“If I start reading a book I feel sleepy. How can I build a reading habit,” my friend wondered aloud as he looked at the books on my desk. This was four months back.
“You need to try the Ten at Ten Method. Every night at 10pm put a countdown timer and read for ten minutes. You have to wait for 24 hours before you get your ten minute reading time.”
When I met him last week, he told me, “I have been cheating. I read for almost 30 minutes every night before I go to bed. The Ten@Ten method works, I said.
What “Ten at Ten” means
Think about it: 10 minutes a day adds up! That’s over 60 hours of reading a year. That could be 15-20 books! Isn’t that amazing?
Bill Gates, reads 50 books a year! Suddenly that does not sound as unachievable any more. Oprah, credits books with shaping her incredible journey. Elon Musk read several books about building rockets as he prepared to start SpaceX. These aren’t just random facts – they’re examples of how reading can empower you.
Making it a Fun Ritual
The key to Ten at Ten is to make it a fun ritual, not a chore. It’s your moment to unwind and feed your mind. Before you drift off to sleep, you’re soaking up new knowledge, sparking your imagination, and building your empathy muscles. It’s a gentle way to transition from the day’s hustle to the quiet of night.
Here are a few tips that will help
- Pick a book that looks interesting: It doesn’t matter if it’s a paperback or an ebook – the format is irrelevant. Choose a book you’ve always been curious about. Maybe it’s a recommendation from a friend, a title you saw in a bookstore, or a subject that intrigues you. If you have a hobby try reading a book about that.
- Don’t Suffer Through a Book: If you’re ten minutes in and you’re just not enjoying the book, don’t force yourself to continue. Life is too short to read books you don’t like. Switch to another book or even a magazine. The goal is to associate reading with pleasure, not drudgery. Keep a list of potential reads so you have options ready.
- Know the Author: Often, watching the author talk about their book or listening to a reader review can ignite your own interest. It’s like a preview of the adventure that awaits you. A little bit of anticipation can make all the difference. YouTube is a treasure trove of author interviews and book discussions.
- Track Your Progress: Keep a simple reading journal. Jot down any interesting quotes or ideas you want to remember. This will motivate you to keep going.
- Celebrate your reading: It is a milestone. Celebrate that date every month to remind you about your success. You deserve to celebrate this habit.
I taught my friend’s cat how to read. Really… read about that adventure <click here>
