Reading is a wonderful hobby that allows us to escape into different worlds, learn new things, and broaden our horizons. However, like any other hobby, reading can also come with its own set of bad habits. These bookish bad habits can hinder our reading experience and take away some of the joy that comes from immersing ourselves in a good book. So, let’s delve into some of the most common bookish bad habits and how we can overcome them.
One of the most prevalent bookish bad habits is procrastination. Many of us have a growing pile of unread books that we keep putting off because we just don’t have the time to read them. We tell ourselves that we’ll get to them eventually, but that day never seems to come. To overcome this bad habit, we need to prioritize reading in our daily lives. Set aside a specific time each day to read, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. By making reading a habit, we can chip away at that intimidating TBR pile one book at a time.
Another common bookish bad habit is hoarding books. While it’s great to have a collection of books that we love and cherish, hoarding books can become overwhelming and take away from the joy of reading. If we constantly buy books without actually reading them, we’re just accumulating clutter. To overcome this bad habit, try to limit the number of books you buy at a time and focus on reading the books you already have before adding more to your collection.
Bookish snobbery is also a prevalent bad habit among readers. It’s easy to fall into the trap of judging others based on their reading preferences or looking down on certain genres or types of books. Everyone has their own unique taste in books, and what may be trashy or lowbrow to one person could be a treasure to another. By being open-minded and respectful of others’ reading choices, we can cultivate a more inclusive and welcoming reading community.
Lastly, not finishing books is another common bookish bad habit that many of us struggle with. Sometimes a book just doesn’t resonate with us or capture our interest, and that’s okay. However, abandoning books halfway through simply because we’re not enjoying them can prevent us from discovering hidden gems or gaining new perspectives. Before giving up on a book, try to give it a chance by reading a few more chapters or skimming through to see if it gets better. If it still doesn’t click, then it’s perfectly fine to move on to another book.
In conclusion, bookish bad habits can detract from our reading experience and hinder our enjoyment of books. By being mindful of these habits and actively working to overcome them, we can become better, more engaged readers. Reading should be a source of pleasure and enrichment, so let’s strive to cultivate healthy reading habits that enhance our love for books.