Thread by @heyitsnf, "I have no time to read, I'm a student.""I'm too busy to [...]

"I have no time to read, I'm a student."
"I'm too busy to read"
"Reading is only for people who aren't busy"

I disagree. I study medicine and managed to read 100 books in 2020

This is a thread:

Disclaimer: Reading is a graceful hobby. Quality is usually more important than quantity. I just read really fast so please be happy with the way you are and collectively try to read more to grow.

The goal is to incorporate reading into your life in the end.

1) Set/ Check your purpose on why you want to read more

Don't do it because everyone is doing it or it looks cool, it's not worth it.

Do it for the knowledge, for the experience. Do it to replace the toxic habit of reading Twitter timelines. Do it to lead a healthier life.

2) Read what you love when you don't feel like reading.

Pick up a book and read then ride on the momentum to read more beneficial books. Just read, seriously. I usually read fantasy retellings and children's books on my bad reading days.

3) If you can't make more time, replace the time you unconsciously throw away with reading

My principal is that if I have time to scroll social media, I actually have time to do things I love: reading. So I muted and unfollowed people so there's nothing on my timeline.

4) Listen to your own pace, consistency > finishing a book in one sitting and never reading again

If you can only read one chapter before getting distracted, then maybe that's your pace for now. Be happy with it, read another tomorrow.

5) Utilize study breaks

This is a special tip for students. Have a book next to you and turn on Pomodoro timer or whatever. During your 5-10 break read a page instead of scrolling your phone. It's enough, I promise.

6) Track your reading goals and progress

Some people keep book bullet journals. If you have no time, just make a goodreads account. You can make shelves, rate books, read reviews, set goals and see your reads for the year.

I'm surprised so many people don't know abt goodreads.

7) Put the books you want to read in a randomizer

Have a proper list of the books you want to read. The ones people recommend to you and the ones you stumble upon the Internet.

I like putting them on a randomizer wheel so I can randomly pick what to read next.

8) Don't be picky about reading medium, just read

You can debate about ebook vs physical book forever but in the end it shouldn't matter as long as you're reading. Stop fussing about things that shouldn't matter and just read, be it ebook or audiobook or articles. Read.

9) Talk about what you read. Apply in life. Make it matter. Keep your favourite quotes.

I usually blabber to my housemates or make notes to post on social media, it's a magical feeling to share a book with the world.

I guess that's all the tips have for now. This year my goal is 50 books, half of 2020's goal because I want to focus on quality and buy more physical books to bring home to malaysia.

Reading reminders:
• Jangan lupa niat membaca nak tambah ilmu and grow. To be a better person, in sya Allah ada barakah.

• You are what you read. Remember this, be mindful about what you read.

• Let's increase our Quran reading along with other books, baru perfect haa

Here are my best reads of 2020 if you need some recommendations to start with:

or my go-to recs: when breath becomes air, a thousand splendid suns, pax https://twitter.com/heyitsnf/status/1343557795086524420

https://twitter.com/heyitsnf/status/1343557795086524420

Yes, I understand that as a student we don't actually have that much budget for books

I suggest:

• buying ebooks because they're cheaper (BUT make sure they are from legal source okay, jgn pirate, haram)
• borrowing library/friends' books
• having a side income (i do this)

Here is the blog version of this tweet, featuring my reading journey since I was a little girl hahah: https://heyitsnf.wordpress.com/2021/01/23/how-to-read-more-busy-people-edition/

I had always been a reader. I was the firstborn of my family and lived at home with my mother for a few years while my dad worked for a couple of years. All there is today was to read and watch Dis…

https://heyitsnf.wordpress.com/2021/01/23/how-to-read-more-busy-people-edition/

p.s// the summary: