4 Reasons To Stop By Your Library More Often

By Nate Desmond

Library College students – particularly distance learning college students – have plenty of assigned reading. We read more than enough technical and specialized information from textbooks, but do we actually do enough reading?

While textbook reading is indisputably crucial, few people continue reading random textbooks after completing college. By developing a separate reading schedule, however, you can form a habit that will benefit you for life.

#1 Expand your vocabulary

Memorizing the dictionary may be an interesting feat, but it wouldn’t actually be as useful as simply reading regularly. While “word of the day” programs can be interesting, the simple definitions and two examples are not nearly as useful as subconsciously learning a word when you come across it in the flow of an actual book.

Once you have found a new word, plant it more firmly in your memory by using it in actual conversations.

#2 Improve your writing ability

While studying the science of writing is crucial to good grammar and structure, actually reading good writing by others will help you perfect the style and, over time, even build a natural ability to recognize grammatical errors. The three main areas of study are reading, writing, and arithmetic, but reading and writing are so intrinsically interlinked that the two can almost be combined. Improve the one and you will improve the other.

Obviously, all the reading in the world will not improve your writing, though, if you don’t actually practice the writing. Try jotting out short essays or paragraphs on topics related to your reading. Not only will you receive the obvious writing benefits, but you will also find your reading comprehension growing.

#3 Build your speaking ability

While the larger vocabulary and better writing skills will definitely affect your speaking ability, reading will also have a direct influence. The more you read, the more natural your ability to communicate clearly and logically will become. While we generally think of speaking in terms of a presentation prepared for weeks in advance, most speaking is actually extemporaneous or planned in real-time.

Reading frequently helps make communication less of a conscious process of planning and editing, and more of a subconscious act of clear speaking. Obviously, more editing is always a good thing, but we often do not have the opportunity to edit many of our most important verbal communications.

#4 Discover new ideas

Whether you are an author planning a book, a student exploring career options, or an entrepreneur improving your business, everyone is always on the hunt for new ideas. While truly original thought is not possible, you definitely can be the first person to find a particular combination of two ideas or application of older principles to newer industries.

Reading on a variety of subjects exposes you to a wide assortment of ideas which greatly increases your chances of finding a new combination or application. While forming your own specialty is a crucial first step, adding a general knowledge base gives you the extra edge needed to become amazing.

Do it!

If you don’t read much normally, forming a habit like this can sound like pure torture. On the other hand, even if you enjoy reading, the time needed to read can seem impossible to find.

Either way, don’t let your fears cheat you out of one of the best opportunities of your life. Start small and simply read for half an hour or even fifteen minutes a day. As you progress, gradually increase the time to between half an hour to an hour and never miss more than one day.

If this seems impossible, just remember that even when he was President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt read an average of five books a week!

How often do your read outside of school?
Nate Desmond I'm a Christian young man working on my BSBA in Accounting and writing blog posts in my spare time. I enjoy learning how to do things faster and better... whether through new keyboard shortcuts, world record holding shoelace knots, or motion study.

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