READING

Reading is more than just a pastime for bookworms. In fact, even those who claim to hate reading are actually doing it every day. A work email, text message, street sign, or even a status on Facebook all require you to read. Having many forms of text also means that there are many reasons to read. Written language originated to expand communication. Think of all the written messages you receive on any given day. Emails, text messages, and social media posts are just a few examples. In addition to communication, many people read to learn information or facts, to be entertained, or to understand other cultures or groups.

One advantage of reading is to gain a more thorough understanding of the characters or the story. If you are reading for entertainment, you want to fully comprehend the action of the story and the characters. 

Another advantage has to do with reading comprehension, which encompasses the skills needed to understand the meaning of a text. Reading is pointless unless you gain some understanding of the text. Be it for entertainment, learning, or communication, you need to be able to comprehend what you read. The more you read, the more your reading comprehension will improve.

It is undeniable that reading is the most effective way to get new vocabulary. When you read, you see words being used in context - and that is what makes it much more effective than, for example, merely memorizing word lists. With context information surrounding each new word, there is a good chance you can guess its meaning just by understanding the overall text. Finding out the meaning of words in such a way is the natural way of learning language - and reading provides the best opportunity to get exposed to this natural way of learning.

If you are not able to infer the meaning of new words when reading, it is probably because there are too many unknown words in the text. In that case, try reading easier materials. The key to good reading is making it a pleasurable activity. Do not be afraid of coming across unknown words, but make sure the text is appropriate for your reading level.

We are taught from a very young age that reading as much as possible is the pathway to success and fulfillment. Picture the smartest, hardest-working person you know, and chances are you picture them in a library poring over a variety of texts for hours on end. While simply being an avid reader does not ensure success, successful people are assuredly avid readers. And all of them have the following traits in common:-

They have increased focus

Successful people are able to focus on one task for an elongated period of time. Anyone who reads will tell you reading is not a quick process. It’s also not a singular process. Readers take breaks, naturally, but the most avid reader simply cannot put a book down for longer than a day after they have dived into it. Successful people feel the same way about any task they set out to do.

They set goals

Along with focus, readers set goals for themselves whenever they sit down with a good book. Whether setting out to read a specific number of pages before moving on to another activity, or deciding to read until a certain concept is solidified in their mind, readers actively try to accomplish something whenever they open a text. Successful people set goals for just about every moment of their life, and continue working toward the goal until they surpass it.

They spend time wisely

They might only have 20 minutes before they have to be somewhere, but instead of seeing “only 20 minutes” as not enough time to get anything done, they see it as 20 minutes that can be spent reading. Successful people view their time as incredibly valuable, and seize every opportunity they have to learn something new, or accomplish a goal. Readers realize that five wasted minutes every day over the course of a year is more than an entire 24 hours wasted that could have been spent reading.

They have perspective

Successful people are able to see all angles of an issue, because they have read a variety of literature from various perspectives. Two of Bill Clinton's favourite novels are Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The insight gained from reading these novels undoubtedly shaped his perspective in dealing with race relations as a politician. Being an avid reader allows you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, if only for a moment; but once that moment is over, you remember the experience for the rest of your life.

They are reflective

In addition to gaining perspective, readers are reflective about what they have read. While gaining perspective allows a person to see from the other side of the fence, being reflective allows them the opportunity to understand how they can be productive with their new-found perspective. Successful people see reading not as the simple act of staring at words on a page. They understand the profound effect that consuming a text can have on the mind, and how books can change a person’s life.

They have incredible writing and speaking skills

It is no surprise that the greatest orators in human history have all been enthusiastic about reading. Successful people draw inspiration from their role models, and utilize this inspiration to further their cause. Famous people who remain cemented in history became such passionate and well-spoken individuals by studying the great minds before them.

They have increased memory

Readers understand just how powerful the brain really is. It can hold almost an unlimited capacity of information. The more you read and learn, the easier it becomes to retain information. Successful people simply continue to learn, and commit an incredible expanse of knowledge to memory, sometimes without even realising it.

They stay fresh

Great readers also see the brain as a muscle that needs to be worked. Just like going to the gym every day keeps your arms and legs in shape, reading keeps your mind sharp and able to easily retain knowledge. Successful people exercise their mind on a daily basis through reading and other methods such as crossword puzzles and brain teasers. Successful people habitually create challenges to overcome, which in turn improves their minds’ capability to solve increasingly larger problems every day.

They are educated and informed

Successful people rise to the top because they have spent their time on earth learning. When they pick up a book, they do not do so just to finish it, but to take something away from it. Reading textbooks was never just a school assignment to be completed, but was a chance to expand their knowledge even further. Even while reading fictional novels, successful people take with them life lessons that they carry with them forever.

They read to relax

Even the most successful people need to tune out the world every once in a while. But this does not mean they turn their minds off completely. There is nothing wrong with reading a “trashy magazine” or graphic novel to unwind. Reading just about anything is more beneficial than watching television or wasting a Friday night at a bar. Again, successful people value every minute of their time, and even in their most idle moments they still strive to improve. And there is no better way to chill out while keeping yourself fresh than with a good book.

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