Thread by @hamnazubair

For various reasons -like burnout and bad social media hygiene- in 2019 I found it hard to read a book for longer than 15 mins at a time, a departure from my normal life. V upsetting.

I'm happy to say I've fully recovered and can read for hours again.

Some tips on how to do it:

1. Stop using your phone for at least an hour before you sleep. Physically distance yourself from the phone by placing it out of reach/ in another room. This hour will be your uninterrupted reading time.

2. Make a reading list and populate it with books you'll genuinely enjoy / are curious about.

Work your way down the list.

If you struggle with 'making time to read' it'll help to frame reading a book as a goal.

3. Read mindfully. I've always read with a pencil in hand. Yes, I mark up my books and make notes in the margins. It helps keep me engaged with what I'm reading.

It will probably help you too.

4. Resist the urge to document your reading on Instagram. It's not about that.

Instead, keep a journal by your bedside.

If you feel an urge to 'post' a compelling line, write it in the journal instead.

5. You are only allowed to 'post' your book on Instagram after you have finished the book.

6. If you struggle with concentration begin reading with a very specific aim: I will read 5 pages.

Finish those 5 pages even if your phone is beeping irresistibly. Non-negotiable.

7. Don't look at your phone for at least 30 minutes after you wake up, preferably an hour. Don't use your phone as an alarm clock.

Buy a real-ass alarm clock, they still exist.

8. Read the paper or some other writing in physical form while you sip your morning coffee and tea. Don't scroll through your phone.

The above advice will probably only help you if you're naturally drawn to reading or if you already view reading as a worthy goal.

If you want me to convince you that reading matters, well that's a whole other thread, maybe later.