There just doesn’t seem to be any easy way to read more. Whether your a busy work-body, struggling student or sleep deprived parent most people have something that eats up their free time. Well here are a few simple tips to try to incorporate more reading time into your day to day routine.
1.) A Little Bit Goes a Long Way
A study by Phoenix Academy shows that if a person reads only 10 minutes a day they will be exposed to over 1 million words in a single year! So even if you are only getting ten minutes a day that will add up throughout the year. It is also less likely for you to getting reading burnout if you read for less time but consistently.
2.) Before bed is best
If you can only read once in a day, before bed is best. It has been proven that reading before bed can help decrease insomnia and create a more restful night of sleep. So get into bed a little early, but don’t tun off those lights just yet! Reading before you go to be is an easy way to reach your reading goal as well as improve your quality of sleep.
3.) Read something you WANT not something you feel you SHOULD
We all have books that are on our list that we may never get to (An example for me is Moby Dick and Madame Bovary). There is pressure to only read mature or intellectual books that help us grow. However, sometimes you may just want to read a simple love story or fantasy novel. Bottom line is; don’t let anyone tell you what you should and shouldn’t read. There are a lot of literature snobs who like to say what is and what is not literature. These people are self elected officials though and they do not speak for everyone. After all reading any book is surely better than none at all. (Though I know I REALLY need to read Moby Dick one of these days!)
4.) Get a reading buddy or join a book club
I often find that a set deadline forces me to schedule in time to make sure I finish a book on time. Sometimes a bit of pressure actually relieves some stress at the end of the day as it keeps you on your toes . If you are in a book club or have a reading buddy they can help you stay on track with your reading.
5.) Make your atmosphere is reading friendly
A bit of coffee, tea and yes even wine is an easy way to make the reading experience more fun. You may also want to find a clean comfy spot that can be your reading nook. This may be a personal preference, but I cannot stand reading in a dirty room! I find it distracting and it takes me out of the experience. If you feel you often get distracted from reading, take a look around. Is it noisy, to dark, uncomfortable, etc? If so make the necessary changes so you can relax and enjoy your reading time!
That will do it for today thank you for reading and I hope to see you around soon!
Great advice. I do most of my reading in the evening.
Thank you! Same, I feel it helps me unwind and relax… unless its a tense or depressing piece that is.
Great post! Perfect advice.
Thank you so much!
These are all great tips!
Thank you I appreciate it! 🙂
Love this! So many people don’t read because they say they don’t have time. They do, they just have to be creative about it!
Thank you! Agreed, the reality is we have to make sacrifices for things we love. Maybe I can’t read as much as I want, but I still try my best to make time for it.
#3 and #5 are the most important factors for me 😉
lol for me as well! I’l take my not so grand literature and a glass of wine and will be quite happy!
I’d love to read before bed, but hubby is always in bed watching TV and I need quiet to read. I read in the bath. Shut the world out and lounge in the hot water for quite a while reading. Great for relaxing.
That sounds terrific, especially because it has been so cold where I live!
This is a great article. I do not think that a book club would suit me because I am so picky in what I enjoy reading. I find another great way to fit in more books is audio books, you can listen to them while going about your chores. It’s a double bonus because it makes chores more pleasurable and increases the amount of books we can enjoy. I read pretty much every spare minute I get.
Oh wow I don’t know how I left out audio books, I love them so much! Agreed, you can kill two birds with one stone with audio books you can drive, do chores, etc while catching up some reading. I haven’t tried a book club either as I’m quite picky as well, some people really seem to love the comradery of them. Thank you for reading 🙂
Good article! I would try Moby Dick some time. It’s long but A lot of adventure! 😉
WANT not SHOULD should be every readers mantra. Though as an adult I can look back and appreciate the required reading, I think if I wasn’t so bookish anyways it would have turned me off for life.
I really couldn’t agree more! My boyfriend wasn’t really interested into reading until he basically went beyond the classics and realized there were lots of books that interest him. There are some books I’m glad I was forced to read, but overall I agree that it turns most people off from reading.
The reading before going to bed is good unless you are like me “Just one more chapter!” My DH laughs at me because I will stay up a little later to read a chapter but as soon as my exercise time is up, I stop reading instantly.
Lol! Yes I guess that can happen sometimes as well! Usually I’m usually so tired by the end of the day that it wont take long before I am snoozing :).
All such great ideas! I love reading before bed – but sometimes I get strange dreams. LOL
Thank you! Lol, yeah I could see that happening sometimes especially ifs a fantasy novel 🙂
All these advices are spot on. Great post.
Thank you I appreciate it!
These are all great tips! Buddy reading definitely works 🙂
Thanks! I need to get a reading buddy one of these days. Its just hard to find people who want to read the same stuff as me.