaining (sometimes more so in my opinion) as a movie or TV show. If that’s also not your scene, choose a book on a topic you have a lot of interest in. Start with shorter or less dense reads. You have time to work your way up to the big stuff.
• Find a regular time to read. You don’t often hear people say, “Wow, I just could not find time to check instagram this whole week.” People find places to check it throughout their day. When they need a break or to unwind they instantly go there. We want the same “problem” with our reading. Find times when it’s easy to read or you need a spot to unwind regularly. Adding it in on top of a busy schedule is going to make it a lot harder. For example, I typically read during meals (not family meals of course) or right before bed. Choose a regular time to read that does not require you to sacrifice important tasks.
• Start choosing reading. When you are tired or bored, instead of choosing social media or similar activities, choose reading. If you start answering your need for relaxation with a book and it becomes familiar, you will eventually find it relaxing. When you are unmotivated or tired, take a break and read for a little bit. If you look to your book for refreshment or calming, you will start to receive those things. You are only going to get as much as you expect to out of the experience.

I fully understand. Reading during the school year can be tough. I have been guilty in many past busy seasons to put my reading on a back shelf or turn to screen time for a break instead. However, this year I am determined to rewire my brain. As Nora Roberts says, “I read to be entertained and to relax, and to go into another world, not because it’s good for me.” Let that be our mindset everywhere this year.