Cultivating a Lasting Reading Habit

Aug 22, 2024

Building a Reading Habit

Introduction

  • Desire to read more despite distractions (e.g., Netflix)
  • Presentation focus: How to build a reading habit that sticks
  • Exploration of brain activity related to reading
  • Three personal strategies to encourage reading

Neurology of Reading

  • Brain Processing Steps:

    • Visual recognition of patterns and shapes (page)
    • Images sent to the back of the brain for processing
    • Information travels to the temporal lobe (specifically the letterbox) to recognize letters and words
    • Next, the information moves to the frontal lobe and other areas for meaning and pronunciation
    • In experienced readers, this process takes less than half a second
  • Benefits of Reading:

    • 30 pages per night linked to increased left temporal lobe activity
    • Associated with lower risks of dementia
    • Linked to emotional regulation, reducing stress and anxiety
    • Enhances verbal recall (short-term benefits)

Strategies to Build a Reading Habit

  1. Start Small:

    • Reading The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday on Kindle in the morning
    • Just two pages, taking less than five minutes
    • Aims to create momentum for more reading later in the day
  2. Use Technology for Retention:

    • Highlight meaningful parts in Kindle e-books
    • Utilize Readwise to send daily email reminders of highlights
    • Creates a cycle of reading, highlighting, and recalling important principles
    • Note on Kindle: Visual books lose some experience, recommend physical copies for such content
  3. Set Reading Times:

    • Read every night before bed, even if just a few pages
    • Acknowledges difficulty in consistency when tired
    • Generally successful in maintaining a nightly routine

Accountability

  • Plans to create monthly book reviews on the channel
  • Encouragement for followers to remind him if he fails to post reviews

Conclusion

  • Encourages viewers to subscribe for updates on his journey as a doctor and content creator.