How to Force Yourself to Read the Instructions First
Confront the reasons why you avoid instructions or instruction manuals., Make yourself at least glance at the instructions whenever you receive a new item., Determine how important it is to read the directions., Consider that you could be missing...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Confront the reasons why you avoid instructions or instruction manuals.
Some people consistently read the directions, cover to cover, but not you.
Why? You feel as though instructions are a waste of time.
You just want the meat and potatoes of the new item and don’t need to know every detail about it.
You think that you already know what you are doing.
Some people feel as though “they got this” and barrel through because assembling the item or administering the medication is easy.
You are too busy or in too big of a hurry to stop and read all the instructions.
Many people work at the speed of light, trying to accomplish more in their day than Hercules.
One glance of the instruction booklet and you know reading the directions will be way too time consuming. -
Step 2: Make yourself at least glance at the instructions whenever you receive a new item.
Whether it’s a new entertainment system that must be put together or an upgraded iPod, tell yourself to pull out the instructions and at least give them a chance.
Recall the last time you tried to assemble/use something new and it blew up in your face.
Hopefully the item didn’t actually blow up in your face, however there has to be a series of mishaps and misuses in your past if you’ve refused to read the directions.
Think about what went wrong and why (most likely because you didn't consult with the instructions).
Have someone else hold you accountable.
Tell your spouse, roommate or friend that he/she needs to back you up in your goal to read the instructions first. , Ponder the ramifications of not reading the directions.
In some cases, not reading the directions could put you or your family in harm’s way.
Is this an item that could put you or your family in jeopardy because you don’t read the directions? If you are administering medication or a safety device not reading the instructions could result in someone getting injured or possibly killed.
For example, not reading the directions on how to safely install an infant seat in your vehicle could mean the difference between whether your infant makes it out of an accident alive or not.
Could you assemble or use the item incorrectly, which could cause harm to you or someone else? For example, if you are using an at home blood pressure reading system, could your avoidance of the instructions lead you to misread or misinterpret a reading (possibly making you miss life saving information)? , Remember the last time you “winged it” when putting together your entertainment system and only found out years later that the system had an extra component for storage.
You already spent the money for the item so make sure you make use of every penny.
You may be paying for extra features that you aren’t utilizing, simply because you blow off the instructions.
Ignoring the instructions could delay progress.
For example, if you receive an antibiotic from the doctor and the only way the pill is absorbed is if you take it on an empty stomach, it would be important to know this in order to hasten your recovery.
You could be taking the pill with meals only to have to hit round two of the same medication because you aren’t getting well.
Your item’s features could save you both time and money.
What if the feature you blew off finding more about could actually make your day run more efficiently or save you money in the long run? For instance, many new computers provide you with the “plug and play” capabilities, but until users read the instruction manual they will never realize that their system has built in features that can help them do their job or manage their day. -
Step 3: Determine how important it is to read the directions.
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Step 4: Consider that you could be missing out on important/exciting features.
Detailed Guide
Some people consistently read the directions, cover to cover, but not you.
Why? You feel as though instructions are a waste of time.
You just want the meat and potatoes of the new item and don’t need to know every detail about it.
You think that you already know what you are doing.
Some people feel as though “they got this” and barrel through because assembling the item or administering the medication is easy.
You are too busy or in too big of a hurry to stop and read all the instructions.
Many people work at the speed of light, trying to accomplish more in their day than Hercules.
One glance of the instruction booklet and you know reading the directions will be way too time consuming.
Whether it’s a new entertainment system that must be put together or an upgraded iPod, tell yourself to pull out the instructions and at least give them a chance.
Recall the last time you tried to assemble/use something new and it blew up in your face.
Hopefully the item didn’t actually blow up in your face, however there has to be a series of mishaps and misuses in your past if you’ve refused to read the directions.
Think about what went wrong and why (most likely because you didn't consult with the instructions).
Have someone else hold you accountable.
Tell your spouse, roommate or friend that he/she needs to back you up in your goal to read the instructions first. , Ponder the ramifications of not reading the directions.
In some cases, not reading the directions could put you or your family in harm’s way.
Is this an item that could put you or your family in jeopardy because you don’t read the directions? If you are administering medication or a safety device not reading the instructions could result in someone getting injured or possibly killed.
For example, not reading the directions on how to safely install an infant seat in your vehicle could mean the difference between whether your infant makes it out of an accident alive or not.
Could you assemble or use the item incorrectly, which could cause harm to you or someone else? For example, if you are using an at home blood pressure reading system, could your avoidance of the instructions lead you to misread or misinterpret a reading (possibly making you miss life saving information)? , Remember the last time you “winged it” when putting together your entertainment system and only found out years later that the system had an extra component for storage.
You already spent the money for the item so make sure you make use of every penny.
You may be paying for extra features that you aren’t utilizing, simply because you blow off the instructions.
Ignoring the instructions could delay progress.
For example, if you receive an antibiotic from the doctor and the only way the pill is absorbed is if you take it on an empty stomach, it would be important to know this in order to hasten your recovery.
You could be taking the pill with meals only to have to hit round two of the same medication because you aren’t getting well.
Your item’s features could save you both time and money.
What if the feature you blew off finding more about could actually make your day run more efficiently or save you money in the long run? For instance, many new computers provide you with the “plug and play” capabilities, but until users read the instruction manual they will never realize that their system has built in features that can help them do their job or manage their day.
About the Author
Victoria Fisher
Victoria Fisher specializes in arts and creative design and has been creating helpful content for over 20 years. Victoria is committed to helping readers learn new skills and improve their lives.
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