How To FINISH Every Book You Start - My Daily Reading Routine

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their personal reading routine and the challenges they've faced with burnout and inconsistency. They emphasize that reading strategies should be individualized and discuss their approach of setting manageable, daily reading goals. They explain how reading difficult material in the morning and something lighter at night has helped them stay consistent. The video also touches on the importance of following curiosity, defining personal motivations for reading, and being patient with progress. The speaker highlights consistency and repetition as the key to developing a sustainable reading habit.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video presents a personal reading program, emphasizing that it's for entertainment and reference only, not a one-size-fits-all solution.
• ⚠️ The creator warns against following advice blindly and highlights the importance of finding a reading strategy that works for individual goals and interests.
• 🔥 The speaker shares past burnout from reading in short, intense bursts, which led to starting many books but not finishing them.
• ⏳ Consistency is key: Instead of reading in frenzies, the speaker suggests reading a small, manageable amount (like 15–20 pages daily) to maintain the habit.
• ☕ The morning routine involves 15 minutes of concentrated reading of difficult texts, like the Iliad, which helps maintain focus and achieve long-term reading goals.
• 🧠 Habit stacking: The speaker pairs reading with existing routines, such as reading a lighter book after tracking finances in the evening, to make habits easier to maintain.
• 🎧 Audiobooks are another tool for consuming information, especially during activities like working out or commuting, but the speaker feels they don't work well for dense or complex material.
• 💡 The importance of defining 'why' you want to read: The speaker encourages viewers to clarify their personal motivations and goals for reading.
• ⏱️ Focus on time rather than page counts: Set manageable goals and prioritize consistency over quantity to avoid burnout.
• 🧐 Follow curiosity: The speaker advises choosing reading materials that genuinely interest you, rather than what seems glamorous or popular.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video discusses the creator's personal daily reading program, focusing on how to develop consistent reading habits and avoid burnout.

What reading issue did the creator face before developing a structured program?

The creator experienced burnout from reading books in intense, intellectual frenzies, leading to long breaks where they wouldn’t pick up another book for months.

What approach does the creator suggest for building a consistent reading habit?

The creator suggests breaking reading into small, manageable chunks (like 15 minutes a day), and focusing on consistency over time instead of trying to read a large number of pages in one go.

Why does the creator caution against following other people's reading advice blindly?

Because everyone has different reading goals and purposes. The creator emphasizes that there's no one-size-fits-all solution for reading strategies, and each person should find what works best for them.

What specific books or reading does the creator mention in their daily routine?

The creator mentions reading canonical texts like Homer’s *Iliad* in the morning and lighter books like Helen de Cruz’s *W Struck* at night for relaxation.

What is habit stacking, and how does the creator use it in their routine?

Habit stacking involves pairing a new habit with an existing one to make it easier to maintain. The creator stacks their nighttime reading habit on top of tracking their finances, helping to reinforce both activities.

Why does the creator prioritize setting a time goal over a page count goal?

The creator finds that focusing on time (e.g., reading for 15 minutes) rather than page counts makes the task more manageable and helps build consistency without feeling overwhelmed by the need to hit arbitrary page numbers.

How does the creator’s background in English literature influence their approach to reading?

The creator feels that their English degree was only the starting point of their reading journey. Despite completing the degree, they recognize the vast amount of literature they still want to explore, especially older texts.

What advice does the creator give for avoiding burnout while reading?

The creator advises purposefully underperforming by setting smaller, achievable reading goals. This ensures that the reading habit is sustainable in the long term rather than overwhelming oneself with high expectations.

How does the creator incorporate audiobooks into their reading routine?

The creator listens to audiobooks while at the gym, walking, or commuting. They note that audiobooks are only suitable for certain types of books, as dense information can be hard to retain in audio format.