How I Tripled My Reading by Simply Rearranging My Desk

The simplest changes often produce the greatest results.

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. “

— Jim Rohn

At the beginning of this year, I managed to triple my reading. I went from one book every six weeks to two per month. And I did so with just a simple adjustment of my desk.

But back to the start. I am pretty sure most of us acknowledge the fact that books and reading are pretty dope. Reading teaches us to filter relevant information. Books educate or entertain us. And we just sound so sophisticated when we talk about how Stephen Hawking explains the universe.

Still, somehow, we don’t get around to it. The mountains of books collecting dust, which I encounter in most households, are living (debatable) proof. If you are anything like me, you probably have more books on your reading list and on your shelves than you’ve got underwear in your drawer.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to finally get around to all the books that are waiting on your shelf?

Wouldn’t it be nice to finally build a consistent habit of reading?

One that doesn’t only get you to read more but at the same time takes nearly no effort to implement?

It certainly would be. And, fortunately, it is easy as hell.

Humans are lazy and forgetful

In order to solve a problem, you have to get to the roots of it. So, what is the root of your problem?

That you don’t have enough time to read? Hardly.

Well, on the surface it might seem like that. But underneath lies an entirely different issue. (Even Elon Musk makes time for reading and the guy has a couple of companies to run.)

See, we humans are hardwired for convenience and saving energy. It makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. We do what’s easiest and most convenient.

It’s why we stick to YouTube and Netflix for hours when they are on autoplay and why we “want fries with that” if we simply have to say yes. It’s also why we stack up our trash like a Jenga tower instead of taking it out. Thanks, evolution.

The path of least resistance is a path well-trodden.

As if that wasn’t enough, we humans are incredibly forgetful. Our brains are awesome at thinking, but without proper techniques and training, they suck donkey balls at remembering.

We actually have a saying in Germany that translates to “My brain is like a sieve.” Let me know in the comments if there is a similar one in your language (and you can remember it).

So there are two reasons why we often don’t get around to our reading. We choose to do other things that are easier and more convenient at the moment and we forget that we wanted to tackle a new book.

This leaves us with a simple question: What can we do about it?

Have your environment work for you, not against you

So we have two problems. We are lazy and forgetful. Ouch.

Since we apparently can’t do it ourselves, we need to design our environment so it does two things for us:

It needs to make it convenient for us to pick up our book and it needs to remind us to do so.

Back to my desk.

I bet you have a specific spot where you relax after you come home. Maybe it is that big, comfy leather couch right in front of your TV, your balcony or your bed. For me, it is my desk, where I have a comfy chair and usually power up my computer to browse the internet or play video games.

So here is the trick:

I put the book I was reading onto my keyboard.

That’s it. Astonishingly simple, right?

Now, when I come home after classes or after a workout, I still sit down at my desk to spend some time in front of my PC. But if I want to use my computer, I have to pick up the book from the keyboard first. Once I have it in my hands all that is left to do is open it up and start reading.

Boom. Convenience and reminder. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

This is what James Clear calls Environment Design. He is the author of Atomic Habits and undoubtedly one of the worldwide experts when it comes to habits and improving your life with small, subtle changes.

Most people live in a world others have created for them. […] Environment Design allows you to take back control and become the architect of your life.

— James Clear

It is as simple as it is effective. As mentioned above, my reading tripled. I spent most of my free time with my nose in a book.

So, have your environment work for you, not against you. Wherever you usually go when you have free time, put your book there, open and visible. Make it obvious and convenient. Put it on the couch, on your TV remote, on the kitchen table. Heck, put it down next to the toilet if that is where you spend your free time.

The possibilities of Environment Design

We often have so much on our plate that we don’t have time and energy for big adjustments and commitments. Reading a 12-step in-depth guide and detailed action plan? Ain’t nobody got time for that.

That is why I live by a simple maxim:

Be as efficient and outsource as much as possible.

I want to achieve the greatest possible result with the lowest possible effort. And if someone else can do the work for me, perfect. Gives me more time to do other shit I want to do.

Environment Design is one of the things I have found incredibly useful. With small, subtle adjustments you can achieve incredible results.

Have a hard time going to the gym? Pre-pack your gym bag and put it somewhere where it is visible, and, ideally, in the way. You will be reminded of the gym and have to pick it up to get it out of the way anyways.

Have a hard time getting up in the morning? Make it your most convenient option by putting your alarm clock and phone somewhere out of reach. That way you have to get up in order to turn off the annoying beep-beep-beep.

Not drinking enough water? Fill up a big bottle (instead of a small glass) and put it on your desk. That way you save yourself from the hassle of getting up for a refill all the time.

Your environment influences your life, one way or another.

You just have to decide if it works for you or against you.

~ Moreno