Reading as a Keystone Habit

The Ripple Effect of Reading

Charles Duhigg popularized the term keystone habit in his 2012 book The Power of Habit. A keystone habit is a single habit that cascades into other positive changes in your life. For example, I have a friend who decided to train for a marathon in 2017. He was not a runner but began running to train for the race. That running habit led to a better diet to fuel those runs, earlier bedtimes to recuperate, and overall better fitness to prepare for the upcoming race. His longtime back pain disappeared as an unexpected side benefit.

The simple act of running, a keystone habit, generated further positive habits and unexpected benefits.

Reading is also a keystone habit. Here are some cascading habits and major life benefits that often result from a life of reading:

Productivity

Reading necessitates better allotment of your time. You simply can’t (or rather don’t want to) waste minutes or hours during the day when you are trying to make your way through exhilarating books.

Personal Growth

Your mind doesn’t stop when you put the book down. You’ll begin thinking about what you read while you’re doing chores, exercising (another great keystone habit), or driving. Conversations will intersect with books you’ve read and it will lead you down new and exciting paths.

Curiosity Habit

Some of those paths become rabbit holes. The amazing thing is that these curiosity paths are often new and unexpected. It's like uncovering a hidden facet of yourself with each book, sparked by the discovery of subjects you were previously unaware of. Next thing you know, you’ve bought other books and excitedly talk about this new topic to anyone who will listen. I call this the curiosity habit and it’s one of the most exciting parts about reading.

Cross-Pollination

Your reading habit will bleed into your work life. You’ll find connection points between books and problems you encounter at work. The habit itself might produce insights as well. For example, early on in this reading project, I found that I could better recall books I was reading if I just tried to remember one thing from each book. I now take apply that habit to my work in online consulting, focusing on the one thing my client can do to transform their entire business. I’m attempting to identify the keystone habit that will direct their path to greater success.

Bookstore Habit

If you start reading, you will inevitably adopt a bookstore browsing habit. Bookstores are a fantastic way to feed your curiosity habit. Sometimes you just need to see what other books are out there. Now, every trip out of town will become a treasure hunt.

Reduced Stress, Better Sleep, Less Anxiety

Reading is truly the antidote to much of what plagues us in our day and age. Screens drive anxiety, reduce our attention spans, and disorient us to the urgent. Books do the exact opposite on each of those fronts. Just consider the difference between 30 minutes of reading a physical book vs 30 minutes of scrolling on a bright screen immediately before bed. The reading habit will lead to a calmer mind and better sleep habits.

Spiritual Benefits

When you read books that have stood the test of time, you begin encountering ideas that are deep in the human soul. For example, I’ve seen countless examples of small daily decisions and habits setting an overall direction for one’s life. This comes through in fiction, biographies, and countless other types of books. On a spiritual level, that has helped me better understand faith and how to view my countless choices throughout the day. This is more of a mindset habit, but it is a powerful one.