How to Develop a Deep Reading Habit

And stand in defiance to the end of reading

Deep reading and focus are competitive advantages—and we are losing both.

Here, you can see that minutes spent reading per day has declined markedly since 2003 across all age groups.

It’s not just that people are reading less; it’s that we are getting worse at reading too. Literacy scores start tanking in 2012.

The decline in reading impacts all age levels, beginning in primary school:

People struggle to pay attention to just about anything, let alone a book. Research shows the average person’s attention span is 47 seconds. Yet deep reading confers many benefits above and beyond watching a video or skimming an article.

These benefits include developing a richer understanding of a topic, increasing your ability to pay attention itself, enhanced creative thinking, empathy, calm, and stability.

Deep reading, or full engagement in a book, is good for mind and spirit, and it is also a competitive advantage in today’s knowledge-based economy.

What follows are seven practical rules for a deep reading habit. Each is based on the latest research and real-world practice. Put them together and it could truly change your life.

1. If possible, use a hardcopy book:

Research shows you comprehend and connect information best when you read physical pages.

There are two main reasons for this:

• You eliminate distractions and multi-tasking, which e-reading and audiobooks invite (there’s nothing wrong with them, but it’s not the same as deep reading).

• The brain evolved for tactile experience. Studies show recall is higher with physical pages.

2. No digital devices nearby:

Even if your phone is facedown on silent or your laptop is closed and asleep, the mere sight of these devices, and everything they represent—not to mention the willpower it takes not to check them—is a huge distraction.

Keep your digital devices in a separate room when you want to focus on deep reading.

3. Read with a pen or highlighter:

The more you engage with the book, the better. There is a big difference between:

• Passive reading: being read to

• Active reading: being in conversation with

The latter promotes further absorption in the material and more creative insight.

4. Keep a notebook at the ready:

Even if you are fully engaged in reading, random thoughts will pop into your mind: Emails to write. Groceries to get. Conversations to have. Ideas for your next big project. Random problems you solve.

All of this is great! Just jot them down so you can offload your brain. Then get back to the book in front of you.

5. Read for at least 30 minutes:

It takes time to get into a groove. There is nothing wrong with reading in the nooks and crannies of your day or listening to an audiobook while walking your dog, but this is not the same as deep reading.

Schedule it. Make it a regular practice.

6. Deep reading is like a muscle—you've got to train it:

The ability to pay full attention and get absorbed in a book is built over time. It may be hard at first (especially if you are rusty), but it gets easier. Eventually, it becomes so enjoyable.

Be patient and stick with it. It's worth it.

7. Read as much as you can:

Books are the best bargain there is. There is no better place to get a rich distillation of insights and wisdom.

I've helped 4-time Olympians move on from sport simply by recommending books. I've helped founders navigate rough waters the same way.