The Best Method to Develop a Daily Reading Habit

Summary

In this video, Parker Settles introduces a simple yet effective method for developing a daily reading habit: the daily reading log. He explains the importance of setting daily reading goals and tracking progress, suggesting both top-down and bottom-up approaches to determine these goals. Parker shares his personal experience with the log, which involves noting down the book title, starting and ending page numbers, and tallying the daily total. He emphasizes the benefits of an analog log over digital tools like Goodreads, highlighting how it serves as a physical reminder and motivator for consistent reading.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the love for books and the struggle to manage the desire to read many books while juggling other life demands.
• 🎯 The importance of setting reading goals and tracking them daily is highlighted as a way to make progress in reading.
• 📈 Two approaches to setting daily reading goals are discussed: top-down (based on yearly goals) and bottom-up (based on daily capabilities).
• 🔄 The top-down approach involves calculating daily page goals from a yearly book target, either by planning each book or averaging book lengths.
• 🌱 The bottom-up approach is recommended as it starts with a manageable daily page goal and allows for growth and habit formation.
• 📈 The speaker shares a personal method for tracking reading progress using a physical notebook, which includes logging page numbers and circling daily totals.
• 📈 The method involves writing down the book title, starting and ending page numbers for each reading session, and tallying up the total pages read daily.
• 🔢 The speaker suggests multiplying the daily page goal by 365 to get a yearly goal and using this to estimate the number of books read in a year.
• 📆 The speaker has been using the same method for tracking reading since November 30th, 2015, indicating the effectiveness and consistency of the approach.
• 📘 The physical reading log serves as a tangible reminder and motivation to read, contrasting with digital methods like Goodreads which the speaker finds less effective personally.
• 💡 The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their own reading goals and methods, fostering a community of readers.

Q & A

What is the main problem the speaker has with reading?

The speaker has a problem with managing the large number of books they want to read, which compete for their attention alongside other tasks and distractions.

What is the primary tool recommended by Parker to develop a daily reading habit?

The primary tool recommended by Parker to develop a daily reading habit is a reading log or a daily page number log.

What are the two broad approaches to setting a daily reading goal mentioned in the script?

The two broad approaches to setting a daily reading goal are the top-down approach and the bottom-up approach.

How does the top-down approach work for setting a daily reading goal?

The top-down approach involves setting a yearly goal, such as reading 52 books, and then planning out the page numbers for each book to be read each week, dividing by seven to determine the daily page goal.

What is the bottom-up approach to setting a daily reading goal?

The bottom-up approach involves determining how many pages one can realistically read in a single day and then building up from there to set a daily page goal that is both achievable and challenging.

Why does the speaker prefer the bottom-up approach over the top-down approach?

The speaker prefers the bottom-up approach because it is easier, more flexible, and focuses on the habit of daily reading rather than an arbitrary yearly goal.

How does the speaker track their daily reading progress using the reading log?

The speaker tracks their daily reading progress by writing down the title of the book, the starting and ending page numbers for each reading session, calculating the total pages read, and circling the total for the day.

What is the significance of circling the total pages read for each day in the reading log?

Circling the total pages read for each day makes it easier to tally up the monthly page numbers by quickly identifying the daily totals without having to recalculate.

How does the speaker feel about using Goodreads to track reading progress?

The speaker does not prefer using Goodreads as they find it less effective for their personal tracking needs and prefer the physical act of writing in a reading log.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of reading goals and habits over specific yearly targets?

The speaker believes that developing a daily reading habit and embracing a lifestyle of continued learning is more important than achieving a specific yearly target like reading 52 books.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Developing a Daily Reading Habit

The speaker, Parker, introduces the concept of using a daily reading log to manage the desire to read numerous books while balancing other life demands. Parker, a philosopher, shares his personal journey from disliking reading to becoming an avid reader through the use of a daily page number log. He emphasizes the importance of setting and tracking reading goals daily, suggesting that this simple tool can be life-changing for some. The video aims to guide viewers on how to effectively use a daily reading log, which can be a basic yet powerful method for those looking to improve their reading habits.

