Greetings, my fellow bibliophiles!
Today I have compiled a list of a dozen (plus one!) ways to read more. These are all the ways that I have personally found to be helpful in my own reading life. And I think they would be beneficial to any reader, whether you are a fast or slow reader, read 5 books a year or 50, or are old or young. If you love stories and want to add them to your daily life more, here are some simple ideas to get you going.
Most of all...just have fun with reading!
1. Read before going to sleep
This is by far, hands down my favorite way to read. I've been reading before bed since I was a young teenager. There's nothing quite like cuddling into layers of blankets and squishy pillows for a bit of reading before drifting off to dreamland. I like to keep a small basket on the table beside my bed with a selection of books that I want to read for the next while. I keep a small selection of bookmarks and a pencil in a jar as well in case I want to mark or underline any sections that stand out to me...last winter I found myself underlining numerous quotes and selections from Pilgrim's Inn that were particularly beautiful. In order to keep things cozy and bed-friendly, I use a small lamp instead of bright overhead lighting and I even have a book lamp I use at times, too. That is especially handy when travelling. Thirty minutes (at least) every night is a good way to get a good bit of reading in. And it is a wonderfully calming way to settle down right before bed...much better than having a phone in your face.
2. Books before TV
I have my set shows that I like to watch regularly and my favorite movies that I can never get enough of. But, in all honesty, I do think that books are an important part of life that are getting extinguished from too many lives. Prioritizing books over TV is a way to strike a balance and enjoy both. You can simply choose to read one chapter or for, say, thirty minutes, before watching any TV. I am by no means anti-TV...don't even get me started on that kind of thing. {{winks}} However, I seriously think that books are vital to our wellbeing, shaping of our imaginations and minds and of offering adventure and fun as well as peace and calm to our days. Don't neglect your books in favor of always turning on the TV. There is a way to enjoy both!
3. Take books everywhere you go
Simply packing a book in your purse or bag is a way to ensure you have something to do if you're stuck in line somewhere or in a waiting room or at some appointment, etc. Oh, and if you're like me, books help ward off unwanted conversations with random people in crowded places. {{winks}} Seriously, though, this is a fun and great way to get more reading in. It is especially nice if you aren't prone to motion sickness and can read in the car. I cannot, but I still take books with me. When I am out and waiting for some reason at a place, I just pull it out and read a bit. If you want, you can even pull off at a park and get a bit of reading and nature at the same time.
4. Read on commercial breaks
A couple winters ago, I learned this little secret. When you are watching TV or streaming something online, you can read a heck of a lot during the commercial breaks. I read an entire book almost strictly during commercial breaks whilst watching a Korean drama last winter. It was marvellous! We always mute on commercials here, fast forward where we can, and set our DVR as often as possible, so reading on commercials is a no-brainer.
5. Keep realistic goals
While reading 100 books a year sounds awesome, it may not be practical for you. Setting goals is fun and I enjoy them as much as the next person, but it's important to keep them realistic. Think of your daily schedule and tasks that you must do each day as well as the realistic amount of time you have set aside for reading. Don't forget that in different seasons of life you will have different amounts of time you can devote just to reading...and that's okay. It may be better to set the goal of 12 books a year; that's just one a month. Or even 24 books a year is just 2 a month. Reading really shouldn't be about the number of books you read but whether you are having fun and reading things you love instead.
6. Make fun challenges for yourself
With that said above about keeping realistic goals, setting fun challenges can be a great way to keep reading exciting and fresh. There are literally so many different challenges online you can choose from or simply use them as a guide as you make your own. I like to do this every now and then just to mix things up a bit...especially around seasons or holidays. My sister and I came up with a "21 in 2021" challenge for this year and even though I've deviated from it quite a bit, here is my personal list if you want some inspiration.
7. Make reading fun...and keep it that way!
Reading should be fun. Period. I think that should be the goal for reading of all ages...including school children. I'm not a believer in required reading lists because I do not at all think that's how to get a child to fall in love with books or reading. Offer them the choice of what they enjoy and you offer them the world of reading! Keep a book log of all that you read in a year or a reading journal to keep track of your thoughts on all your reads. Decorate them all cute and pretty and use them regularly. Read what makes you happy, and keep things light and fun!
