Pack your suitcase: Get comfortable
Introduction
Packing a suitcase to take along on your trip requires that you think about your own comfort and physical needs. What will the weather be like in your destination? Will you need a shady hat and sunblock, or a warm sweater and mittens? Do you have a lucky scarf that you like to put on every morning, or a special pillow that helps you fall asleep at night? Will you need earplugs or an eye mask to help block out the noise and light around you so you can sleep or concentrate?
It is very difficult to appreciate a new place when you are concerned with your own physical well-being; if you are too hot, too cold, too tired, or lacking your basic creature comforts, your memories of your trip might not be pleasant, no matter where you are.
Reading is a similar endeavor. In order to focus on, retain, and appreciate the material you are reading, it is important that you are not distracted by your physical state or surroundings. By taking a few moments to "pack your suitcase" before you set off on your reading journey, you can make your "trip" much more relaxed and enjoyable. Remember that you are at your best when you are calm, comfortable, and engaged with your task.
Your "packing list": How to read comfortably
Choose your spot. Where and when will you read most effectively? Can you find a quiet spot where you can concentrate? Do you need a well-organized, well-lit space where you can take notes as you read? Different readers have different preferences, and if you can identify your own, you will be able to read more efficiently.
Remember what you know about how you learn best. How can you use what you know about your learning style to increase the effectiveness of your reading? Do you learn best when you hear something out loud? Try reading out loud. Do you learn best when you are moving or doing something? Take lots of notes, or try jumping rope or walking in between sections, thinking about what you just read.
Stop periodically. Don't let yourself get tired. And don't try to read a long, complex text in one sitting because you are worried that you won't remember it all if you don't. Instead, organize what you just finished reading on paper as notes, and then review your notes quickly when you sit down to start reading again. If you have used pre-reading strategies to create a map of the reading before you start, this will be easier.
Join in the conversation. Use your margin notes or a reading journal to articulate questions or concerns you have, or connections you make, while you are reading. Talk back. Remember: reading and writing are connected, and if you write while you read, your meaning-making will be that much richer. Read actively.