05:01

📈 Setting and Tracking Reading Goals

Parker discusses two approaches to setting daily reading goals: top-down and bottom-up. The top-down approach involves planning to read a specific number of books within a year and calculating the daily page count needed to achieve this. The bottom-up approach is more flexible, starting with a manageable daily page goal and adjusting it over time to build a consistent reading habit. Parker prefers the bottom-up method as it encourages daily reading without being confined to arbitrary yearly goals. He also demonstrates how to use a physical notebook to log daily reading progress, including writing down book titles, starting and ending page numbers, and tallying up the total pages read each day.

10:03

📘 The Analog Reading Log vs. Digital Platforms

In the final paragraph, Parker addresses the question of using digital platforms like Goodreads for tracking reading progress versus his preferred analog method. He expresses a preference for the tangible experience of writing in a physical journal, which he finds more effective in reminding him of his reading goals and less distracting than digital alternatives. Parker also shares his method of recording reading data, which involves noting the date, book title, author, starting and ending pages, and the total pages read for each session. He highlights the simplicity and effectiveness of this method, which he has been using consistently since 2015, and invites viewers to share their own methods or thoughts on his approach.

Keywords

💡Reading Goals

Reading goals refer to the specific objectives one sets for their reading habits, such as the number of books or pages to read within a certain timeframe. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of setting reading goals to make progress on the numerous books one wishes to read and to manage the competing demands for attention. The speaker suggests using a top-down or bottom-up approach to determine a daily page number goal, which is a practical way to track and achieve these goals.

💡Daily Reading Habit

A daily reading habit is the practice of reading consistently each day, which is portrayed in the video as a key to becoming a dedicated reader. The video suggests that by setting and tracking daily reading goals, one can develop this habit, leading to a lifestyle of continuous learning and personal growth. The speaker shares their personal journey of transforming from disliking reading to embracing it as a daily habit.

💡Top-Down Approach

The top-down approach is a method of setting reading goals by starting with a large, overarching objective and breaking it down into smaller, manageable parts. In the context of the video, this could mean deciding to read a certain number of books in a year and then calculating the daily page count needed to achieve that. The speaker mentions this approach but finds it less flexible and more labor-intensive compared to the bottom-up method.

💡Bottom-Up Approach

The bottom-up approach is a strategy where one starts with smaller, immediate objectives and builds up to larger goals. In relation to the video's theme, this method involves determining a daily reading goal based on what feels achievable and challenging on a day-to-day basis, rather than setting an annual target. The speaker prefers this approach as it allows for flexibility and the gradual development of reading habits.

💡Reading Log

A reading log is a record-keeping tool used to track one's reading progress, which is central to the video's message. The speaker introduces the reading log as a simple yet effective tool for setting and monitoring daily reading goals. It involves noting down the titles of the books read, the starting and ending page numbers, and the total pages read each day. This method helps in maintaining focus and accountability in one's reading journey.

💡Page Number Log

A page number log is a specific type of reading log where the focus is on tracking the number of pages read each day. This concept is integral to the video as the speaker uses it to demonstrate how to set and achieve daily reading goals. By logging the number of pages read, one can tangibly measure their progress and stay motivated to meet their reading objectives.

💡Progressive Overload

Progressive overload is a principle from exercise and training that involves gradually increasing the stress placed upon the body to stimulate improvement. In the video, the speaker likens this concept to reading, suggesting that one should challenge themselves by increasing their daily reading goal over time, akin to lifting heavier weights in a fitness regimen. This approach helps in expanding one's 'reading muscles' and enhancing their reading capacity.

💡Goodreads

Goodreads is a social networking site for book lovers that allows users to track their reading, rate books, and connect with others who share similar reading interests. The speaker in the video mentions Goodreads but expresses a preference for a physical reading log over digital tracking tools. They appreciate the tangible reminder and focus that a physical log provides, which aligns with their goal of developing a daily reading habit.

