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Every year, I read about 75 to 100 books – yes, of my own volition.
Why?
Because I love reading, I love books, I love learning, and I absolutely love fiction.
I get a lot of friends asking me how they can read more, and, finally, I have decided to make a blog post on my top 10 most effective tips on how to read more.
Hopefully, you enjoy these tips! I hope you find them helpful enough to try and/or incorporate them in your life in order to read more! 📚
What the video instead
1. Setting goals
Setting goals is my first tip! I personally believe that when you set reading as one of your goals; you are more likely to prioritize reading because you now have that personal drive to achieve your goals.
Some reading goals can look like the following:
- Read a book a week (52 books a year)
- Read 5 chapters every night and/or morning
- Read X amount of pages per day
- Read 15 fiction books and 15 non-fiction books this year so about 2.5 books a month
Furthermore, you can track your progress in a calendar or bullet journal and you can check-in with yourself to see if you are reading more and/or making time for reading.
By setting goals, you become mindful of reading a little bit more every single day. You can set long-term and short-term reading goals in order to help you read more.
Also, by prioritizing a little more reading into your life, you can more readily form the habit of reading.
Basically, scheduling your reading time can help you reach your reading goals. Thus, this leads us to the next tip on how to read more.
I love love love using reading journals to keep me accountable! Here are some of my favourites:
SEE ALSO: How to Achieve Your Goals
2. Blocking time
Another tip for reading more would be to block off time in order to read and achieve those goals you set for yourself (if you want) regarding reading.
In this time blocking, I always tell my friends set your phone aside and try to read 15 minutes without looking or checking your phone. I tell them that they can even try to time themselves to see if they’re progressing and getting into the flow of reading.
I think a lot of people that reading is like any thing else we do – at first it takes time until we develop the muscle and habit of doing it.
As you would block time off in your day to focus solely on working out; you would do the same for reading if you’re not accustomed to reading every day and/or for longer periods of time.
3. Read from different genres & formats
When you read from different genres and/or from different formats (physical, audio, digital), you keep yourself from falling into a reading slump.
In doing so, you can read more than one book at a time. Some people don’t like this approach but it might actually help you get out reading slumps since you take a break from a book – by reading another book – before returning back to it!
I always read 5+ books at a time and of different genres and formats!
Before bed, I normally read an eBook. During the day, I normally read physical books and listen to finance/personal development books through Audio.
Occasionally I’ll read a book start to finish and/or in one sitting. Or, what usually also happens is that I choose to finish one book because I get engrossed in it, or, I want to start finishing books before picking up yet another book.
Somehow this works for me since I do finish around 75-100 books a year!
Additionally, you can also try audiobooks. A lot of people love audiobooks because it doesn’t require them to have their eyes on the page and/or to hold a physical book.
Some people prefer multitasking and audiobooks can allow you to do chores, walk outside, garden, – which ever manual activity you wish to do – while you are still reading and getting through books via listening to Audiobooks.
4. Buddy read books
Buddy reading books (reading with a friend, sibling, etc.) can help you to read more books as there is another person that is reading the book from start to finish alongside with you.
There is a shared accountability on both ends. Nothing like a little peer pressure to get you motivated to read a full novel quicker than you normally would! 😉
Plus, there are other benefits to buddy reading! You will always have something to discuss and be excited about with a person that has experienced the same book as you.
Generally speaking, we take the power of books for granted. In reality, books have always promoted shared connectivity and enabled us interesting topics of discussion.
5. Join reading communities
Another way to get you to read more is to join reading communities. They are everywhere online in the last decade: Bloggers, YouTubers, Instagrammers, Goodreads users, to name the least.
Some reading communities involve joining book clubs online or even offline. Book clubs still exist (and by the way, they are thriving) and they are more accessible than ever with the online reading community!
One of my favourite online book clubs is Belletrist which is co-founded by famous actress Emma Roberts. You can read more about Belletrist on their website, here. (I also love their newsletter and Instagram page!)
6. Join fun reading challenges
Similarly, you can join fun reading challenges. Reading challenges encourage you not only to partake in a community but they also create fun challenges and/or. reading prompts in order for you to complete the reading challenge.
And, essentially, to read more books than you normally would.
Most reading challenges take place for a one-week challenge or a 24-hour time period or some even have a group book in which there is a virtual live show by the end of the challenge.
