I have been an avid reader since I was young. I loved reading, even as a kid. I have a library media degree, for goodness sake 🙂 Even so, there have been cycles through the years of my reading tenacity–sometimes I read a lot, sometimes Netflix or TikTok captures my attention instead.
Reading is beneficial in so many ways. Reading increases your intelligence, boosts your brainpower, and has even been shown to fight Alzheimer’s disease. Reading fiction can improve your ability to relate to others. Reading can lower stress levels and help you sleep better.
During the last 6 months of 2023, I made an intentional effort to read more. Here’s what helped.
How to Read More Books:
1. Ditch bad books. If I reach chapter 5 or 6 of a title, and I’m not totally invested, I abandon it with no remorse. I have learned that if I try to MAKE myself finish a book, I’m going to drag around about it. I’d rather ditch the bad one for something better.
2. Find YOUR genre. Just because a book is popular doesn’t mean you are going to love it. It’s a good place to start, but don’t compare your interests to those of other people. I am a fiction GIRL. Thrillers, romance, comedy–give me all of it. I TRY to throw in a nonfiction book every now and then, but I almost always end up abandoning it.
3. Get a Kindle. I love the idea of holding an actual, physical book in my hands when I read, but the convenience of a Kindle far outweighs that preference. It is so much easier to stick a Kindle in my purse and carry it with me than a heavy book. On a Kindle, books are delivered instantly instead of waiting days for shipping or having to drive to the store to get a new title. And honestly, a Kindle is easier to hold than an actual, physical book. I don’t have to worry about losing my page or holding the book open while I eat my popcorn =)
PRO TIP: Join Kindle Unlimited. For 12.99 a month, you get unlimited access to thousands of titles. That is the price of one purchased e-book, so the savings are immediate. Also, join your local library and download the Libby app. Digital library books delivered right to your Kindle device, for free.
4. Take your book with you everywhere. You might be surprised to find out how many pages you can squeeze in while at the doctor’s office, in the car at pick-up, or any other ‘waiting’ place. I read at the nail boutique, the hair salon, waiting for my grocery pickup–you name it.
5. Track your reading. I use GoodReads, but use what you like. Make a list on a piece of paper if that is what works best for you. It’s encouraging to see my books stack up and know how many titles I’ve completed. I also love being able to backtrack and see what I’ve read in previous years, or how my current reading stacks up to years past.
If you need suggestions on where to start, try this post, where I share the 6 best books I read in 2023!
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