One of the things I put on my 24 things before 2024 is I want to read 100 books in one year. To some people, that might sound like a lot of books. To me, it is just around 2 books per week. For me, it should be totally achievable. Maybe reading more books is also one of your resolutions for this year. But maybe you’re afraid you don’t have enough time for it. You’re wondering how to read more books this year. With my tips, you can definitely read more books.
Why you should read more books?
Reading sounds boring to a lot of people, but it is actually the opposite. You have to find the right books for you and nobody should push you to read. When I was in high school, I had to read books for school and suddenly I started to hate reading. After high school, I picked up different books and I started to love reading again. It is also good for your stress levels because, for an hour or longer, you stop thinking about your own problems. It improves your memory and focus.
How to read more books
- Bring a book everywhere you go.
If you’re still in school or when you have to take the bus/train to work, bring a book with you. Most people spend time on their phones when they are on their way to work or when they have to wait. But when you decide to read a book instead, you will definitely read more books. I would recommend an e-reader or a book that is not too heavy. You don’t want to be like Rory from Gilmore Girls who brought a few books to school each day. I bet her back was hurting from all the weight she was carrying.
And this way, you are also spending less time on your phone, so it is a win-win situation. Spending too much time on social media can cause stress and anxiety. So reading books is definitely a better option.Also read: Why you should spend less time on social media
- Read in the evening
When I am on my way home from work, it is later in the evening and I see a lot of people doing the same thing every single night. A lot of people come home, have dinner and then watch tv until they go to bed. That is what I see every single day. I am not sure about the people in the rest of the world, but I bet people in the western world all do the same thing. But what if you decide to read a book in the evening instead of watching TV? This is probably also better for the quality of your sleep since researchers found that looking at screens (blue light) has an effect on your sleep quality. Or maybe you can read for an hour before you go to sleep. - Pick your favourite genre
When I decided to pick up reading again after high school, I had no idea what kind of books I liked. Back then, there were already people talking about books on Instagram and blogs. I decided to read those books. But turns out, not everyone has the same taste in books. These days there are a lot of YouTube channels talking about books, but a lot of them are talking about fantasy. But that is not my favourite genre. First, you have to discover what you like to read about. What kind of movies do you like to watch? If you like horror movies, you probably will like horror books as well. I found out that I really prefer romance, but sometimes I crave something else too. You don’t have to read everything that is trendy. - Audiobooks
This might not be for everyone. I found out that audiobooks are definitely not my thing, but it is a way to ‘read’ more books. The good news is that you only need a smartphone for it and a subscription. Amazon has Audible, where you have two subscription plans. After that, you just have to pick a book and bring your headphones or AirPods. You can go for a walk, while you listen to a book. You can cook dinner while listening. This is another great way to read more books. - Make time for it
Some people make time for their workouts, others make time to spend time on social media and learn how to play the guitar. You can make time for it. As I mentioned, you can spend less time on social media. The average person spends 2.5 hours on social media. Imagine if you use that time to read a book. You can read a lot of pages in that amount of time. Or maybe on a Sunday, you just decide to read a book for a few hours. Make yourself a cup of tea, bake cookies and just enjoy your book. - Follow book accounts on social media
I follow a few accounts on Instagram that share book tips. There are tons of people who share what they are currently reading and what is new. If you already know what kind of books you like to read, then use the search bar or maybe Google, to find new accounts to follow. The accounts I follow talk about romance books, but there are also accounts/people who talk about other genres. And sometimes when I spend a few minutes on Instagram, I see new books that look interesting. It helps me to get excited to read (new) books. Another good app/website you might want to try is GoodReads. On this website, you can set a reading goal for yourself and find new books. If you liked a certain Stephen King book, this website gives you recommendations of books you might like too.Photo by Alexandra Fuller on Unsplash