💡Analog Model

An analog model refers to a non-digital, physical system or method. In the video, the speaker advocates for an analog model of tracking reading progress through a physical reading log. They argue that this method provides a more focused and less distracting approach compared to digital alternatives like Goodreads, which might entice users with additional features and notifications.

💡Community Aspect

The community aspect refers to the social element of sharing and discussing one's reading experiences with others. While the speaker in the video does not emphasize this aspect as much as personal tracking, they acknowledge the value of community engagement for some readers, particularly through platforms like Goodreads. This aspect highlights the social motivation that can complement individual reading goals.

Highlights

The speaker emphasizes the struggle of managing the desire to read many books while also dealing with other attention-grabbing tasks.

A reading log or daily page number log is introduced as a tool to develop a daily reading habit.

The importance of setting and tracking reading goals daily is discussed.

Two approaches to setting daily reading goals are presented: top-down and bottom-up.

The top-down approach involves planning out books to read for the year and calculating daily page goals accordingly.

An alternative top-down method is to calculate an average pages per day based on an annual book goal.

The bottom-up approach focuses on setting a daily page goal based on what feels achievable and challenging.

The speaker shares a preference for the bottom-up method due to its simplicity and adaptability.

The process of calculating yearly goals from daily page numbers is explained.

A physical notebook is recommended for logging daily reading to avoid digital distractions.

The speaker demonstrates how to use a reading log, including writing down book titles, page numbers, and totaling pages read daily.

The benefits of circling and highlighting daily and monthly totals for easy tracking are discussed.

The speaker shares personal experiences and the effectiveness of using a reading log since 2015.

The option to use Goodreads is acknowledged, but the speaker prefers a physical log for its focus and tangibility.

A test case is presented to illustrate how to log reading sessions in a physical notebook.

The speaker concludes by summarizing the simplicity and effectiveness of using a daily reading log for goal setting and tracking.

