- Choose interesting books to read. Start with thrillers, murder mysteries – basically page-turners that will keep you hooked. – Amrita Mukerji, Chief Copy Editor
- Go easy on yourself: read slowly, read a comic book, read a graphic novel, read a book of poems, read a picture book, read a book where nothing happens, read a book which promises to explain everything. Read Kari by Amruta Patil, flip through Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver, savour This is a Poem That Heals Fish by Jean-Pierre Simeón. – Sohini Basak, Assistant Editor
- Books don’t need much effort to pick up, and the best part is that reading is a hobby you can afford. Read a book to someone! Make enough noise when you are reading! Let the characters come alive – this is especially true with siblings … One feels the excitement when the other is reading and latches on to the book! In this case, the younger sibling has no intentions of letting go of the book in question! – Bidisha Srivastava, Associate Editor
- Reading graphic novels can be a good start. It will help you learn new vocabulary, which will make reading books and articles easier and more enjoyable. It’s important, however, that you challenge yourself, even mildly, with each new book. – Joseph Antony, Copy Editor
- I think one of the ways to do it, especially given the world we live in today, is look at books the way we look at our devices – that like our cell phones and iPads and whatnot, books are an option too. Bored in a waiting room? Read a book. Long metro ride? Read a book. Lying in bed and can’t sleep? Read a book. Much better on the eyes and you don’t need a charger. – Swati Daftuar, Commissioning Editor
- The best way to cultivate a reading habit is to set daily goals for yourself. Allocate a fixed time for reading – half an hour before sleeping, maybe? – and stick to it. If you need suggestions on what to read, join an online book club. It’s a great way to discover new authors and titles. – Sonal Nerurkar, Senior Commissioning Editor
- Step 1: program your mind that reading is the best thing to do before sleep (How? Read the Power of Your Subconscious mind by Joseph Murphy)
Step 2: Reserve at least 30 minutes for reading at bedtime. The time will gradually increase as your habit picks up.
Step 3: Throw your TV out of the bedroom
Step 4: Buy a kindle device (Who keeps reading lights in bedroom these days!)
Step 5: Load your favourite books on the device
Step 6: Always Keep your device charged
Step 7: Never forget any of the steps
– Sachin Sharma, Senior Commissioning Editor
- Pick something light and breezy like a romance or a thriller to start with. Even comic books and graphic novels will do. And remember to be patient and stick it out through the first half of the book till it picks up pace. Don’t give up just because you think you’re getting bored reading the first twenty or thirty pages. – Rea Mukherjee, Assistant Editor-Literary
- Switch to a format that works for you. Over the past year my reading had gone down drastically as my new-born occupied all my waking hours outside of work. The only time I got to read was once she was asleep at night, but I couldn’t dare switch on the light then: the risk of having a bawling baby on my hands was just not worth it. I had been averse to e-books for a long time, but recently I switched to reading on the Kindle app on my phone at night and my reading has gone up again. So, my tip is try new formats — e-books, p-books, audio books — whatever works to help you read more. – Siddhesh Inamdar, Commissioning Editor
- Try starting with slim novels – the sooner you begin finishing books, the more frequently you experience the sense accomplishment that comes with it. Your favourite candy bars work the same way: if you feel rewarded, you’re more likely to indulge again. – Prerna Gill, Assistant Editor
- Very simply: by picking up a book and starting to read it. Word by word, page by page – and this is important – finishing it. The going on to another. And another. I.e. the way you’d develop any other habit – by starting it and keeping at it. – Rahul Soni, Senior Commissioning Editor
12. Start with books you think you will like, not what you think might look cool on your bookshelf. You can always transition and explore genres once you start seeing reading as a viable, enjoyable pastime. – Prema Govindan, Commissioning Editor