Reading is an activity that requires time and effort. However, making time to read is actually not as easy as it may seem at first. Taking into account the limited amount of free time you have, making time to read should become a strategy. Yet, there are a few effective tools which you can use if you want to read more. Here are some of them.
Create a schedule
Scheduling is one of the most significant aspects when it comes to creating a new habit and sticking to it. Therefore, it is advisable to create a reading schedule and try to adhere to it. You don’t have to read half of the book right away. Start with a couple of pages in the morning or in the evening, but make it consistent. It will help you stay motivated and focused on the process.
Take a book with you wherever you go
Every free minute you have is an opportunity to read. If you are stuck in traffic, have a long flight or are about to commute to work, take the book with you. You will have things to do, as well as manage to stick to your reading schedule. Surely, it does not necessarily have to be a printed version of the book you are interested in. Download the electric version and read it on your phone or tablet if that’s more to your liking. The most important thing is to keep reading. The format and the place do not really matter.
Start with books you are most interested in
If you want to read more, the easiest way to do it is to choose something you are truly interested in. This way, it won’t feel like an obligation, and you will have enough motivation to keep going. Besides, you won’t even notice how many pages are left when the plot is fascinating. If you can’t decide which book you want to read, perhaps it would be useful to ask for suggestions. Reach out to your friends or look through a variety of book forums, discussions or online communities. There’s no doubt that you will find a book or a story you are going to be excited about.
Set some goals
If you are serious about reading more or starting a book challenge, the best way to stay on top of things is to set actual goals. Surely, they have to be realistic. You will quickly get discouraged if you dream of reading a hundred books a year but end up failing. For this reason, start with just a few or even one. This way, you will feel great once you achieve your goal, as well as have enough energy and desire to continue reading more and more. Reading is extremely addictive. What is more, the more read, the more fascinating it becomes. All in all, it’s a great hobby.
Apart from that, setting a reading goal and actually achieving it is yet another great technique to apply when you need to believe more in yourself and your abilities. If you need an example, become friends with those people who read a lot or follow them on social media. It will help you move towards your reading goal.
Join a book club
Joining a book club is a superb idea. You will have a lot of books you are going to read, as well as the deadline within which you are supposed to finish reading each of them. Yet, the most important thing is that you will have a community to discuss these books with. When you join a book club, it is not merely about reading a book and forgetting all about it. The goal is to make sure everyone has understood something and came to their own conclusions. What is more, the point of a book club is to discuss the book, as well as make sure everyone is engaged in the conversation even when they disliked the book or didn’t think much of it.
Another great thing about joining a book club is that you will be on a schedule which means that skipping will be much harder. When you are doing something together, it is much more fun. Besides, others encourage you not to give up no matter what.
