Read in the Now

 

I have too many books. I don’t have time to read them all. When I do read a book, I often don’t have a chance to use what I learned from it.

Now I’m taking a new approach to reading. I’m reading in the now.

Whenever I read, I’m always on the lookout for actionable items. When I find one, I highlight it in the book. Then when I go back and look at the highlights, it reads like a to-do list. “Do this,” “stop doing that,” “buy this,” and “start eating that.” I can go through the list later to improve my life and make the book work for me.

The problem with this approach is the to-do lists start growing. The time I have for action starts shrinking. The solution to this issue is to take action while you read the book. Apply those things to your life now. Instead of highlighting an actionable item for the future, make it your goal to do it on the same day you read it. If you can’t apply the lessons immediately, then you shouldn’t be reading that book.