5 Steps to Better Retain and Apply What You Read
My new reading ritual that is changing my life
I have a new reading ritual.
I love to read books. Especially for helping come up with ideas and support the content of my books.
Yet, when I am reading to retain information, I’ve started reading a book differently.
Today, I thought I would share my revolutionary reading habit.
№1 — I listen to the audiobook.
This allows me to do other things or fill some of the gaps where I need my hands and am on the move.
№2 — I quick read the physical/Kindle copy.
This gives me a chance to underline and make notes of the things I enjoy or that stick out to me from what I listened to previously.
№3 — Re-read my underlines.
When I do this, it hammers home the things that stuck out and almost always creates ideas of things to look up or follow up on.
№4 — Apply what I have read.
It’s not enough to read it or listen to it, when I start applying what I have read and heard it helps me to see how this new information actually works.
№5 — Review what I’ve learned and applied.
In reviewing what I have learned and read and then going back to see how it works, I am finding the wildest improvements in my life.
An Example: Atomic Habits
I have done this with several books now, but the most recent application comes from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear.
I must admit, I have started this books multiple times. And I have never finished it. So, I finally decided to try out my new system and it is changing everything for me.
Here’s how I have applied my new system:
- Wednesdays on the way to work, I listen to the books on my drive to and from work.
- Thursday in the morning, I go through my Kindle copy and highlight and mark up my Kindle book with what sticks out.
- Friday, I read through what I’ve highlighted so far. Sometimes, I end up jotting down ideas for articles.
- Saturday, I commit to one thing to try out for the following week. One of these ideas for example was ‘habit stacking.’
- Then, Tuesday before I go to the office to keep listening to the book, I review and see how things went and see if it is something I will keep doing or stop doing.
It’s a simple system, but it has been making a world of difference for me. In fact, I have really seen huge gains in the change of my habits just from this book.
Final Thoughts on this New Way of Reading
This way of reading definitely slows me down on the books I read. At least when it comes to business, writing, or non-fiction books that I want to learn from.
I don’t do this with fiction of course, so I still plow through those books along the way.
But, this new system is really changing the way that I go about reading, learning, and creating. And I thought it might be helpful for you.
How do you read? Is this something you’d consider trying?
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