Does the very thought of even looking at a textbook make you want to pull the covers over your head and hide? Do you find yourself getting bogged down by complicated sentences, complicated ideas, and too much text that you just want to skim through? If yes, then you’re not alone.
A lot of students have trouble reading textbooks. They found it difficult to complete the college coursework that requires them to read the books. They prefer to take help from economic assignment writers rather than going through a pile of research material.
If you are also suffering from the fear of reading textbooks, there is no need to fear anymore. This article will give you some tips for overcoming that fear of reading textbooks so you can start getting the grades you deserve.
8 Ways To Overcome The Fear Of Reading
Reading a book is a great way to broaden your perspective about something but it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Here are the 8 proven ways you can manage reading textbooks.
1. Understand Why You Have This Fear
It’s important to understand the root of your fear. In order to overcome it, you need to know what’s behind it and how it is affecting your life.
Fear of reading textbooks is a common problem. This fear comes from two main sources: self-limiting beliefs and learned behaviors.
● Self-limiting Beliefs
Self-limiting beliefs are ideas we have about ourselves that affect our behavior, they can be conscious or unconscious. They may have been formed in childhood when we were praised or punished for things we did or didn’t do as kids. Or they could be a more recent development stemming from seeing other people behave in certain ways and believing that those behaviors are correct (or incorrect).
● Learned Behaviors
Learned behaviors can also lead us down negative paths. Like avoiding things that make us uncomfortable because someone else told us not to do them at some point in time, without explaining why these things are bad/good/etc. So now there’s this vague feeling of uneasiness whenever we encounter something similar later on in life, but fail to find the real reason for feeling this way.
For example, I shouldn’t enjoy reading textbooks because everyone else thinks they’re boring.
2. Try To Make A Habit Of Reading
If you want to overcome your fear of reading, you first have to fight your inner will. You have to work on yourself and try your best to make a habit of reading. And let me tell you this, acquiring the habit of reading is not as hard as you think it is.
The first step you need to take is to read a lot. Reading will help you improve your vocabulary, reading skills, and critical thinking abilities. It will also make it easier for you to express yourself in writing.
If you find it difficult to read a large amount of information at once, you can break it down into small chunks. But don’t give up on reading in any case.
3. Read Out Loud
Reading out loud is another great way to understand what you are reading. Reading out loud will help you understand the flow of the text. It will also give you a better understanding of what message the author is trying to convey.
Also, when you read out loud, it’s easier to notice any parts that don’t make sense or sound awkward. So when you finish working on your own writing task, this can help you figure out if there are parts of your text that need re-writing or editing before submitting them for review by an instructor or professor.
4. Take Notes As You Read
Taking notes as you read is also a great way to ensure that the information you are reading will stick. The key to taking good notes is that they should be clear and concise. When taking notes, there are some things you need to give proper attention to:
- What was the topic of this section/article? You can write it in as a title or at least put down what it was about.
- Write important facts and details, but don’t add too many details. Because then your notes will get long and hard to understand later on when it’s time for review or studying them again.
- If there are any examples given in the text itself, write those down too. But only if you feel that they are important.
- You also need to make sure these notes aren’t too complicated either.
Although being able to write down everything might seem like an ideal situation since everyone gets excited about learning new things right away. But sometimes keeping things simple helps limit distractions and improve our focus overall.
5. Create A Study Schedule
When you’re learning something new, it’s important to break up your study into smaller chunks. Breaking up your studies into smaller chunks, makes each section feel less overwhelming and gives you more time to understand what you are reading before moving on to the next section.
In addition, this method works better than trying to read straight through without breaks. It also lets you review what you have learned before moving on. Plus, it will help reduce confusion and keep the focus on the material at hand.
If possible, try dividing your studies into one-hour segments or longer depending on how long each chapter is. And how much time there is available for studying that day or week (if school isn’t in session). Take advantage of any free time that comes up during the day. Such as lunch breaks at work or waiting for appointments. During this time, you can preview some pages from last night’s lesson plan so nothing gets forgotten.
6. Get A Study Buddy
You’re more likely to stay on track and avoid distractions if you have someone else to hold you accountable. This is also helpful when it comes to avoiding procrastination. In fact, having a study partner could be the difference between finishing your reading and not finishing it at all.
Studying with others can help keep you motivated when things get tough, and there will be times when things do get tough.
7. Get Some Rest And Exercise
Sleep is critical for focus, and exercise can help you sleep better. Did you know that studies show that regular workouts boost your attention span and reduce stress? Or that regular exercise is proven to lower levels of depression? Yes, it is true!
Exercise can also help you manage your fear of textbooks. It’s a tried-and-true method for overcoming phobias, and it’s even been prescribed by doctors to patients suffering from anxiety and depression.
Most mental health professionals recommend some simple exercises to help you fight your fears. The most common exercises are:
- Breathing exercise
- Muscle relaxation
- Yoga
- Meditation
Exercise can also make you healthier, happier, more productive, and more confident. All things that will improve how well you do in school (and life). Remember, if you do not work on yourself to overcome your fear of reading, it can take the worse shape of Bibliophobia (fear of books). Which will be even harder to treat then.
8. Do Not Cram For Your Exams
This is a common mistake and one that could cost you dearly. Reading is essential to academic success, and it doesn’t have to be dreadful. It is better to spread your studying over a longer period of time, and use effective strategies like the ones mentioned above.
Reading can be fun and rewarding, a great way to learn new things, and a great way to relax and unwind from the day’s stress. To make reading a textbook easier, it’s also important to get a feel for what your textbook is about before you start reading it.
So take some time to skim through the book and see how it’s organized. This can help you understand where each section fits into the overall picture. This is especially helpful when you’re writing your academic assignment like an essay or preparing for your upcoming exam.
Final Note
The fear of reading textbooks can be a big hurdle that prevents you from achieving your academic goals. If you can’t seem to get rid of your fear of reading textbooks, talk to someone about it. A counselor or even just a friend. They may be able to help you see that the things you’re worrying about aren’t really worth worrying over.
You can also try making some lifestyle changes like getting more sleep and eating well so that your mind isn’t foggy when it comes time for studying. If all else fails, don’t lose hope. Keep in mind that there’s always someone out there who will understand your pain. You just need to put some effort to reach that particular person.
