How to Keep Reading Momentum Without Abandoning Books Altogether

A simple technique to help reignite your love for reading.

You ever pick up book, hoping to power through it, but instead, got distracted or disinterested?

And it can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you have a pile of books waiting on the shelf, calling your name every time you walked by.

But what if I told you there’s ways to keep your reading momentum without abandoning books altogether. Would you be interested?

The following is a simple technique that I’ve recently discovered that might be just what you need to reignite your love for reading.

So, if you’re ready, let’s begin.

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Why We Sometimes Hit a Wall with Our Reading Habits and What You Can Do About It.

Let’s first acknowledge why we sometimes hit a wall with our reading habits.

So basically, there are several reasons why we may stop reading altogether:

• Some books are denser and thicker. Which means they may require more cognitive efforts to understand.
• While other books might be a bit dry, or less engaging than we hoped.

Giving these two hurdles alone, can often make reading feel like a chore, rather than the joyful, exciting activity that it supposed to be. And when we encounter these challenges, our motivation can take a hit, dragging us into a reading slump.

But fortunately for us, there’s a way out.

“Some books leave us free,” says Emerson “and some books make us free.”

A Super Effective Way to Not Abandon Books Altogether.

To not abandon books altogether will require applying a concept called mix practice, or interleaving books.

It’s a technique for deeper learning that involves studying topics within the same subject by mixing them up, switching between multiple subjects from 3 to 5 different books at the same time.

By doing it this way, you’ll be able to keep things fresh and exciting.

So, let’s explore how this works, shall we?

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How to Practice interleaving books for deeper learning.

Here’s how it works: Instead of committing to one book at a time, you read several books in your order of preference, switching between them based on your mood, interest, or level of engagement.

Think of it as a buffet of books where you get to sample one dish, then move on to the next plate. The goals, however, is not to multitask, but rather to maximize your engagements and motivation.

It’s a technique (if done well) can keep your reading experience fresh and engaging, with the possibilities of approaching each book with renewed interest.

“A great book,” says the American novelist and essayist, William Styron, “should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”

The Benefits of Interleaving Books

Some of the benefits of Interleaving books includes:

• Motivation. By allowing yourself the flexibility to switch books, you can avoid the motivation slump that often come with single challenging book.

For instance, if one book feels tedious, you can pivot to another book that might re-ignite your enthusiasm! Isn’t that great?

• Another benefit is broader learning. Broader learning can expose you to diverse ideas and perspectives in a shorter span of time. Helping you make connections with a diverse range of ideas.
• Another one is better retention. Interestingly, switching contexts can actually improve memory retention when engaging with different topics. And so, your brain works harder to connect the dots, which can lead to deeper understanding and recall.

Last but not least, it enhances your enjoyment of reading. Ultimately, this mix practice should enhance your enjoyment of reading because it removes the pressure to finish a book that may not resonates with you at the moment. Doing so, will leave you room to focus on the ones that are more exciting and engaging.

How to Not Abandon Books Altogether When You Feel Stuck

“Books and doors are the same thing. You open them, and you go through into another world.” – Jeanette Winterson

To not abandon books altogether, simply follow this method:

First, start with a selection of three and no more than five books.

Go for a variety of different genre, subjects, and even writing styles, to keep things fresh and interesting.

You might choose a mix of biographies, fiction, non-fiction, the classics, poems, etc. It’s up to you.

As for me, for the most part, I tend to gravitate towards non-fiction Categories, with a mix of different format. By that I mean, I could be reading a physical book while also listening to the same content via audio. Or switching between digital and physical books.

In other words, you don’t have to stick to one form of learning, you can switch as needed if you feel your curiosity pulling you towards other books or format. In short, the experience should feel enjoyable and engaging. If it’s not, then you’re doing it wrong.

Conclusion

If you find a particular book is not capturing your interest after several tries, it’s okay to set it aside permanently. No one says you must force your way through a boring, painful book.

Life’s too short. Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore. The goal is to enjoy reading.

Don’t be afraid to combine physical books, with eBooks, audiobooks, and visual courses. Doing so will add an extra layer of flexibility into your schedule and can fit different parts of your day. For instance, you can listen to an audiobook during your commute. Or reading a paperback in the evening.

Pay attention to how you’re feeling.

If you’re tired, a light novel might be just what you need.

As you can see, interleaving books can be a powerful way to maintain your reading momentum and explore a wider range of ideas, allowing you to navigate the vast world of books with enthusiasm and joy.

So, why not give it a try. Pick a few books, mix things up a little, and transforms your reading experience. American writer, Susan Sontag put it, “Read a lot. Expect something big, something exalting or deepening from a book. No book is worth reading that isn’t worth re-reading.”

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Thank you for reading.