I don't think I need to tell you that reading is good for you—great for you. The more you read, the more you learn. The more you learn, the greater the grasp you have on how the world ticks. Reading expands your life perspective and fine tunes¹ your life filter. You understand life more, and in turn, can deal with it better. Unfortunately, most people don't read. Sometimes, people do want to read—they've got a book at home sitting on the shelf that they fancy—but can never seem to find the time. Well my friends, this post is for you.

阅读的好处，甚至是伟大之处，我无需赘言。你读得越多，学到的也越多。你学到的越多，对世界就了解得越多。阅读能够扩展你的人生视野，并且对你的生活准则进行微调。对于生活，你懂得更多，相应地就会应对得更自如。遗憾的是，大多数人并不阅读。有时候，人们真心想读书——他们拿来一本书，坐在家里最爱的书架旁——但似乎永远也找不到时间来读。那么，我的朋友们，就来看看这篇文章吧。

10.Reading is a pleasure.

10.把阅读当成乐趣

Obviously, to get yourself motivated to read, read something that interests you. Meditation², animals, philosophy, sex—whatever you want. If you're drawn³ to the book, the more likely you'll be excited to pick it up and read it.

很显然，你要让自己获得阅读的动力，就去读些你感兴趣的书。冥想，动物，哲学，性——什么都行。倘若你被某本书所吸引，你就可能更有兴致拾起书并阅读它。

9.Set triggers.

9.设置启动器

Make reading a habit by setting triggers. For example, breakfast (among other things), is my trigger. Whenever I break the fast, I make it a rule to read. You can do this for anything—when you go the washroom, when you're riding the subway, while you eat dinner, before bed—you get the point. Your triggers will act as a friendly reminder⁴ that you should read. It may take some time getting used to (like all habits do), but it's worth it!

通过设置启动器使阅读成为一种习惯。例如，早餐（在其他事情之中）是我的启动器。无论我几点吃早餐，我规定自己要阅读。你可以把任何事当做启动器——在洗手间的时候，坐地铁的时候，吃晚饭时，上床睡觉前——你懂的。你的启动器可以友好地提示你该读书了。这需要有段时间才能习惯（像所有习惯一样），但绝对值得！

8.Have a goal

8.设定目标

Some people set radical⁵ goals for themselves like reading one book a week. (Yeah, I know right?) Obviously you don't have to be as radical as that. You can start by reading a book a month. Or a book every two months even. Up to you. Whatever floats your boat. But setting a goal and aspiring⁶ to reach it gives you a focus that'll help you get the job done.

有些人喜欢给自己设定一个激进的目标，如一周读一本书。（是的，我说的对吧？）很显然，你不必那么激进。你可以从一个月读一本书开始，甚至是两个月读一本。这取决于你自己，只要开心就好。设定目标并全力以赴去实现它，这个过程能使你专注于此事，帮助你完成目标。

7.Accountability

7.责任感

Accountability helps. Maybe have a reading partner. Set something up between the both of you where you tell each other what book you're going to read and when you're going to check in with one another to see through your promise. Another thing you can do is borrow books from your local library. (A gold mine!) The return date gives you a sense of pressure to finish your book by a certain deadline.

责任感可以起作用。也许你可以找个阅读小伙伴，彼此约定好在什么地方，打算读什么书，什么时间相互检查进度以便坚持到底。你可以做的另一件事就是从你们当地图书馆借书来读。（这简直是一座金矿！）还书日期会给你一种压力，让你在规定的期限内读完你的书。

6.Read whenever you can.

6.只要有时间就阅读

If you're determined⁷ and willing, use every possible moment when you're idle to indulge in the art of the written word. On the bus. On the subway. On your lunch break. When you're at the gym. You won't regret it, I promise!

如果你有决心并且愿意的话，当你有空沉溺于文字艺术世界时，可以把可能的分分秒秒都利用起来，公交车上，地铁上，午休时间，健身时间……你不会后悔的，我保证！

5.Just start

5.马上开始

Sometimes the thing preventing us from reading is our own mind. Our mind will make up all kinds of excuses not to do something. Not get out of bed. Not clean the house. Not shower (whoops). And in this case, not read. The trick to bypassing this mental block is to just pick up the dang book already and read! Don't pour too much thought into the action. Just do it. Once you start reading (if it's a good book), it's quite difficult to stop!