Transcripts

I love books I really really love books

but I've got a problem there are so many

books that I want to read just vying for

my attention and there are so many other

things that deserve my attention

not to mention those things that don't

deserve my attention but steal it

anyways

so I've learned that if I want to be a

reader and I want to make progress on

all these different books I need to set

reading goals and I need to track those

goals every single day

welcome to park notes I'm Parker

settekase I'm a philosopher here to help

you study and think more deeply in this

video I'm going to introduce you to the

very best tool for developing a daily

reading Habit to some of you it's going

to be very basic and obvious to others

it may be life-changing like it was for

me the tool is very simple it's just a

reading log or a daily page number log

but there's a couple things you need to

know in order to use this properly so

make sure you watch to the end so you

can become an expert in using a daily

reading log let's Jump Right In so today

there are a lot of different methods and

tips and tricks for reading more but I

found the daily reading log to be the

best I used to hate reading I used to

fall asleep on my homework assignments

I'd wake up drooling in my books until I

discovered the daily reading log or the

daily page number log I didn't find this

on YouTube or read it in any book I just

kind of did it myself and then came to

find out this is a common thing that

people use for studying this tool is

universal if you're good at reading you

can use this if you're bad at reading

you can also use this it's just a way

for you to set a reading goal and then

track kit every single day so before we

go into the details on the reading log

as a tool we need to come up with our

daily reading goal there are two broad

approaches to coming up with your daily

reading goal a top-down approach and a

bottom-up approach I used to use this

top-down approach and I actually don't

like it but let me give you two ways you

can use a top-down approach for coming

up with your daily page number goal

maybe you say hey I want to read 52

books this year that's one book a week

so you go and you plan out every single

book that you're going to read for every

single week if you look up the page

numbers for each individual book that

you're going to read and you divide that

by seven so that you can stay on track

every day to finish reading that book in

that week now that's a lot of work and

you have to have a lot of foresight to

say I'm going to read this book I'm

going to want to read this book in three

months when it comes to that I have a

harder time my interests wax and Wayne

I'm not sure that I like that method

that much but the second top-down method

would be to say I want to average 52

books a year and so I can look up the

average number of pages in the average

book I can multiply that by 52 one for

each week and then I can divide that

number by 365 to come up with the

average amount of pages I should read

every single day now that's a decent

method I've used this as well I like

this one better than actually mapping

out every individual book that I want to

read for a year but at the end of the

day the goal of reading 52 books in a

year is a little bit arbitrary one a

week I guess that's kind of cool but

what happens the next year are you going

to do that every single year what

matters more than accomplishing the

certain task of reading 52 books in a

year is that you become a reader that

you read every day that you Embrace this

lifestyle of continued learning so I

actually like a bottom-up approach this

one's much easier you say how many pages

do I think that I can read in a single

day if you read one page a day you're

going to read 365 pages in a year that's

at least one book now double that now

you have two books now triple that

quadruple that keep going on and on and

you can average out hey I will probably

get this many books a year but that's

actually not as important as you

continually reading every single day if

you develop a daily habit of reading the

book pile will grow you'll look back and

say wow I can't believe how many books I

actually read this year so don't limit

yourself maybe you'll read way more than

52 books if you read 75 Pages a day but

depending on the genre that you read

you'll be able to read more or less

books that doesn't matter as much set a

daily page number goal that is

reasonable for you to achieve but is

also going to challenge you it's just

like lifting weights Progressive

overload you can read more and more as

you continue to read as you continue to

stretch your reading muscles and expand

your mind so you can come up with your

daily page number goal by using one of

the two top-down methods if you have a

different method that's top down let me

know I'd love to hear it leave me a

comment but I like the bottom-up method

it's reasonable for me but it's still

going to be a challenge it's still going

to stretch me and make me grow you can

change your daily goal if it's too easy

if it's too hard but come up with a

daily goal then multiply that daily goal

by 365 and that will be your yearly goal

you can divide that yearly goal number

by 300 which is like the average book

and you can get a rough estimate for how

many books you will read in a given year

so let's say you either use a top down

or bottom up approach to coming up with

a daily page number goal now you're

going to write that goal in the front of

your reading log I like to use a

physical notebook this is where I'm

going to capture and log all the pages

that I actually read for a given day so

let me show you how I use my daily

reading log so my method for tracking

daily page number goals has been the

same since November 30th 2015. I know

that because I keep Good Records here

it's pretty simple it's pretty basic and

anyone can do it with any kind of

Journal I like these lined ones you can

go Square you can go dotted whatever but

I like the line ones I like just writing

this is history of Western philosophy

and theology I abbreviate it because I'm

not writing out that whole thing so I

write down the book I write down the

page numbers I started at and where I

finished then I will block out the

number of pages I'll do that for each

book I read that day some of you may

just be reading one book that's fine I

like to read multiple books at once I

will add those up and then I'll Circle

the total for the day to see a lot of

circles on here

circling the total for the day allows me

