One Life Shortcut That Actually Works: How Reading Books Changed My Life
There are many things people claim are shortcuts in life. One that I found to be true is reading books. That is books on topics you want to learn more about.
Not only do you learn new things by reading books, but you also unlock new ways of thinking.
Growing up, I was not a fan of reading books. That changed around the time when I was about to graduate from college.
I remember thinking that I learned all this information regarding engineering but once I start working and making money I don't know much about how to manage it. That is when I came across the book "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.
I remember that after reading it, I felt like I unlocked a new skill set. I learned about the concept of an emergency fund and the snowball approach to paying off debt. I felt like I just saved myself possibly several years of learning those lessons the hard way.
Soon after I started my career as a mechanical engineer, I was flooded with a lot of work and fast-approaching deadlines. I burned out working towards a deadline I met.
This early-career experience piqued my curiosity about learning to improve my productivity and personal organization.
This curiosity eventually led me to read books to help improve my productivity:
After learning about how to improve my work performance, I started reading books to help improve my quality of life, such as:
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, Janet Mills
- Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston MD
I have read books across a range of topics such as: psychology, business, communication, and relationships.
Reading books has saved me so much time and helped me unlock new ways of thinking that I don't think I would have had if it weren't for what I learned from the books I have read.
Authors sometimes spend years gathering and researching information on a topic they are writing about. You get to learn their insights in a matter of hours.
As you explore various topics, you can make connections that help you approach problems you encounter through a unique lens, whether it is at work or in your personal life.
Don't Just Read. Highlight. Take Notes.
When you read, you should not just read the book and move on. Highlight and take notes on what you read. Reflect on what you are reading.
I personally read my books on Kindle, which makes it easy to highlight and then write notes on what I highlighted, but do what works best for you.
Highlighting and taking notes helps you retain the insights you gain while reading the book, as well as makes it easier to go back and reread what you found valuable from a particular book you read.
Conclusion
With so many people claiming different shortcuts in life, reading books is one of the few that are true.
You get to learn the insights of authors who sometimes spend years on a topic to write their book.
Life is short, and reading books helps you learn a lot and broaden your perspective in less time.