Although it may be hard to believe, I didn’t get heavily into reading until the fall of 2019.
Growing up, I enjoyed reading, but mostly associated it with schoolwork and academics. Recreational reading wasn’t really my jam when it came to relaxing. Instead I opted for watching television or playing Sims 2 like the low-metabolism kid I was.
That’s right. Me. Who read 125 books last year, didn’t truly fall in love with reading until I was almost 26.
And, my friends, I fell HARD. Like, nowadays, there are times when I literally crave curling up with a book just to fade into another world for a while.
Whether you used to love reading and are trying to get back into it, or you’re just starting to dip your toe into reading for the first time, these are my tips and tricks to make it effortless to put down your phone and pick up your book.
1. FIGURE OUT YOUR PURPOSE FOR READING
I’m going to start here by asking, what is your purpose for reading? IMO, people typically fall into one of two categories: reading to learn or reading to escape.
Reading to learn is self explanatory. This type of reader prefers to learn from the material they’re reading. Whether that’s focusing on self-improvement, finding new ways to do something like budget, shaping professional skills, learning more about a topic of interest, etc. If you identify more with this type of reader then you’re probably going to feel more at-home with books that provide you with some intellectual food to munch on.
Reading to escape is more about reading for fun. This type of reader prefers to be sucked into a story for the sheer enjoyment of it. Whether you want to get all the feels from a love story, are looking for some adrenaline pumping plots, or want to dive into a different decade for perspective. If you identify more with this type of reader then you’re probably going to be picking up books that provide you with more of a purposeful narrative.
Personally, I read to escape. Like let me check out of reality for 300 pages of nonsensical storytelling. Yes, please. That is my jam. I’m not tryna LEARN in my free time lol?? Nerds. lol jk.
If you’re a unicorn who loves both then I applaud you, truly.
2. FIND YOUR “SWEET SPOT” GENRE
The trick to getting yourself to read is finding a book you’re sure to enjoy. This means exploring the genres you already have a fancy for. Love chick flicks? Maybe Google a few “chick-lit” book lists. SSDGM ring any bells? Yes. I’m looking at all of you true crime fanatics. May I suggest dipping your toe into the mystery/thriller pool of novels? Big into franchises like Marvel or Star Wars? Try the science fiction section at your local bookstore. Oh, you’re a read-to-learn type of person? Well, I’m not your gal for any non-fiction recommendations, but I support you on that journey. :)
Once you find your niche genre, it makes losing yourself in a book for a while a really simple task because you’re going to want to grab it. It also makes it easier to figure out what other genres you’re into.
I thought I’d be a bigger contemporary fiction person, but it turns out I’m a HUGE sucker for a quality YA fantasy or historical fiction novel. Does it make sense? No, but here we are.
3. SWITCH UP YOUR BOOK FORMAT
Whenever you think of reading, what do you picture?
A book, right? I picture an entirely conventional blue hardcover book.
A physical book isn’t the only way to read nowadays though. You have options!
Audio books - You can read a whole book without ever seeing a word when you’re listening to it on audio. Got a long car ride? Usually listen to music while you make dinner? Find podcasts enjoyable? Then this format might be your best bet.
Ebooks - If you’re like me and live in a small apartment, you may not have room for a bunch of books. Or, if you’re like me and super impatient then you may not like to wait to have a book in your hands lol. An ebook might be the option for you to explore.
Physical books - Even if you do enjoy reading a physical book, you then have the choice between paperback and hardcover. Some people don’t like the cover sleeve on hard covers because, yanno, you don’t want to ruin it by keeping it on as you read but then like what do you do with the sleeve in the meantime?? However, paperbacks tend to get worn down easier. So, it’s a whole thing of preference.
I’m sure there are other formats I’m not even aware of yet, but my point is, it becomes easier to “pick up a book” when it’s in a format of your liking.
4. DOWNLOAD THE GOODREADS APP
I’m a pusher. I push people… to get Goodreads.
Seriously though, this app is a phenomenal tool for any reader, and there are so many benefits to using it.
Keep track of your books - Goodreads automatically gives you three book shelves: Want to Read, Currently Reading, and Read, but you can create custom shelves too. I love this feature because it gives me a place to refer back to whenever someone asks me for a recommendation or if I’m looking for my next read and can’t remember what books I’ve heard about recently. Plus, you can update your progress on the book you’re currently reading and it will show you what percentage you’ve read so far.
Find book ratings and reviews - Most people read books that have either been recommended to them or they’ve heard great things about, right? Goodreads is the Holy Grail for this information. Before you borrow or buy a book, you can search it on the app and see what it’s rated overall by the Goodreads community as well as read more detailed reviews. Added bonus? Once you start adding friends on the app, their ratings and reviews will show up first for any given book you search.
Add friends - If you have friends who are readers or know someone who has never steered you wrong on a book rec, add them as a friend on Goodreads! You can also like your friends’ updates on your feed and cheer on their Goodreads Reading Challenge.
THE GOODREADS READING CHALLENGE - This is one of my favorite features because I’m incredibly competitive with myself, so it’s just fun and encouraging. When you create an account, you will be prompted to set your Goodreads Reading Challenge goal for the year. And let me emphasize that a goal of reading just ONE book for the year makes you a reader, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. As you read and finish books, GR will “shelve” it on your “Read” shelf and log it to your reading challenge. So, not only does it keep track for you, but it does a wrap-up at the end of the year to see the number of books you read, average rating, longest and shortest book you read, etc. It’s like Spotify Wrap-Up but for books lol.
So yeah. To wrap up this section: Live. Laugh. Love. Goodreads.
Add me on GR here lol.
5. BUDDY READ BOOKS
When you’re lacking motivation, find a buddy for some accountability. You don’t have to join a book club, just grab a friend, agree on a book and then set up a reading plan.
Example: if you’re reading a 300 page book, break that down into 4 weeks.
Week 1: read pages 1-75
Week 2: read pages 76-150
Week 3: read pages 151-225
Week 4: read pages 226-300
Buddy reading not only holds you more accountable, but also gives you someone to talk about the book with as you go!
6. BUILD IT INTO YOUR SCHEDULE
It’s not always easy to find extra time to do something new. Especially if you’ve had a busy day or week? The last thing I want to do is try to squeeze one more thing into the limited hours we’re given. Yanno?
So, in an attempt to help you stop hitting “next episode” on whatever show you’re binge watching atm, I highly recommend building reading into your schedule. That way, you’re more likely to actually do it.
Personally, during the work week, I prefer to read before I go to sleep - which is usually around 10:30 p.m. So, I’ll try to be in bed by 9:00 p.m. because it gives me a solid 1.5 hours of getting lost in a book. Since it’s already built into my schedule, I’m not worried about when I’ll get the chance to read.
As a bonus, it’s also a good amount of time before going to sleep that I don’t have a screen in my face. Fun Fact: the light from a phone, laptop, tv, etc. makes it harder for your brain to generate melatonin if you’re staring at them right before bed.
Whether your reading time is listening to an audiobook on the way to work, or you prefer to catch a few pages on your lunch break, incorporating reading into your daily or weekly routine makes it much easier to find time for it.
Welp that’s all I’ve got for you! Hopefully you snagged one helpful nugget of advice!
YOUR TURN! Let me know in the comments below what book you’re currently reading.
