I’m sort of ambivalent about New Year’s resolutions and intentions and all that. (Has anyone ever actually kept a New Year’s resolution? I thrive on goal setting, and I sure haven’t.) But there is one resolution that I can always get behind, at any time of year: reading more!
Maybe it’s all the people sharing their best reads last year. Or that my reading often gets a nice kick start over Christmas break. Or that I have some really good books waiting on my Kindle.
But all of it means that I really want to spend more time lost in a book.
If you’re like me and want to read more this year, this post is for you! I’ll share 9 easy tips for making your reading life a little better.
9 Tips to Read More
1. Keep a To Be Read list.
If you don’t have good books, you won’t read. And while it’s certainly possible to wander into a library and stumble across a great book, you’ll likely find even better books with a more strategic approach. If you don’t already, try keeping track of all your book recommendations on one To Be Read (TBR) list. Then use that list as your guide whenever you head to the library or bookstore.
The key to this strategy is ensuring that your list travels with you. It should be close at hand when you need it! Then, when you’re wandering around the library, you won’t require divine intervention to choose a just-right book. If your paper planner is always on your person, make a list there. Or start a note in your phone. Or create a document in your favorite productivity app. (Personally, I use and adore Trello. Here’s my exact process – I’ve used the same method for over 5 years now!)
Your list doesn’t have to be complicated. Jotting the title and author will do. If you are game to add anything additional, I also find it helpful to scribble a very short note about why I wanted to read the book.
2. Utilize library holds.
Libraries are magical places. And now, you can visit your local branch without leaving your couch. What a time to be alive.
I especially love the digital library stacks because you can set holds on books from your TBR list. When you’re getting close to the end of your current book queue (hahaha, she says, looking at the towering pile of books on her nightstand), you can log on to your local library’s website, choose a few books from your TBR, and with just a few clicks, put them on hold. That way, you don’t have to head to your library crossing your fingers they’ll have the buzziest new title, only to find it’s checked out yet again.
One of my other favorite pieces of library wizardry is that many libraries let you suspend or pause your holds. Sometimes it feels like all the holds come in at once. You already have 6 amazing books checked out – and you’re up next in the hold line for a book you’ve waited weeks to get. What to do? Just click pause or suspend on the hold. You’ll keep your place in line, but the book won’t be turned over to you until you un-pause. It’s the most amazing thing.
3. Set a timer.
This is my favorite trick from Laura Tremaine. Simply set a timer and read until the timer goes off. Don’t check your texts or pause for an Instagram break or even look at the clock. Just read. It’s way easier to fight off distractions this way. I use this trick whenever I have a limited time for reading, as it keeps me from constantly checking the clock. If I’m struggling to get into a book that I need to get through, this tip also helps me keep moving. It doesn’t just work for adults – it’s also great for establishing daily reading habits with reluctant kids.
4. Bring a book with you.
If you’re paying attention, there are lots of small pockets in your day where you can read. In the doctor’s office? Waiting in the car for your partner? On the Metro? All prime reading time.
I have found that having a Kindle helps me actually pull this off. While the actual device is small and light enough to fit in nearly any bag, I’m actually able to make the most of random reading moments using the Kindle app on my phone. Whenever I’m caught without my actual Kindle device – say, waiting in an unexpectedly long line at the post office – the app syncs between where I left off on my device and my progress in my phone. I can jump right into whatever book I’m reading, and it. is. miraculous.
5. Consider audiobooks.
All the time you spend driving or folding laundry or walking the dog? Prime audiobook time!
If you’ve struggled with audiobooks in the past, be choosy with your narrators. The narrator absolutely does matter – I’ve abandoned great books on audio because I didn’t like how a character was voiced. You could also try a new genre. I find that any fiction with lots of characters can get confusing, and some long books can feel tedious 12 hours in. Instead, I prefer memoir, nonfiction and mysteries.
Memoirs can be especially fun if the author narrates. I’m especially a sucker for celebrity memoirs like Bossypants, written and narrated by Tina Fey. I also find that I stick with nonfiction longer on audio. For some reason, I am more inclined to keep listening through lagging spots than I would be to keep reading through them. The Boys in the Boat, narrated by Edward Hermann, is my favorite example. Finally, mysteries are the absolute best way to pass the time on a road trip. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sherlock Holmes is perfect for testing the waters here. It’s not too long and will keep you hooked.
Most libraries have an adequate audiobook selection, but I currently have an on-again-off-again affair with Audible. Once I use up my credits, I might switch to Libro.fm, which supports independent bookstores.
6. Make time in your routine to read.
Would it start your day right to read for a few minutes in the morning? Could you read before bed instead of watching TikTok? Could you play an audiobook every evening when you make dinner?
Picking a consistent time to read is one of the very best ways to read more. (I personally am a devoted bedtime reader.)
7. Track the books you read.
There is something very gratifying about watching the books you’ve read pile up! There are dozens of ways to do this. People make multi-column spreadsheets, track with Goodreads, or write reviews in beautiful book journals. My Completed Books list, which also lives in Trello, just includes the title and author. I find that anything too complicated prevents me from tracking at all.
8. Find a reading community.
Being part of a book group is beneficial for so many reasons. It holds you accountable for actually finishing the book. It helps you think about what you’ve read from multiple perspectives. And it can give you great book recommendations! Check with your local library, independent bookstore, or MeetUp. You can also start your own book club – all it takes is a readerly friend or two.
9. Complete a reading challenge.
Are you a person who finds checking items off a to-do list gratifying? Then a reading challenge might be incredibly motivating for you. There are so many reading challenges available online, but my very favorite is Modern Mrs. Darcy’s. She doesn’t include fluffy categories like “read a book with a blue cover” or “read a book with 20 letters in the title.” Instead, her categories are designed to help you choose really excellent titles. She is currently hosting an “evergreen” reading challenge to help you figure out what you’d like more of in your reading life – you can start any time.
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