My decision to start the read a book a week challenge has been one of the most transformative decisions that I’ve made in my life. Books have given me the space to think outside my comfort zone. Books have given me meaning and the ability to develop my skillset. Books have given me the conviction to start a new business. Books gave me the inspiration to travel. Books have given me the confidence to evaluate my beliefs and how I see the world.
Some of the most influential people have said that reading is the key to expanding your knowledge, but as an average person, who has to juggle the daily commute, fatherhood and a new business, how many books can we conceivably read?
One of my 2019 New Year’s resolutions was to read 52 books this year. To set myself a book a week challenge, to keep myself on the path of discovery and development. Over the past the few years, I’ve stacked books on top of books (both virtually and physically!), based on recommendations I’ve received from friends, together with my own personal discoveries. And being honest, have not always had (or made!) the time to read them.
What if I told you that it is possible to read 52 books a year – I know we’re only halfway in, but I am on track to meet this goal – and in doing so, will help you on the path to reaching your life goals?
Firstly, do understand your reading goals
Before you start the read a book a week challenge, do define what you’re looking to achieve by increasing the volume of books you read. Start by picking 3-5 areas of your life that you most want to improve through developing your knowledge. Are you focused on developing your digital marketing skillset, or looking to develop your business acumen for your side hustle? Or do you simply want to understand what the hell Brexit is really all about? This year, to find more balance, I broadened my reading list further to touch on wellness, but my overall focus has been on leadership, entrepreneurship, innovative thinking and biographies too.
One book at a time (though do plan ahead)
What’s interesting is that three months into the read a book a week challenge, I thought about the overall goal less and truly enjoyed the process of consuming each word and taking time to review each book. What’s worked for me personally is to plan a theme per month, and find four to five books within a subject area so that I can review different approaches, summarise it and work out how to utilise the knowledge gained. Then I plan the next month’s, so I’m never short or scrambling to find the next good read.
Let’s also break the target into a realistic goal
An average non-fiction book is about 300 pages long. Being pragmatic, if I calculate that I’m only able to read 5 days a week, I know that I need to read 60 pages a day. This is now a much more manageable task, and automatically less overwhelming and easier to achieve.
Next, measure how fast you read
First of all, pick a book that you’ve already read, read 60 pages and see how much time it takes you to complete without distractions. You can also look at old school online tools like Reading Soft to test your words per minute if you really want to go down into the detail. Once completed, you know now how much time you need to put aside each day to hit your daily target.
Track where your time is being diverted
If you’re finding it hard to fit in the time to read, it’s really easy to track where your time is getting redirected. We’re all wedded to our phones, so for a first step, take a look at your phone analytics. Open Screen Time within your settings. How longs were you distracted down the Facebook rabbit ole last week? 20 minutes, 2 hours? And how much time have you spent on YouTube or News apps today? That unfocused time can be redirected into a more productive stint of reading. Or you can kill two birds with one stone with the Shulph app, by reading your latest non-fiction title and tracking your daily and weekly reading time.
6 months in, what I’ve learnt…
Taking the time to strategise my reading by taking on the read a book a week challenge has actually been an enjoyable project to undertake. I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge, developed my critical and analytical thinking as well as essentially improving my skillset. This self-awareness has translated both personally and professionally and has made me better equipped to tackle the daily challenges when starting a new business too. I’ve also noticed that the 45 minutes I spend reading a day has also improved my focus and concentration – as it’s a moment where I’m not multitasking – and finding that tiny bit of calm in a busy life is like gold dust.
About Shulph
At Shulph, we believe that your reading experience should fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, whether you’re on the move or curled up on the sofa at home. We’re here to ensure you never have to choose between the print and digital copy of the book ever again. To buy your book once and receive both print and digital copies at the same time.
Our bookstore has the world’s best non-fiction titles for your personal and professional development. From leadership to psychology, innovation and politics, we’ve handpicked our favourites to help you get ahead.
Jump into any of theses titles today, and elevate yourself, your colleagues and employees. Happy reading.
Emmanuel
Founder & MD of Shulph