How to replace your social media habit with reading

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Bad habits are hard to break. It is much more effective not to try to completely eradicate them in yourself, but to replace them with good ones. For example, stop using social media and start reading books.

Every habit begins with a trigger that leads to a rewarding action. Over time, we develop emotional involvement and the cycle repeats.

For example, you have a habit of constantly checking social media. You look into them, even if you went there only five minutes ago. It works like this: a trigger (boredom or anxiety) prompts you to go to social networks (action). Getting new comments or likes is a reward. Friends' messages and photos are emotional engagement that keeps you coming back again and again.

Here are three steps to help you replace that bad habit with a good one and start reading more.

1. Reduce resistance … It is psychologically difficult for us to get the same pleasure from reading books as from reading posts on social networks. It seems to us that by opening the book, we are taking on some kind of big obligation, because it is long and it will take a long time to read it. But you may well dissuade yourself. To do this, allow yourself to read books in small passages.
2. Replace trigger … Every time you have the urge to take a look at social networks, grab a book. For a start, paper is better. Too many temptations can arise when reading on an electronic device. If you still have to read from your phone, swap the application icons so that all social networks and instant messengers are out of sight, and reading applications are at hand.
3. Change the action … Read on! Open the page you want and start reading. Try to get rid of the idea that the book is a commitment. Start with a book that has many short chapters. For example, "" will do. The chapters are short and engaging.

Try to stick to this plan for at least a week. Then your attitude towards reading books will begin to change. You will notice that you are effortlessly reaching for your book instead of your phone.