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How much time do you dedicate each day to self-education or self-improvement?

The question caught my attention while I read an article in “Business Insider.” According to the piece, 88% of rich people “devote 30 minutes more each day” to reading for the two above-mentioned reasons.

Those findings are the result of a five-year study about daily habits of self-made millionaires, as reported by Tom Corley in “Change Your Habits Change Your Life.”

Corley contends reading is a major success magnet. It makes sense.

Reading - whether you choose fiction or nonfiction - supplies knowledge. Reading critically builds analytical skills, teaches how to sort through problems and supports decision making.

Reading spurs creativity. Reading may prompt you to dabble in other artistic adventures. It may push you to synthesize the material you’re reading and put it into action.

Reading also builds empathy. It’s a means to learning about other people’s struggles and how they handle adversity.

Reading increases concentration. Focusing on what you are reading takes practice. Don’t skim. Devour every word. You’ll notice how concentration on other tasks improves.

For me, taking time to read reduces stress. It’s a relaxing way to end the day.

Do you devote 30 minutes a day to reading?

In January, I set a goal to read at least two chapters every night. That’s tough when some nights don’t end until the wee hours of the next day. Yet, I try to meet that goal. If you’ve seen the Schindler library, it fills half a room of our house, so I have no excuses not to read.

I imagine I average at least 30 to 60 minutes reading the news or news about the news industry each day. I still long to read fiction. It’s an escape from the daily grind and, as a writer, gives insight into other writing styles.

And, I definitely want to hold the book or newspaper or magazine. Reading on screen is tough for me. When I’m in front of a computer screen for a large portion of the day, the last thing I want to do is read via screen. I’ve noticed when I do read something online, I tend to skim more often. You simply don’t get the full message.

I’m not sure if I qualify as rich, I guess it depends on how you define the term. Yet, reading is and always will be part of my daily routine. Currently, I’m rereading “The Secret of Magic” by Deborah Johnson, a former Omahan who now lives in Mississippi. It’s part southern gothic, part historical fiction, a tribute to Johnson’s grandfather and his hero, Thurgood Marshall. Why am I rereading this particular book? I think it would make a brilliant screenplay. The writing is magical.

I’m curious ... how often do you read? Do you make it part of your daily routine? If not, why? Share your thoughts on reading with me and let me know what books are on your recommendation list by emailing [email protected].