by If you’re anything like me you’re not interested in reading 100 books a year. You’re probably just interested in learning how to read just a tad bit more.
After all, you’ve got life to deal with, you’re not in University or college anymore and you might even, have kids!
So if you’re looking for a way to add a bit more reading into your life, then stay tuned because I have a bunch of realistic tips just for you.
All of which I use myself to help me read more fiction and non-fiction books.
Visual learner? Watch the video:
How to (realistically) read more books
Okay, so before we get into the practical tips of reading more. Let’s get the foundations right.
Don’t skip this section, it’s more important than you think!
Figure out what type of books you really love to read.
Depending on how many books you’ve read in the past, this might be quite difficult.
Believe it or not, I had a period of at least three years where I didn’t read a thing.
So when I knew I wanted to get back into reading, I had to find a way to figure out what kind of books I’d actually enjoy reading.
Otherwise, I knew, I wouldn’t enjoy reading again.
- The easiest way to do this for fiction books is to type in a movie or television series you really loved into google with the words ‘books like’ right in front of it.
- And if you’re looking for non-fiction, think about a topic you’d like to read about and type into google ‘the best books on’ with your topic after.
Of course, just because someone recommends a book to you using this method, doesn’t mean it’s a good fit. The only way to know is to try it out.
Be okay with not finishing books
If you continue to read a book even though you’re not enjoying it, you’re ruining the experience of reading.
If it’s rubbish, get rid of it and move on to another book.
Don’t let a bad book put you off reading.
Read for the real you, not the aspirational or even embarrassed you
Reading is a deeply personal activity. It’s only for you.
So don’t spend your time reading books you think will make you look impressive, it’s not worth it.
Let’s take me for example.
I stopped reading for years because I believed that because I had a Creative Writing degree, I should be reading highly intelligent, top-shelf books that already have a great reputation.
What kind of self-limiting crap is that?
I knew very well that I enjoyed reading dystopian, fantasy and mythology books to relax.
But, I believed that if I read books like this, I wasn’t behaving like a grown serious woman.
How stupid is that?
Don’t be like me. Don’t think you have to read a certain genre, or style, or even be limited by the age they put on books.
Read whatever you want and you’ll read more, trust me.
Fit reading more books into your schedule
Okay, so now we have the foundations and the mental blocks out of the way, let’s fit reading in to your busy schedule.
I said I was going to be realistic about it, so here’s the best tip I have for you – read on your phone.
Ahhh, I know, I’m sorry.
But seriously, I know in an ideal world we’d all have bookshelves lined with the next books we’re going to read and a dedicated day we set aside for reading while we’re all cozy in our blankets with a cup of tea.
But for most of us, this isn’t realistic, is it?
It’s not even very realistic for me and I don’t have kids!
Reading on my phone has made it so much easier for me to read more books, and here’s why:
Reading on my phone means I can read at a moment’s notice
We always have our phones on us, right?
So any time I have a few minutes, I can pull out my phone and instead of scrolling on social media, I can read a few pages of the book I’m reading.
- I can read while I’m waiting for my husband to clean his teeth before bed.
- Read while waiting in line for some food.
- I can even read while waiting for a friend to turn up for a walk.
The list goes on and on.
Especially when you don’t have a lot of time for something like reading, the convenience of reading on your phone will give you the freedom to slot it in.
Reading on my phone is SO convenient
When you read on your phone, you’re not having to lug around a book, it’s as simple as that.
- While getting your hair done you can pull out your phone and read.
- While your cat is using you as a pillow, you can pull out your phone and read.
- While you’re absolutely anywhere, you can pull out your phone and read.
It’s so much easier to read more when it’s on your phone because you already have your phone with you.
No planning, no fuss.
Then of course there’s the fact that reading on your phone, is cheaper
Books are cheaper when you buy them digitally.
I know I know, they don’t have that nice smell, you can’t feel them in your hand, they don’t look cool on your shelf, but in my opinion, the positives outweigh the negatives tenfold.
I buy my books through the Google Play store and through the app you can find books on discount all the time.
The same can be said for most book apps you can use on your phone.
By buying digital books, you’re able to buy them and have them in your hands, instantly
How many times have you bought a book and once it was delivered, you were no longer excited about reading it?
This has happened to me more times than I can count. But with a digital book, this isn’t a problem.
To read more books, we need to be realistic
Listen, I know you probably clicked on this article hoping for some hacks to squeeze reading into your life, but I told you I wanted to be realistic.
I honestly don’t believe life-hack style tips will get you to read more.
I believe that finding the right books, reading just for you and making it as convenient as possible will make reading more books, a reality.
It has for me at least.
But you tell me in the comments, do you have any additional tips to help people read more books? How many books do you read a year?
I’d love to know so leave me a comment.