8. Read with the seasons
I love living in tune with the seasons in various ways and reading is just one of them. While I don't read only seasonal books, I do love including several seasonal novels in my book stack at different times of the year. Winter always must include a snowy story; December is reserved for Christmas novels. Spring and summer need to have some sort of travel adventures and maybe a beach read, too. And autumn calls for mysteries and stories set around harvest and pumpkins and feasting. I think that including even one seasonal book each season, it makes reading all the more special and sets apart both the time of year and the books you chose for then. And you'll probably develop a small circle of books that you just simply must read each year during different seasons.
9. Make a cozy atmosphere
I am of the very firm belief that wherever you read should be of the utmost coziest place to be. For me, I have two places I read. The first is in my bed...I like to make my bed each day and rearrange the pillows and straighten the blankets. This makes it more inviting for me at night to cuddle in for some reading time. I use soft lighting and even keep an extra pillow for comfort when sitting up to read. Then I also have a comfy chair that I read in. I keep a throw blanket and small pillow along with an ottoman to prop my feet upon. In both places, I will almost always have the diffuser going with some calming scent and occasionally light some candles. Cups of tea or a jar of fresh water also are a must. Along with pencils, bookmarks, and ample table space for my book stacks at the moment. Making a cozy place that makes you want to read there isn't hard at all, just a few simple things and a bit of personalization make it perfect.
10. Read whatever appeals to you...no matter what
Maybe I'm the only one, maybe I'm not. But over the last few years I've noticed that almost every time I see a movie or show or book or even music that seems to be all the rage, I just don't like them. So reading what appeals to me is sometimes not what's most popular and I have to look a bit harder to find books that I like. It means that I search online used bookshops until I find a place that sells the books on my list. Sometimes I like what everyone else does, but most of the time I don't. Reading what appeals to you is crucial to reading anything at all. If you don't like what you read, you're not going to want to read anything. Trust me on this one.
11. Stop reading books you don't enjoy...just move on
This one goes along with the one above. It took me several years to learn this one but once I did, boy was it a game changer! Stop reading a book if you aren't enjoying it. My sister laughs at me because all of my GoodReads ratings are either a 4 or 5 like 95% of the time. And that's because if I'm not absolutely loving a book, I just put it down. There are far too many books out there that I want to read to waste my time on the duds.
12. Don't pay attention to age brackets, etc.
One of the most detrimental things about reading is the boundaries we place on ourselves. We shouldn't stop reading children's books, even picture books, or middle grade or young adult novels because we no longer fit into those age brackets. As C.S. Lewis said, No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally- and often far more- worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond...and A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest. This is something that the conventional school systems really burden and brainwash children with. They must read on their grade level and according to their age, above that is okay. But if they enjoy books underneath that, that is simply not acceptable. I know this because that is what my experience was in a conventional school setting. And it flows right into adulthood. Adults cannot enjoy, much less, appreciate a children's story when in fact, it may be the most beautiful story imaginable. Just this year, I've begun reading some "children's" stories and have since fallen in love with the tales of Beatrix Potter and Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge. I'm 27 and have never read them before. So as I discover these worlds for the first time as an adult, I am thoroughly grateful to be invited into these magical worlds of mice and hedgehogs and bunny rabbits. Quite frankly, we "grown-ups" would do well to step foot into these magical worlds more often.
BONUS: Grow your personal library always; keep good books in easy to reach places.
I know that for me, personally, one of the best ways to make me excited about reading is to have a constantly growing personal library. We are always buying books in our house...and nearly all of the books on our shelves are either used or bought at bargain shops for just a few dollars. Checking thrift shops, library used book shops, bargain stores and even certain places online can be a real treasure trove. I love full, overstuffed bookshelves and am of the belief that there is never too many books. And, along with growing your personal library, always keep good books in places you can see them. When you finish one, you can automatically pick up another. I don't know about you, but seeing a stack of four or five books on my bedside table really, really makes me want to read...just one more chapter before I turn out the lights. Keep track of authors you enjoy and genres you find delightful as well as recommendations from folks online who share your similar tastes. I have also found that signing up for newsletters from my favorite authors is a great way to learn about new-to-me authors when they share the books they're reading. All of these things help with growing your personal library.