Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits--to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life

by Gretchen Rubin

Obligers may find it difficult to form a habit, because often we undertake habits for our own benefit, and Obligers do things more easily for others than for themselves. For them, the key is external accountability.

Outer accountability is key for Obligers! How might you add outer accountability to support the desire to read more? For instance, you could join a book club where you're really expected to read the book. You could read the books assigned to your children, to discuss with them. You could have family reading time, where every family member reads his or her own book at the same time. You could think about your duty to your future self ("Future-Gretchen will be so disappointed if I get to the end of the year and don't accomplish my reading challenge"). You could think about your duty to be a good role model for others. You could join a virtual group on my free "Better" app where people hold each other accountable. It's not hard to create outer accountability, once you know that that's what you need.