I LOVE reading, but it also is one of the quickest things for me to drop when life gets busy. I hate it when that happens because I genuinely love reading. I notice that when I am consistently reading, I fall asleep more easily, I use pockets of time more wisely and I feel more relaxed. And at the time I write this, I have nearly 500 books on my to-read list. These are the tips I use to read more-hopefully some of them work for you too!
Schedule a Reading Time
This is my top tip. I try and read every night before bed, even if it is only for three minutes. Not only does this help me fall asleep, once I start the habit it is so much easier to keep it up. Look at your schedule. Maybe you want to read every morning for the first 5 minutes. Maybe you could read when you get out of the shower and towel dry. Just pick a time, do it at the same time every day and stick to it.
Always Have a Book on You
How many times have you been in a place where you had nothing to do and you are scrolling on your phone? Waiting at the dentist’s office? Getting an oil change? Sitting in your car waiting for your carry out to be ready? Read! You can carry your book on you or have ebooks ready. The free Kindle app can be on your phone, and many libraries use Libby. I read ebooks on Libby all the time!
Listen to Audiobooks
Now that my commute for is a little longer, I have started listening to audiobooks. This helps me get through more books and it helps traffic be more bearable. I prefer to listen to books of short stories or anecdotes. Right now, I’m listening to Lessons from Lucy.
Read Multiple Books
This can help keep things fresh and help you get through more books. I am currently reading three books (a lot I know, but it works!). I listen to a lighthearted book in the car, I read a personal development type book (right now I’m reading Own Your Everyday) during quiet time and I read a fiction book for leisure.
Track Your Progress
I find it super motivating to set a goal and stick to it. I love using Goodreads for this purpose. I can log all of the books I read, track progress with each book and follow my own challenge. Every January I set a goal for how many books I want to read that year and Goodreads makes it so easy to track that.
Have a To-Read List
When you see a book that sounds good, write it down. When you need a new book to read you will already have a list of books to choose from. This makes it so much easier when you are in a rut! Goodreads, as mentioned above, is completely free and it is a great way to track books you want to read. You can have one big list, or break it into smaller categories! Need inspiration for your list? Goodreads has tons! I also love the Spivey Book Club Instagram Account and Facebook Group-I get tons of reading inspo there!
Read for Cheap or Free
Buying books is an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. 75% of the books I read come from my local library. Not only do I love to read hardback, but my library also has an extensive selection of ebooks and audiobooks. If you are an avid reader, try Kindle Unlimited for ebooks ($9.99 a month) or Audible ($14.95 a month) for audiobooks. I also love to order books on Thriftbooks and I have a profile on Book Bub that gives me alerts on deals that align with my interests.
Carve Out Time with a Timer
I get it, we are all busy. A common reason I hear from people is that they have no time in their schedule. I completely get that complaint, but I also know I’m not the only one who find themselves wasting time. I often get sucked down rabbit holes of watching youtube, scrolling Instagram, watching TV and more. I find that if I set a timer, even for 10 minutes, and put all technology away, I can get more reading it. Try it tonight. When you find yourself zoning out on your phone, set a 5-minute timer and read instead. You would be surprised at how much it can help you read!
Bonus Tip: Join Me in Reading!
First, if you have not added me on Goodreads yet, go for it! Also, head to my Instagram account and click on the book club highlight reel. That is where you can learn more about my book club and reading challenge that I host.
I hope these tips help you! If you want to join in my December reading challenge, click the picture above and grab the tracker. There are 31 presents on the page. Set your own goal. Each present can mean you read that day. Each one could also mean you read a chapter or read for 10 minutes. That way, if you read for 30 minutes one day you can color in three presents and take the next two days off. I hope this post and the challenge helps you fall in love with reading again!