5 Simple Ways to Read More

Have you been trying to read more, but haven’t quite figured out how? Read today’s post for a few tips that might help. Then check out the writing prompt at the bottom of today’s post.

1. Make Reading Part of Your Daily Lifestyle

The best way to read more is to make reading part of your daily lifestyle. Schedule your reading time around things that you already do. You can read for an hour before bed every night instead of watching television or scrolling through your phone. You can read during breakfast or your lunch break or for an hour after you eat dinner every day. You can read while you’re cleaning or folding laundry, during your commute, or while you’re on the treadmill or working out (Refer to number two on this list to see how this is done.).  If you read every day, you’re more likely to avoid reading ruts and enjoy reading. And you’re also more likely to experience the positive side effects of reading every day. 

2. Listen to More Audiobooks

Audiobooks are real books. Period. So, if you want to read more, listen to more audiobooks. You can listen to them while you’re cooking dinner or cleaning the house, while you’re working out at the gym, or while you’re commuting, etc. And you don’t always have to pay for the audiobooks you listen to either. With apps like Libby, you can borrow audiobooks from your local library once you enter your library card information, and then listen to books instantly on your phone or mobile device. You can also borrow ebooks through the app, which will make it easier to read books on your phone or mobile device while you’re on the go, too. 

3. Alternate Between Reading and Watching TV

If you don’t want to give up watching your favorite shows in order to read, you don’t have to if you alternate between the two. You can always watch an episode of your favorite show, then read fifty pages or a few chapters of a book, then watch another episode, then read a few chapters, and so on. Or you could simply read for an hour or so every day (set a timer if needed) before watching your favorite show, so that you prioritize reading. Either way, you don’t have to give up one thing for the other. And you might even be surprised by how many times you don’t end up watching a show at all when you’re reading a book you find truly engaging. 

4. Join a Book Club 

When you join a book club, you will have a selection of books picked out for you to read which can help you decide what to read in the first place, which will allow you to read more. And you’ll have others that you can talk to about those books. All readers aren’t introverts all the time, and that’s okay. There are a lot of readers out there who would probably read more if they had others to discuss the books they’re reading with on a rolling basis. Reading doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor. Plus, book clubs will keep you reading regularly because chances are that you will want to finish the book your club is reading before you meet so that you can join the discussion about the book and get the most out of your reading experience. Read: The Significance of Book Clubs. 

5. Engage with Other Readers Online 

When you engage with authors, publishers, and avid readers online regularly, you will have a never-ending list of books to read and discuss. You will see more book reviews and book giveaways and author events and bookstore sales, and so much more in your feed. The reading community is also one of the friendliest communities online, so you’ll have more positive content showing up in your social media feeds overall, as well. The more that you engage with other book lovers and readers online, the more you will be inspired to read and discuss what you’re reading. 

What do you think about this topic? What would you add to this list? Do you have any reading tips to share? Leave a comment to join this dialogue, then share this post with others so they can join the dialogue too.

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© All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton and Creighton’s Compositions LLC.

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Today’s Writing Prompt