Finding the time to read more or to make reading apart of your daily routine can be difficult when you lead a busy life or you’re going through a reading slump.
Despite being an avid reader pretty much my whole life, I often go through periods where I have struggled to make time for reading and therefore have needed to find quick solutions that help me get back into picking up a book again.
These 5 tips will help you to actually read more so you can switch off, escape between the pages and enjoy reading each day.
1. Set an enjoyable reading goal for each day
One thing that has always helped me is setting myself an enjoyable reading goal for each day that will encourage me to read more.
Now it’s important you don’t pile the pressure on yourself to reach the goal by trying to strive for something unattainable or suck all the enjoyment out of reading by seeing it as a challenge rather than something to help you to relax or bring you joy.
For me a minimum goal I try to aim for each day can range between 5-10 pages depending on the time I have or how I am feeling.
Be realistic with how much you can read each day when setting your goal.
If you’re a slow reader or don’t have a huge amount of time to sit down with book then start small. You can dedicate reading more pages when you have the time to.
You’ll probably notice that sometimes you want to read more and other times you might read your pages spread out throughout the day when you have a space moment.
2. Experiment with genres and finding your taste to make you read more
You might already have a clear idea of what kind of books you enjoy reading or you might be completely lost.
Maybe you’re in a reading slump and you’re not finding joy out of the usual reads you go for. This can be a great time to switch things up and experiment with genres till you find something you become obsessed with!
I’ve always been into contemporary romance and have read the odd thriller here and there but I’m a creature of habit so most of the time I’m reading some cheesy romcom.
But the actual specific theme of the contemporary romance can change from time to time. So far this year I’ve read everything from Bridgerton and college romances to a chic lit book series on 3 brothers who grew up in Tennessee. It’s a real variety right now!
If you’re having a hard time to know where to start or what book to pick up next, think about some of your favourite stories and what you loved the most about them.
Was it the characters? The setting? The time the book is set? The co-existing storylines? What kind of mood were they? Get real specific, see if there are any similarities and let it guide you to deciding what to read next!
You can also look up online to see what other people who have read some of your favourite books have also read or what books are similar.
3. Try a book series to make you read more
Within the past year to help me actually read more has been to get into books that have a series.
I find when I do this I’m not wasting time trying to find what to read next and instead I can easily dive into the next read in the series.
And if it’s a series I’ve been really enjoying then I’ve found it easier to pick it back up because I already know the characters, I like the writing style and I’m excited to read more to find out where the story progresses.
So next time you’re looking for your next read, consider one that has a series attached to it that you can use to your advantage when trying to read more.
4. Don’t get caught up in the buzz
Something I’ve realised lately since I’ve got back into reading more the past year is that a lot of the books that are very popular on places like BookTok and GoodReads are actually not my most favourite reads.
Instead I’ve found some little gems that perhaps don’t have as much popularity or haven’t been as sought after because I’ve picked books that I’m actually interested in or am excited to get my hands on.
Just because a book is popular and trending doesn’t mean you have to read it or buy into the hype (unless you want to read it, of course, then go for it!).
At the end of the day we all have different tastes and sometimes the most popular reads don’t reflect what we’re currently into or what we’d enjoy at the end of the day.
Plus if there is a book you’re really not enjoying right now and you’re struggling to even pick it up, give yourself permission to not finish it and move onto something you’ll enjoy more instead.
I’m definitely guilty of trying to power on through when I’m not enjoy something to try to finish it when instead I could just move onto something else so it’s completely okay to do put it to one side.
5. Utilise the Kindle app/using a Kindle
Don’t get me wrong there’s something so classic about picking up a paper book but what really made me read more was downloading the Kindle app to my iPad.
The dream would obviously be to have a Kindle one day but for now the iPad does its job.
I read so much quicker on the Kindle app compared with a paperback.
I also find that it’s easier for me to pick up and find a book I love this way as well rather than having to order something online or go into a book shop which always has limited choice compared to the Kindle store.
I will admit I do pay for the Kindle Unlimited each month but I think it’s worth it as I end up getting through more books this way and reading so much more.
Plus you can take your Kindle or Kindle app with you wherever you go and it takes up less space than carrying a book around which makes reading on-the-go accessible for those who have a busy schedule or travel a lot. (And you can read multiple books!)
Do you love to read? Let’s follow each other on GoodReads!
Erin says
#2 is spot on because I picked up a book again after almost a decade because of BookTok romance recs. Great post!
https://www.herlittleplans.com
laurennvictoriaablog says
So glad you’ve got back into reading again! TikTok can be a great way to find some new reads thanks so much x