Read a book! There are some people out there who absolutely hate reading and others that can’t get enough of it. Whether you love it or hate it, books are going to still be made.
Between work, school, life, etc., we don’t always have time for reading. You might just be too tired or too busy to pick up a book and get immersed in a story. Meanwhile, your books are collecting dust on a shelf or piling up (because let’s face it, you’re probably buying more), not being read.
Here are the top 5 ways to improve your reading life.
Savor, Don’t Speed Read
Sure, you might want to finish the book you are on now because you know you might not have time later or because you want to finish it so you can get to the next book, but that isn’t always good. Reading is not a competition, it’s a journey. Take your time. Savor, the book. Read every word on the page instead of speed reading. When you read slower and take the book in more, you will enjoy it more.
Record Your Titles When You Finish
If you set a goal and write down how many books you’ve read in a month and their titles, not only is it a good way to keep track of which books you’ve read, but it’s great to motivate you to read more. Seeing books crossed or checked off a list can bring a sense of accomplishment. Whether you write it down or use an app, like Goodreads, keeping track of the books you read is a great tool to try and read more.
Read At Least 30 Minutes Every Day
If you take public transportation, that is a great way to get in a chapter or two, especially if you do not want to talk to many people on your commute. Another time to get a chapter read is on your lunch break, granted you don’t have anything to do, or your meal doesn’t take a while to eat. But if neither of those options work for you, set aside at least 30 minutes a day to read. You’ll get the book read and have some down time to boot.
Discuss the Book with Someone
Whether you join a book club, talk to someone who is reading the same book as you, or talk to a friend/significant other/etc. About the book and it can motivate you to finish more, especially if the other person you are talking to about it is interested in the book/topic. Having someone else interested may encourage you to keep picking up books and reading them just to get that quality time with someone.
Read Something You Are Interested In
Don’t read a book because everyone else is reading it or it has a pretty cover or there is an attractive person on the cover. Read something that will truly interest you. Read the synopsis of a book and the reviews on it and pick a topic that you will like. If you like biographies, read biographies. If you like romance novels, read that. Chances are, if you read something you are interested in you will have a better chance of finishing it.