There is never enough time to read as something, or someone, always seems to get in the way. Reading is essential not only to learn and stay updated with the news but also to relax and escape from an unfriendly world. These seven tips will help you make room for more reading in your life.
1. Set goals
Setting reading goals is an excellent way to ensure you have some reading time every day. Make the goals attainable, though, such as twelve books a year or 15 pages a day. If you can master these goals, perhaps consider an increase, but not to the point where reading becomes a chore or a stressor.
Once you have set your goals, keep them to yourself. There is no need to share your target with anyone else. The only person you need to be accountable to is you.
To make reading even more relaxing and enjoyable, you need a reading pillow. A comfortable pillow is a wise investment that will last for many years.
2. Make reading fun
Read books that you like. You might have a favorite author who has written 20 books featuring the same character. Or, you might be a biography addict who cannot get enough of reading about other people’s lives. Whatever your preference, indulge yourself and enjoy your books.
But, if that favorite author wrote a book that you cannot get into, put it down and move on to something else. Walking away goes against what most of us have been told all our lives: do not quit, power through it. But why? There are too many books out there to spend time on something that you feel obligated to read.
3. Have plenty of books on hand
It is a smart idea to have a backlog of unread books. If you see a book review that interests you, do not wait, pick the book up now. Having an inventory of books you are excited about is the right motivation to spend a few extra minutes finishing up that current book.
Always have a book with you, in either physical or electronic form. Driving to or from work is the ideal time to listen to an audiobook. Waiting in the doctor’s office is perfect for reaching your daily reading goal. Wherever you go, have a book handy and take advantage of the solitude to do some reading.
4. Schedule time for reading
If you find yourself with no time in the day to read a book, look at your schedule and pencil in some time for reading. You can borrow time from something of equal or less importance, such as watching television or checking Facebook. It is best to read first and then watch a show.
Once you have the time allotted, create the perfect reading environment. Remove as many distractions as you can, such as the television or non-essential texts and phone calls.
5. Participate in group reading activities
Reading challenges and book clubs are great motivational tools. Goodreads’ annual reading challenge provides a fun way to set your goals and track your accomplishments.
One of the most significant benefits of reading challenges and book clubs is the recommendations you will receive from the other members. These are people devoted to reading, so if they say a book is good, it likely is.
6. Access books via technology
As was mentioned earlier, technology is a great way to read a book when sitting in your ideal reading environment is not feasible. Listening to an audiobook on Audible or reading a book on the Kindle app give you opportunities other than a physical book.
7. Read more than one book at a time
If you are comfortable with this concept, you can have one book on your nightstand for bedtime reading, one on your iPhone to listen to while driving, and yet another on your iPad to read while waiting to pick up your children. Having multiple books in progress also helps to eliminate boredom and may also boost your annual goal completion.
As you begin to implement these suggestions, you will discover even more ways to make your reading a happy and fulfilling experience.
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