Do you read all the books you want to read each year? Yeah, I don't either. I do, however, try to read more books than the average person which is about twelve books per year. My typical goal ranges between 75-100 per year. Sometimes I make it, sometimes I don't.
How do I read so many books in a year with all of the other things going on in my life? That's what I want to share with you today. Here are my Top 5 Ways to Read More Books:
# 1 - I always have at least three books in progress at once.
I am a mood reader, so I like to keep my options open when it comes to choosing my books. However, three is a magic number for me because of the different ways I like to read. I'm usually always in the middle of a print book, an audiobook, and an ebook. This helps me get my reading in no matter what else is going on in my day.
#2 - I read during commercials when I'm watching TV.
As many of you know, I am a big sports fan. While I haven't been able to watch my favorite teams play since the pandemic began, when I do watch sports, I do so with a book in hand. You'd be surprised how much reading you can get done during commercial breaks. This is especially helpful if I'm reading something light and I don't have to concentrate on something like nonfiction.
#3 - I always have a book with me.
I'm sure you've heard this one before, but this is probably the best reason yet to read ebooks and audiobooks. I may not always have a 900 page Diana Gabaldon book in my purse, but I always have my phone. And there's usually room for my Kindle to go along with me.
#4 - I have a reading plan (goals) and participate in reading challenges.
Goodreads, PopSugar, Book Riot, and many other entities - they all issue annual reading challenges. I love to participate in them to help me read further, longer, and faster.
#5 - I carve out reading time in my schedule.
This is probably the best tip of them all. Make time for reading, even if it's just a few minutes a day. I even make note of the times I want to read in my planner. I read a study recently that said the number of minutes you read each day correlates directly to the number of books you will read in a year. For example, if you read for 15 minutes a day, you'll average reading 15 books a year.
There you have it - my top 5 tips to read more in a year. Do you have other tips that I didn't mention? I'd love to hear about them.
Until next time,
Jessica