to go back when I'm tallying up my

monthly page numbers

to just look at one number per day

and then I can add them all up at the

end of the month and I'll highlight that

number so that when I'm looking back in

December I only need to find 12 numbers

to add up

so for instance here's 2017

there's the total for December then I

added up all the page numbers from each

month and I got 13

739 Pages for 2017.

can't remember if that's my goal or not

but I do have the goal in here somewhere

so here's my first one going all the way

back to 2015. here's my second one

same method you can see all the way

through there's 2018 2019 same exact

method I would love doing this it's

really helpful for me

so again it's super simple you just

write down the title of the book you

write down the page you started at and

when you're done with that session you

write down the page you ended at maybe

you get back into that book twice that

day just start another entry and then

block off the number of pages you got to

add them all up at the end of the day

and circle that

then when you're done with the months

tally them all up and circle that I like

to highlight it so that when I'm looking

back for my yearly goals

all I need to look for is 12 numbers

here's the current one I'm working with

I have a Saddleback leather

surprise surprise this is a really old

version of the mole skin cover

I have a hardback

moleskin medium moleskin

in my Saddleback reading log

floss Raptor of course

let me see Philosoraptor other places

so I have my Frost Raptor sticker that

reminds me to be a good Velociraptor but

same message here going all the way to

2020 and all the way to the present I

love doing it this way if you guys have

a better one again let me know in the

comments I want to hear from you but

I've used this

to help me keep on track with my own

goals to help me become a reader to

become someone who just reads this is

part of my life I have goals I have ways

of capturing those goals and I have

reminders outside in the world not in

the digital world that remind me oh yeah

I need to be reading oh yeah I have

daily goals to be hitting oh yeah I need

to mark down those goals so let's run a

test case here or use this one since I

have some space at the end that's empty

so let's say that I'm reading Dune again

I'm going to start by writing the date

and then the title of the book

if it's a new book then I'll write the

author's name too just so I know

so there's Dune that's by Herbert I

should know what that is later on I

might just put Dune

I'm gonna just put Dune because I don't

need to keep writing Hardware I'll be

able to see from Context what book it is

and let's say that we started that page

335. I'm gonna start by running just

page

3 35 and I'll put a dash so I know that

I'm starting there I'm going through and

that's an uncompleted loop I need to

come back to that I need to enter in

that data for when I'm done reading

let's say that I was a beast and I got

to like 389.

boom so that's still not complete I need

to

do the math and figure out what's the

number there

shoot now I gotta figure out the math I

think that's 54 pages

then I'm going to bracket that out so

that's the completed for this book

during this session if I went back and

read again later in the day maybe I'll

do

just the same

so I don't need to write it down again

and this time I went from page 389 to

399 so the math is easier now it's 10

pages

boom let's see I then went and read

Pascal's Pont says and let's say that we

started at page

10 and went through 25 there's 15

pages

sometimes I'll write pages I think I

like writing Pages better than just the

number that's to each his own then we

just total these up there's 64 74 79.

this is a good day

now when I'm going back through all I

need to look for is the 79 pages

and it's simple as that so naturally

being a book guy people always ask me

what about Goodreads what about

Goodreads I don't really like Goodreads

all that much

I'm not good at it I'm not good at like

keeping track and finding all the books

it's just so much easier for me to write

it down I know some people love

Goodreads they swear by it they want to

see other people that's cool if you guys

like Goodreads then go ahead and do

Goodreads I like having the physical

copy I really really like seeing it I

like it not being in my smartphone where

there's all these other icons and stuff

we're just supposed to draw my attention

away from what I want to be doing so for

me having it in the digital space is not

great but I have this I can put it in my

nightstand I can put it on my desk on my

table where I see oh yeah I'm supposed

to be reading oh yeah I have daily goals

oh yeah I need to close the loop on that

and write down how many goals I got last

night or yesterday I just I forgot so

here it is it's a good reminder and when

I look at this I'm reminded of books I'm

reminded of my reading goals I'm not

reminded to check Facebook to check

Instagram I'm not reminded of all my

emails so I may get better at doing good

reads just for the community aspect but

for now I really really like an analog

model I'm showing myself that I take it

really really seriously so seriously

that I have its own book I like to wrap

it in leather a lot of people aren't

going to go for that that's fine you

don't have to I'm not trying to Hawk

Saddleback

though if you guys want to partner up

hit me up because I will promote your

stuff

anyways that's neither here nor there I

am not a huge Goodreads guy sorry okay

so let's sum it all back up if you want

to become a reader and develop a daily

habit of reading then you should use a

daily reading log in order to use this

properly you need to come up with a goal

you can do this top down by saying I

want to read X number of books in a

given year and then dividing that down

or you can build it bottom up building

up to your year goal I know it seems

pretty simple that's because it is and I

think that's the beauty of this method

if you guys like this video make sure to

leave me a like and drop a comment I

want to hear from you guys have you used

this method before do you think you'll

start using this method or do you have a

better method for capturing your daily

page number goals if you currently have

a daily page number goal what is it I

want to hear from you guys how many

pages are you reading every day or at

least trying to read every day make sure

you subscribe so you don't miss any

future videos on study habits I'll see

you guys next time