How I Overcame the "Reader's Block" and Conquered My Pile of Unfinished Books
Unless a book truly captivates me from the very beginning, I often struggle to finish it. I'd lose interest, regret the purchase, fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy, and eventually, give up.
As a dedicated productivity enthusiast, I'm also drawn to every book that promises even the slightest life-altering insights. This often leads to a familiar scenario:
When I was living in Taiwan, I hadn't finished reading over 70% of the books I'd purchased. Since moving back to Italy in 2023, the situation has improved, but the challenge of unfinished books persists.
The Japanese have a fascinating word for this habit: tsundoku (積ん読), a combination of "pile up" (積) and "read" (読). If you, like me, are grappling with a serious case of tsundoku, here's how I finally broke free.
Experimenting: Commuting Can Be Surprisingly Productive
Back in November 2020, I started a new job that involved a two-hour daily commute. After a few days of mindless doomscrolling, I decided to transform that time into a personal reading experiment.
I began treating each book as a habit to cultivate. Reading books I didn't initially enjoy felt a lot like flossing: something I knew I should do, but consistently postponed.
My first approach was inspired by James Clear's 2-Minute Rule:
When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.
The core idea is to tackle a daunting task by simplifying it into an effort so minimal, it's virtually impossible to skip.
So, I started by reading just a few pages each day. The key was to read enough to make tangible progress, but not so much that I'd grow tired of the book.
It's far better to start small and build momentum than to aim big and give up entirely (a lesson from James Clear).
Planning and Consistency: My Secret Weapons
After some trial and error, I discovered the power of strategic breaks. I started allowing a few days to pass between reading sessions for the same book. This pause would reignite my interest, and I'd find myself reading more each time.
But what to do on those "break days"? There's no rule dictating that you must focus on only one book at a time. So, I filled those days with other captivating reads.
Soon, I was enjoying a few pages from a different book every day, ensuring no more than one week passed between returning to the same book. For instance, I'd read Book A every Monday, Book B every Tuesday, and so on.
This "week of buffer," enriched with diverse stories from other authors, made me crave Book A again. Having a structured schedule also helped me resist the urge to abandon books, a habit I'd struggled with before.
Week after week, the number of pages I read per session steadily increased. In just five months, I proudly completed six of those tsundoku books.
Why This Approach Works: 5 Compelling Reasons
What makes this process so incredibly effective (at least for me)?
- Renewed Interest: Picking up the same book after a few days genuinely rekindles my interest, or at least eases any lingering dread.
- Unwavering Commitment: Scheduling ensures I commit to the book, preventing me from misplacing it or forgetting about it entirely.
- Stimulated Creativity: Reading diverse books simultaneously sparks my creativity and curiosity, positively impacting other areas of my life.
- Boosted Motivation: Making tangible progress on books that once caused guilt is an incredible motivator.
- Expanded Horizons: Knowing there's a viable way to complete even the most challenging books empowers me to explore new genres and authors with confidence.
While I no longer have a daily commute, I continue to apply this reading schedule. I reserve weekends for other forms of content, such as magazines or blog articles.
Your Turn: How to Get Started
If you're ready to embark on your own reading transformation, here are a few actionable steps you can take right now:
- Take an honest look at your book collection and inventory all the books you haven't finished yet.
- Grab a piece of paper or open your calendar/to-do list app and schedule a different book for each day of the week.
- Strive for a varied schedule, ensuring similar books are spaced out.
- Prepare the book for the next day in the evening. This eliminates any excuses for leaving it behind.
Before I sign off, here's one final, powerful tip. For me, reading enthusiastic reviews of books that initially failed to capture my interest often gives them a "second chance." If you're struggling with a particular book, delve into a few reviews. They might offer a fresh perspective, provide a better understanding of what to expect, or highlight aspects that only become clear later in the reading journey.
Conquering that pile of half-read books is absolutely achievable. It requires some effort, but the rewards extend far beyond the organization of your bookshelf.
Have you made progress with your reading? Share your insights in the comments below!!