I can never make the time to read, I always end up telling myself I’m too busy and whenever I do read, can’t get past 2-3 pages even though I really want to read this book. Avid readers of WSO… any advice?
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For me , the last thing I would do in bed was sit on my phone scrolling through IG, Twitter, etc. Easily 30-60 minutes wasted (if not more) just sitting in bed scrolling before falling asleep. I started keeping a book on my nightstand and replaced scrolling with reading a few chapters. I’ve found that to help me fall asleep much easier once the read is over vs after scrolling social media.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some actionable tips to help you read more effectively and consistently:
Set Small Goals: Start with manageable targets, like reading 10 pages a day or even just a chapter. Breaking it down makes it less overwhelming.
Schedule Reading Time: Use your calendar to block out 30-60 minutes daily for reading. Treat it like an important meeting or task.
Eliminate Distractions: Put your phone face down or in another room. Simplify your environment to focus solely on the book.
Choose the Right Time: Align your reading with your energy levels. For example, read in the morning when you're fresh or during a quiet evening.
Engage with the Material: Take notes, underline key points, or jot down questions. This keeps you actively involved and helps with retention.
Ask Yourself the Value: Before diving into a book, ask, "Will this benefit me in the next 3 years of my career or life?" This ensures you're reading with purpose.
Experiment with Genres: If you're struggling with one book, try another genre or topic that excites you. Reading should feel enjoyable, not forced.
Take Breaks: If you feel stuck after 2-3 pages, pause, walk around, and reset your focus. Short breaks can help you regain momentum.
Build a System, Not Just a Goal: Focus on creating a habit of reading daily, even if it's just for 10 minutes. Over time, this habit will compound.
Start with Recommendations: Pick books recommended by people you respect or admire. This can make the experience more engaging.
For more insights, check out this WSO thread: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/job-search/learning-to-learn-a-sh…</a">Learning to Learn - A Short Guide.
Sources: How to get over burnout, Advice from an ex-IB MD: The Habits of Winners, How to Read More Efficiently Everyday as Research Analyst, 11 Steps to Becoming a Finance Jedi, Learning to learn - A short guide at becoming better at what you do
I find that two things to stress is that not all books are made at the same density and reading, like any other hobby, can grow over time. To address the first, consider CFA L2 content, I would spend like an hour reading two pages and struggle to understand just those two pages (*cough* black-scholes *cough*) as compared with a much lighter read like The Daily Stoic. You'll find yourself getting much farther in one rather than the other because the density of the subject matter is much lighter in one. Onto the second point, try reading for just 5-10 minutes before bed for a month. If you can get to 10 minutes, great, if not, oh well. Give yourself some slack and aim for 80% of nights. After that first month, try increasing the time to 10-15 minutes for the next few weeks and steadily build up to a good amount for you. My sweet spot is 20-30 minutes where I can still pay attention.
ALso, mix up your novel selections with some fantasy, mystery, as well as the usual recommended business, leadership and mindset books that a number of us akm to read. I picked up a mystery book as a casual read and accidentally spent a few hours reading really far into it.
Dude I found the derivatives and options section of CFA L2 to be the most boring sh*t I have ever read. I get some people love this stuff but it ain't me.
You sound very wise but also like I'd wanna pinch your cheeks and shake em. Those are two good features to have. Keep it up bud, you're killing it.
AUDIO BOOKS
This is the way. Can listen to a good book and clean your apartment for an hour or so some mindless errands. It was the only way I was able to finish books in banking.
You just…do it. You sit there and read.
Hahahahahahahaha How The Fuck Is Discipline Real Hahahaha Fella Just Do The Thing Like Fella Perform The Action Haha
I refuse to believe there are real people asking questions like this.
“How do I read?”
Sit down and do it.
“I tell myself I’m too busy.”
Either make the time or don’t.
“I read a few pages and get distracted.”
I too have ADHD. Read a few, get distracted, go back to reading.
This shit is incredibly straightforward and it is bizarre how posters here have managed to live on this earth 20+ years yet are incapable of navigating the most basic conflicts in life.
Bud you're about as imaginative as a block of wood. Take nuances into account will ya? Quit drying up the convos, even if they're not 100% the best question that's ever been asked.
It is not my fault that people keep asking stupid fucking questions
Site ate my response.
I'll assume in good faith that what you meant is "what are good tips to get in the habit of reading more?"
Pick a subject you like. Don't fall into the trap of reading the same bullshit that everyone else is reading (every list of books that CEOs read "last year" seems to be the same boring mix of hagiography of business leaders or 'ways to be a better XYZ' wastes of paper), and certainly avoid picking up doorstop fiction that people love to scatter around their apartment without actually ever reading so they can claim they're reading it. In Search of Lost Time is probably an awesome read if you like that, but if you're having trouble setting aside a couple hours, starting with a magisterial million+ word opus probably isn't wise.
Maybe a book of short stories? That way you have quick, self-contained narratives to get through. Read one or two at a sitting, just to get in the habit. No wading through hours of set up. And it's way easier to justify keeping your head down and spending the extra 20 minutes actually reading, instead of looking at the 250 pages to go and thinking "a few minutes on TikTok won't make a difference."
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