Would you like to read more books this year? 🙋🏽♀️ I have a stack of books on my must-read list at the moment, and making more time to immerse myself in my passion for reading is my number one New Year’s resolution. It often seems to me that so many lovely folks on my #bookstagram #booktok feeds read 100+ books a year, while I’m struggling to finish one or two! So I’ve come up with some strategies that I hope you will also find useful.
1. Read the books you like! Not all books are for all people, so don’t feel put off reading if you just can’t get on with some of the more popular titles, or you feel like you should be reading more widely. If you don’t like a book it’s ok to put it down! Focus on your own interests and really lean in to those books. When I think back to my high school and university days I always remember my teachers encouraging me to read a variety of genres, and I can think of countless books I’ve forced myself to continue on with out of obligation. Now my school days are well and truly over and my time to read is limited, I’m going to focus only on books I find truly engrossing.
2. Set a manageable reading goal, and be realistic. Life is busy, so don’t be too hard on yourself about how much time you will commit to reading every day or week. Start with small reading goals. For example you can try reading for 30 minutes every day, or reading one chapter a day or even just one page a day! I prefer to save a larger chunk of my weekend when I have more time to knock out a few chapters in one go.
3. Read at your own pace. Don’t be put off by others who seem to easily power through 100 of the greatest literary classics every year. Reading isn’t a race, and you are free to enjoy it at your own leisure. Some books are heavier reading than others and it’s perfectly ok to take your time. Quality over quantity!
4. Change up your media from time to time, don’t feel like you must only read print books. Audiobooks are a great way to indulge in your passion for reading while on your daily commute, or while doing housework. E-books are also very convenient because many can be stored on one device. I especially love listening to audiobooks in the car. Audiobooks can also be read at x1.5 or x2 speed for when you just can’t wait until tomorrow to get to the next chapter!
5. If the cost of books is getting you down, get creative with sourcing your reading material. There are lots of secondhand book shops both bricks and mortar, and online; your local library is also a great source of free reading material, and you can even borrow e-books. I listen to audiobooks on Spotify as I get some free hours included in my subscription. I didn’t realise I had this benefit until recently so its a great idea to check what you might already have access to in your current subscription services.
Do you have any tips to add? Share in the comments!
Enjoy 10% off our 24 books to read in 2024 with code ‘2024’ (offer valid until 31 Jan 2024)
https://lookingglassbookshop.com/collections/24-books-to-read-in-2024