If you watch BookTubers (YouTubers that talk about books), you would know all about these fun (and free) online reading challenges!
You can do a quick search on YouTube. Simply type in: [reading challenge].
7. Get inspired
Additionally, getting inspired by other people’s reading journey will further motivate you to read more books.
It’s like when you watch videos and you see the ‘before and after’ pictures of people that have lost weight – yet, it does not create an extreme reaction when it comes to reading books.
But, when you see others online and real-life that read a lot of books, you think to yourself, “Hey, I can try doing that too!”
For example: on YouTube, I watch reading vlogs, monthly reading wrap-ups, TBR (to-be-read) videos in order to inspire me to read more. Also, I really enjoy watching videos on books and reading because to me they’re also fun, informative, inspiring, and relaxing.
You can watch people read live on YouTube or watch what are known as ‘Read with Me’ videos. I also watch reading vlogs. These videos make it feel like you are virtually reading with someone without actually having to necessarily read with them – if you catch my drift.
Another thing that gets me inspired is to listen to online reading playlists just because they get me in the reading mood and I love discovering new music while I read. 🎶
8. Read the books you’re excited about
Read the books you’re excited about! Just do it! Stop saving that book for later! Start reading that special book!
Honestly, just read it. Life is too short to be holding onto the perfect book for that perfect time.
No time is more perfect than now; the present.
I suffer from this pattern of thinking too. And as a result, I have over hundreds of books saved for ‘the perfect time’ and you know what? In the past, this way of thinking has stopped me from reading books period.
So now, I just read what I want at any chance I have. That long book I’ve just bought, I’ll read it now because life’s too short and I am too excited to not read it.
When you’re the most excited to read a book that’s when you should read it! Stop making excuses for a better time. Stop telling yourself you should be reading something more serious or informative.
Just read it! Give yourself permission! No more excuses. Read what you love and watch yourself fall in love with reading all over again. 😍
SEE ALSO: How to Focus in the Present and be Happier
9. DNF books
In the same matter, you should DNF books.
The term DNF is very familiar to the book community. DNF stands for Did-Not-Finish. When people say they DNF’ed a book, they mean that they didn’t finish a book and that they either won’t finish it for now or don’t have any desire finishing it determinately.
Similarly to the idea of ‘read the books you’re excited about,’ stop reading the books you don’t enjoy and that you’re not excited about. (Unless you need to read them for school. 😅)
You’re either not in the mood for that book or you just really don’t enjoy it. But, somehow, you think it is your duty to finish it. It’s an admirable trait – to finish and see things through completion. Trust me, I am the same way.
But if it’s detrimental to your desire to even read because you must finish that book, then you might find yourself not reading at all. The way I see it – you either force yourself to finish it and move on, or you DNF it and move on.
Who’s to say you won’t come back to that book after reading many books you enjoy first?
10. Research new releases and pre-order books
My final tip for reading more involves researching new releases and consequently pre-ordering books that interest you. Books that you are excited about. The ones from your all-time favourite authors or your all-time favourite genre, topics, etc.
Not only are you helping by supporting authors and the excitement surrounding their new and/or debut novel, but you also have a book to look forward to.
Plus, you’re more inclined to read it right away because you have paid the full price for the book and you are anticipating its release.
I personally do this with every new Cassandra Clare book. Because I simply cannot wait to read the next book of her expansive Shadowhunter series. (To read more about this series, you can browse her Cassandra Clare’s Goodreads page here.)
Furthermore, when you research new releases and new books, you reduce the chances of picking up a random book that may or may not disappoint you. This tip is especially if you know your reading taste and/or interests.
Reversely, sometimes you might pick up a book from a genre you normally wouldn’t read from because it has been highly acclaimed and reviewed before its release. You might give the book a chance and be pleasantly surprised.
Here you have my top 10 effective tips on how to read more. Let me know what are some of the ways that keep you inspired and/or motivated to read more books in your life! 📚
If you want book recommendations, you can browse my recommended books here.
- 10 Summer Books that Will Keep You Greatly Engaged
- 25 Cozy Cottagecore Book Recommendations
- 10 Great Books to Gift Dad for Father’s Day
- 10 Best Books to Gift Recent Graduates
- 10 Great Books to Gift Mom for Mother’s Day
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