Ans. I appreciate you want to know how to start reading books and curious to make a lifelong habit. The fact that you’re thinking about reading books is a big step in the right direction.
Reading is a powerful habit—one that ideally should begin at the age of 5.
But the good news?
It’s never too late to start. Whether you’re 15 or 50, you can begin today and completely change the way you think, live, and grow.
In this blog, I’ve broken everything down into four simple sections:
- Benefits of Reading Books
- How to Start Reading and Stay Consistent
- My Top Book Recommendations for Beginners
- My Personal Reading Strategy
7 Benefits of Reading Books
Why should you read books in the first place? Here’s what reading can do for you:
- Improves your English: It enhances your language, vocabulary, and communication skills effortlessly.
- Boosts your brain: Reading increases your cognitive level and makes you smarter.
- Gives you new perspectives: It fuels your thinking power and introduces you to fresh ideas. Many times, books give you the answers to real-life problems.
- Knowledge expansion: From career skills to personal growth—you learn a wide range of things.
- Career and self-growth: You become a better person professionally and personally.
- Reduces screen time: Less scrolling on Instagram, more meaningful moments with books.
- Boosts mental health: It increases dopamine and helps you feel calmer, happier, and more focused.
According to Wikipedia, reading is a cognitive process that helps in lifelong learning.
7 Ways to Start Reading and Build a Consistent Habit
Creating a new habit feels hard at first—but I promise, reading can become one of the most fun and relaxing parts of your day.
Here’s how you can start:
- Don’t pressure yourself.
Reading should be a joy, not a task. No need to finish a full book in one go. - Start small.
In the beginning, just read one page—anytime, anywhere. - Make a decision daily.
Say to yourself: “I’ll read today.” Even if it’s only for 5 minutes. Don’t stress about a fixed time or number of pages. - Build momentum over 7–15 days.
Once the habit kicks in, you’ll comfortably read 5–10 pages daily—even on busy days. - Audit your day.
Where are you losing time? Social media? Aimless browsing? Cut down just 10 minutes and replace it with reading. - Keep your book visible.
Place it near your bed, desk, or sofa. When you see it often, your brain gets the message: “It’s time to read!” - Hack your algorithm.
Follow book-related accounts on Instagram or YouTube. Like, share, and save posts about books. Soon, your feed will be filled with motivational reading content.
Remember: What we consume, we become.
Start feeding your brain the good stuff.
Top 3 Self-Help Books for Beginners
There are countless books out there—but if you’re just starting, I recommend beginning with these three gems. They are beginner-friendly and filled with wisdom that applies to every area of life.
1. Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia
This Japanese-inspired book helps you discover your life’s purpose and build a long, happy life.
Key lessons from Ikigai:
- Never retire from meaningful work.
- Be thankful to nature.
- Keep smiling, always.
- Eat till you’re 80% full.
- Keep your life simple.
- Do 5-minutes exercise daily.
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
A game-changer for anyone struggling with discipline or procrastination.
Golden takeaways:
- Focus on systems, not just goals.
- Improve just 1% every day—small progress creates big success.
- Make good habits obvious, and bad ones invisible.
📘 If you want to master time, health, or career goals—start here.
3. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy
This classic teaches you how to train your mind to work in your favor.
Powerful points:
- Think positive thoughts—your mind listens.
- Repeat strong affirmations daily.
- Your subconscious can literally create your dream life.
📘 A must-read to improve mindset, confidence, and emotional strength.
How I Read: My Personal Reading Strategy
You might be wondering: How do I manage my reading?
Let me share my method—it might help you build yours too.
- I never read just for the sake of reading.
I read to learn deeply and also create meaningful content. - If I’m reading casually, I can finish a 300-page book in 7–10 days.
- But when I want to analyze deeply, reflect, or create content—I take it slow. I might only read 4–5 pages per day, but I retain and understand everything.
- I always write notes, highlight insights, and pause to reflect. Sometimes, I even apply those lessons in real life.
This way, I stay connected with books—never bored, never distracted.
Final Thoughts
Reading isn’t just a hobby. It’s a transformative life habit.
It gives you clarity, purpose, calm, growth—and a sense of control in a chaotic world.
Start today. Start small. Stay consistent.
And soon, you’ll become the person you always wanted to be—just one book at a time.