I’ve received the question of how I read so many books from several friends, so I thought I’d do a little post about it. It’s no secret that I love to read, and next to CrossFit it’s probably my most passionate hobby and has been for a long time.
I don’t remember specifically when I started loving books so much, but I know it came early and that my parents were definitely integral. I was read to early and often and trips to the library were very much routine and consistent. I remember doing the Book-It program in school, and entering reading contests that I won on occasion. Books were also a lifeline on our family vacations because, in those days, there were no cell phones or in-car DVD players, not that my parents would have bought one anyhow.
At some point, I started carrying books like most kids carry security blankets, and I still do. I have a book with me wherever I go, even movie theaters. And while I wouldn’t expect any of you to take on my book as security blanket habit, there are some other habits I have that allow me to cover 40+ books a year. So here are a few of my tips!
Set a reading goal or intention
It doesn’t have to be formal or yearly, you can set smaller goals, the key is to make them SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound). For me, I just focus on trying to read at least two chapters of something every day and finish at least 3 books every month. GoodReads has a great feature to set goals, so definitely check it out.
Make a booklist and plan your reads
I find some of the biggest motivation to read a book is the book I want to read next. I have a HUGE list of books on GoodReads and I’m constantly adding to it from podcasts I listen to or people I follow on social media. You can also easily create a lists on Pinterest, your local library’s website or through Amazon wish lists (they can integrate with GoodReads now).
Block out/carve time where reading works best
Have 30 minutes before you fall asleep every night? Subway commute? Time between classes? Find little consistent nooks of time and they will add up fast!
Read multiple books at once
Some people legitimately can’t do this and I totally understand. But one of the ways I keep it fresh and moving along is reading multiple books at once. That way you can jump into whatever book fits your mood at the moment. I typically have one non-fiction and 1-2 fiction books going at once, but it just depends on the book.
Find a format that agrees with you
What a world we live in that we can even have this luxury. It took me a while, but I finally do really well with electronic books, and now enjoy books (often concurrently) in both formats. I typically read traditional books during the day and pop the Kindle open at night after KK falls asleep. I’ve done a few audiobooks, but I find they are difficult to pay attention to if I want to do other things. I prefer podcasts for that.
Make it social
Read with friends, in a book club, with your spouse, as a family, or just connect with others who are reading books you are into. Social media applications like GoodReads, Pinterest, Amazon, or just a Google spreadsheet make this ridiculously easy to do. I also have connected with a ton of book-lovers via Instagram through the Explore option.
In the end, the most important part of all this is that you’re reading, learning and ENJOYING it whatever your goals or current reads are. Thank you for letting me share my love of reading with you!
Have any reading tips? How do you fit reading into your daily life?
