Even for those who absolutely love to read, it can often feel like a chore. Personally, I have surges and lulls in my reading habits throughout the year. However, for a few years, I’ve been reading 100+ books per year and have reached the reading goals I’ve set for myself. Along the way, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that I want to share with you!
Have a space where you read
Choosing a location to read is an important decision! Equally as important is knowing what spaces don’t work for you. If reading on your bed is a surefire way for you to fall asleep, then that probably shouldn’t be your reading place. I was lucky enough to have extra room in my house so I set up the corner of my room as a book nook. We bought a few shelves from IKEA, decorated them, bought a convertible chair and some stick-on LED lights. It’s a very cozy corner where I can drink tea and read to my heart’s desire. Although you might not have a corner available, a chair or armchair will work nicely if they’re comfortable!
Quit
One of the best traits I have, in my opinion, is that I’m really good at quitting. If I’m not feeling a book, I have no qualms in putting it down. I’m sure that some of the books I’ve given up on are considered masterpieces, and that is fine by me – I don’t refute that they are. They’re just not for me. Sometimes, a book might seem perfect for me, but it’s not the book I need in that moment. There have been books I’ve returned to (looking at you, Devil in the White City) and ended up loving when I tried a second time. It’s important to me that I never shame myself for jumping ship, and I think it’s a vital skill to learn if you want to get out of that reading lull.
Read whatever you want to read the way you want to!
Listen: there are going to be people that try to convince you that audiobooks aren’t real books or that nonfiction is superior to fiction. My advice to you is to ignore those people and do what feels right for you. If you are a young adult junkie (guilty!), then that is your jam. Read that until the sun comes up! If a dog solving mysteries is your yum, who am I to yuck it?! All reading is real reading, and if you can devour a certain kind of book, then that will only help you achieve your reading goals.
Be realistic
If you’re hitting a solid 5-book-per-year pace right now, your new goal should probably not be 100 books. Ask yourself: what do I have the time for? What can I commit to? There is no greater feeling to me than reaching the amount I’ve set for myself and by making your goal out of reach, you are denying yourself that serotonin. Even if you commit to reading 10 books this year, you’ve doubled the amount you read previously and that is a victory you should celebrate. Being realistic will ensure that you don’t feel demotivated if you fall behind.
Make your books visible
You know that phrase “out of sight, out of mind”? It rings extremely true for me. The second that I don’t see something every day, I will forget about it. I bought a violin a couple of years ago and the second it went into a closet, I stopped touching it. When it comes to books, if I’m currently reading a book, I leave it on my nightstand. I also always have my Kindle visible. Seeing something daily is the best reminder.
Don’t force it
To be honest, I haven’t felt like reading for a couple days now. But I also know that I can’t force myself to read. Reading is something I am passionate about and there is no point in making it feel like it’s my job – that will only lead to me hating it. The year I graduated college is the year that the amount of books I read per year started increasing. That is in large part due to the fact that I wasn’t being forced to read things that I wasn’t that interested in. Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to have a lull. Keep thinking about reading and there will be a time that excitement comes back.
Find a reading buddy
Having someone to squeal about a book with is integral. I have several reading buddies (Helen being one of them), and I love to recommend books and get book recommendations from these friends. Helen and I will sometimes do mini book clubs with just the two of us reading the same book and checking in on each other. Similar to television and movies, it’s fun to talk about books with others. If you don’t have someone in real life that can be your reading buddy, websites like Goodreads and The StoryGraph are wonderful places to find an e-buddy.
Make a list
I love using the websites mentioned above, as well as the Reading List app to have a list of books I plan to read. I especially like Reading List because sometimes I think, “I’m not really in the mood to read anything except a mystery novel” and I can type “mystery” into a search of the books on my list to find all the books that fit that criterion. Having a list to refer to is also really helpful not only to organize your to-read list but also so that you can have options when you’re starting a new book. And it’s always good to have options, right?
Set aside time
Time is usually the reason most people feel they aren’t reaching their reading goals. I’ll admit – I have given up some television to read, but I don’t have a job that requires me more than 40 hours a week or kids who need me all the time. I am privileged with the luxury of time in this regard. But I also think that you don’t need hours of free time to read. If you can find 10-20 minutes a day to read, that is time you have dedicated to yourself and to your hobby. If you can steal away for even a few minutes to read a couple of pages, I think you’ll find yourself reading more than you were before.
Don’t beat yourself up
If you don’t end up meeting your reading goals, it’s okay. What matters is that you tried and did the best for yourself. Not everyone is going to read a gazillion books a year. But even if you read a little bit, you learned a little bit or you entered into a new world. You will find your reading groove one day – I believe in you. In the mean time, be kind to yourself and do what makes you happy.
