How I Rediscovered My Passion for Reading Books
I discovered my passion for reading books when I was about 12 years old, and I’ve been devouring everything I could lay my hands on. I was never a fast reader, but I still managed to finish between 20 to 30 books a year. Then, something happened, and my reading almost came to a halt.
Based on my Goodreads yearly reading challenge records, I averaged about 30 books per year until 2018, when I read only 13. The next year, the number dwindled to 11 books. Then, for the next few years, it was just 5 books annually, until I returned to 11 books in 2022. I’m optimistic that 2023 will end with 14 or 15 books completed.
Between 2018 and 2022, a lot happened, which caused a lack of dedication to reading. Despite having enough time, I chose not to read. Previously, I was mostly into fiction, but suddenly, nothing seemed to pique my interest. If it did, I couldn’t bring myself to finish the book.
It was depressing to witness one of my main passions fading away.
Until I found a method that worked for me.
First, I identified a time in the day when I could be off the grid and unavailable. It was also important that I was rested and alert during this period so that I could focus on what I was reading. For me, it was early mornings, like 5 AM. It also helped that becoming a morning person was a goal of mine, which isn’t easy, but the key is to find something that excites you to wake up. It could be a beloved routine, a course you’re eager to complete, reading, or a combination of these.
So, there I had it: a quiet, undisturbed time during the most peaceful part of the day for reading, while I had my morning cup of coffee. In full silence.
The next challenge was tougher: actually starting to read instead of mindlessly browsing through apps on my phone. I needed to rediscover my taste for reading. For some reason, fiction wasn’t appealing anymore; it felt like a waste of time. Now older, I craved actionable hobbies or insights. So, I chose a work-related book. This expanded into professional books, followed by self-development ones, and the momentum built from there. A crucial moment was giving myself permission not to finish a book if it no longer interested me. This was liberating. For most of my life, I read physical books. I felt obligated to own the book, finish it, and display it as a trophy on my bookshelf, as if this was a symbol of my intelligence. But now, I forced myself to read exclusively on my Kindle, and this shifted my view of books from trophies to experiences, as I no longer owned them but merely rented them.
Day by day, the habit of reading for 1–2 hours kicked in, and now I feel disappointed if a day goes by without my morning reading session. I’ve also reintroduced fiction between non-fiction books, giving me time to process professional insights and clear my mind before the next non-fiction book.
It may not seem significant, and it may not apply to everyone, but I decided to write this introspective article after a chat with a friend in a similar situation. They were just beginning to rediscover their love for reading. If you’re struggling with this, know that you can overcome it, and perhaps some of these ideas will work for you too.