As a writer, 3 amazing reasons why you should read more despite your busy schedule

Even if we get 30 hours a day, we all can argue that it still might not be enough to keep up with our ever-busy schedule and never-ending wheels of trends going from ranges that stay widely apart. The whole struggle to keep up with each day remains a huge task in our activities. 

There is also the fact that writers have to struggle in these moments between their part-time jobs or schooling just to write something worth reading. 

The struggle is real. No arguments. 

How often should I read as a writer?

The question here is as simple as putting a thread with a 30mm diameter through a needle with a 10m diameter. Ironic, right? 

But to me, it is one of the hardest questions I have been asked by young writers like me who started a bit later than I did.

Imagine someone who works from 6 am to 5 pm to settle bills and survive hunger, then gets home to handle house chores, keep up with friends, and make dinner. Finally done with the day's activities late in the night, but still struggles to put down a poem or short prose before snuggling into the comforts of their bed to prepare for another busy day again.

Or, you can imagine a student who has to attend lectures from 7 am to 5 pm, then gets hit with tons of assignments, projects, and even tests to prepare for. All along with trying to write for submissions and contests and maybe personal book projects. 

Where is the time here to read? 

So I would say that I have no answers to how often you should read as a writer. 

However, if you have an answer to this question, one with cogent explanations you can let us know in the comment section. 

In his book The 5 AM Club, Robin Sharma said "To regularly do that which is hard but important when it feels most uncomfortable is how warriors are born."

Human nature is programmed to be motivated to do even hard things when we know the benefits it brings. Everyone loves benefits.

Since reading despite your busy schedule is a hard task right now, I have compiled three proven benefits of reading as a writer that should be able to lead you on a path of rescheduling your daily activities to fit reading into the big puzzle. 

 1.  Reading is a great source of motivation

 

Reading a lot of bestselling authors is enough reason to work harder towards becoming one someday. I am sure that I am not the only one who reads a book from a bestselling author and I feel the book should have been made better. Then I make this conviction in my heart that I can do better than what that bestselling author did. 

No hard feelings here, just motivation to do better. 

Reading keeps you motivated to try harder until you make a name for yourself too. Just like my personal mantra when I am reading a great book, 

“ Someday, people will read my stories too and feel a connection with me like I am feeling to this writer "

 2. Improves your vocabulary, language command, and communication skills

The majority of us don't study the English language as a major in University. Do you know that if this was a criterion for writing, then I certainly won't be writing this and you might not be reading this either? Yet, reading books exposes our minds to new vocabularies and word usage. We can explore different language commands and how to communicate our thoughts in clearer yet professional ways.

This particular value shouldn't be underestimated.  

 3. Enhances your critical and analytical thinking

Reading gives you a wider range of perspectives.

You can see different ways of approaching one theme. It's just like someone writing about Aso rock, without knowing about it or ever being there. Then, they read a book that was written by an insider of the villa. You certainly can tell that there would be a different point of view after reading the book compared to the point of view before reading. That is how it works. 

Reading broadens your knowledge of issues and gives you a reason to reanalyze and rethink before giving your opinion on an issue.

In conclusion, Reading is something you can achieve if you set your mind to it. A philosopher once said Dreams don't come through while you are sleeping.  You can work towards reading more if you set your mind to it. I am sure all these benefits are things you wouldn't like to ignore as a writer.

Thanks for reading till the very end. Don't forget to share with your friends who are writers. 

Subscribe to the blog to get notified when amazing content as this gets posted. 

Photo credit