有时，妨碍我们阅读的东西是我们自己的思想。我们的思想会为不去做某件事而编出各种各样的借口，如还没起床，没打扫房间，没洗澡（唉！）。在这些情况下，就不读了。超越这些思想障碍的窍门就是，拿起书，开读！别想太多，开始行动。一旦你开始读了（如果这是本好书的话），就很难停下来了！

4.Always have your book in reach.

4.使你的书总在够得到的地方

Wherever I go, I've always got a book with me. Whenever I'm at home, a book is always near. That way, I don't have to think much when the idea that I should maybe spend my free time reading instead of diddle-daddling on social media or watching Netflix comes into my head. I just grab the book and start reading. Having your book some place else other than you are adds one more hurdle⁸ in your decision making process to not read. It's a small inconvenience, but the mind is superb in making up excuses for ourselves. "Aw, it's in the other room. I think I'll just watch funny vine compilations⁹ on YouTube instead." Been there, done that!

无论去哪，我总是随身带着本书。无论何时在家，书都离我不远。这样一来，当我觉得应该利用空闲来读书，而非在社交媒体上浪费时间或看美剧时，就不必想太多，伸手抓起书就可以读了。把书放在离你较远的地方，会给你要读书时增加一个障碍，以至于放弃读书。尽管只是个小小的不便，但人们的思想在为自己找借口时是很卓越的。"哎呀，书在另一个房间呢，我想我还是在YouTube上看有趣的视频合集吧。"在其位，谋其政！

3.Create a dedicated¹⁰ time for yourself.

3.为自己留出专用时间

Whether it's deciding to wake up a half hour early to get in a few chapters, or choosing to get into bed and cozy up with a book before you eventually doze¹¹ off, dedicating time specifically for reading helps so much. Just saying "Every night, right before I hit the hay, I'm going to dedicate a couple minutes to reading," can be a powerful decision in itself.

无论是打算早起半小时读上几个章节，或是选择睡前在床上舒适地享受一本书，为阅读留出专用时间是很有帮助的。对自己说："每天晚上，在上床睡觉之前，我要留出一点时间来读书"，是很有效的方式。

2.Eliminate distractions¹².

2.消除干扰

Get rid of the laptop. Turn your phone off. No Netflix. Goodbye TV. Focus on your book.

移开笔记本电脑。关上手机。不上网。不开电视。专注于阅读。

1.Create a dedicated space for yourself.

1.为自己打造个专属空间

Sometimes, the best way to set the mood for reading is having a dedicated space for one's self. Perhaps yours is in bed, with your bedside lamp illuminating¹³ the night's final task. Perhaps it's in the library. Perhaps you have the luxury of creating a reading room for yourself. Perhaps it's snug¹⁴ in the corner of your local coffee shop.

有时，调试心情到阅读状态的最好方法就是为自己准备一个专属空间。也许是在床上，让床头的台灯照亮夜晚最后一项任务。也许是在图书馆。也许，你拥有打造一个专属阅览室的奢侈享受。也许，是在附近咖啡馆角落里的舒适空间。

Conclusion

结论

Reading may seem like a mental strain at first thought. But truth be told, it's a pleasurable, rewarding leisure activity. You'll add zest¹⁵ and colour to your vocabulary, expand your life perspective, enlighten yourself with the wisdom and insight of others, and perhaps even learn a little bit about your being in the process which you wouldn't have otherwise. I hope this article has brought value to your life. Happy reading!

乍一看来，阅读似乎是一种精神压力。但说实话，它其实是一种愉悦的，具有回报性的休闲活动。它将给你的词汇表里添加热情和色彩，拓宽你的人生视野，以他人的智慧和洞见启发自己，也许，你甚至会了解一些你从未经历过的事。但愿这篇文章对你的生活有所裨益。祝阅读快乐！