How To Read More Books (6 Steps)
In this post, I will share how I’ve been able to read more books. I get it, you’re a busy person! Maybe you think you don’t have time to read, even if you wanted to. And if you did want to, maybe Netflix is calling your name instead. I’ve been there!
As a busy, full-time working person with other hobbies besides reading, I still make time to read in a way that doesn’t feel disruptive to my life. If you want to up your book count, keep reading.
1. Decide HOW you want to read.
Books exist in so many different mediums – print books, eBooks, and audiobooks. Which format(s) is most enjoyable and practical for you?
Print Books
- You love the feel of a physical book in your hands and the satisfaction of turning the page.
- You prefer to get books from a library or book store.
- You want to own physical books to build a library in your home.
- You’re someone who frequently rereads books.
eBooks
- You want an inexpensive and fast way to get books.
- You own or are interested in an E-reader like a Kindle.
- I purchased a refurbished Kindle on Amazon for less than $100 a few years ago and it’s still going strong!
- You want to carry and read multiple books at once in a portable way.
Audiobooks
- You want to read while doing something else (exercising, driving, cooking, etc).
- You have a longer attention span for listening than for reading.
- You want to listen to books at a faster pace than you can read.
I personally read eBooks primarily, and then purchase print books I want to read again another time. The main reason I read mostly eBooks is because I can access them for FREE.
2. Download the Libby app (for eBooks and audiobooks).
When I decided I wanted to read more books, it was important to me that I could access books without having to make a trip to my local library, or spending money at the bookstore every time. If you want to borrow eBooks and audiobooks for FREE, you need this app:
All you need to start downloading eBooks and audiobooks from Libby is a library card. With Libby, you can search for titles you’re interested in and place a hold on books that are not yet available. That is one of the limitations of Libby – like a library with physical books, copies are limited and you may have to wait your turn. When the book does become available, you’ll receive a notification that it’s ready to borrow!
Another reason I like Libby is because each book has a built-in due date. I believe it varies per library, but when I borrow a book, I have 14-21 days to read it. This encourages me not to slack off or procrastinate finishing a book.
Like a real library, if you need more time, you can also renew books (in most cases – if the book has a long waiting list, Libby might not allow it).
Sometimes, I’ve placed too many holds and a book becomes available before I’m ready to borrow it. Libby has a solution. You can adjust the book’s delivery date to be in the future and the next person in line gets to borrow instead. I love how functional this app is!
3. Get a Goodreads account.
Reading is pretty much a solo activity, but with Goodreads, you have a huge reading community at your fingertips! I use Goodreads for so many things:
To see what my friends are reading
Like any social media app, Goodreads has a newsfeed where you can see your friends’ activity. Within a few seconds of scrolling, I can see what books my friends are currently reading, how they rated it, and what they want to read next.
Book inspiration and reviews
Goodreads will tell you what is popular in a certain genre and has curated lists as well. If I happen to hear about a book and want to see what other readers have thought about it, Goodreads is the first place I go to research reviews. Every user has a Want To Read shelf that you can save books too. This way, I never run out of ideas for what books to read next!
The Annual Reading Challenge
At the start of the year, you can set a goal for the number of books you want to read and Goodreads will keep track for you. Your score bar goes up every time you finish a book and it is so satisfying! You can also see your friends’ progress for their reading challenges. It doesn’t have to be a competition of course, but I enjoy the extra incentive to read more books.
It’s so fun to reflect on what and how much I read at the end of the year. My goal for 2022 is 20 books. Share yours with me in the comments! Check out my Goodreads account if you’re interested.
4. Carry a book everywhere to turn down time into reading time.
The easiest way to read more books is to always have a book on hand. Technology these days makes that super simple to accomplish!
If I don’t feel like lugging around a physical book, I’ll pack my Kindle instead. If I don’t want to bring my Kindle, I use the Kindle mobile app to read books on my phone. Audiobook listeners have it even simpler and can start listening on their phone any time.
I bring a book whenever I anticipate having to wait. Going to a doctor’s appointment? Bring a book. Going to the DMV for literally anything? Definitely bring a book. Have a long car/bus/train/plane ride ahead of you? Bring a book.
You can have an audiobook run in the background of pretty much any task! I’ll throw one on while I’m cooking dinner or folding laundry.
5. Transform unwanted habits into dedicated reading time.
This is the hardest, but most substantial step to reading more books. For me, my unwanted habit was phone screen time. I was spending HOURS on Instagram and YouTube and didn’t have anything to show for it.
Of course, I didn’t get rid of all my phone apps completely. I just started using them in moderation. Scrolling on my phone used to be part of my morning routine before my first work meeting of the day. Now, I spend that time reading on my Kindle.
My Instagram feed used to be the last thing I saw before closing my eyes to sleep. Now, I dedicate at least 30 minutes before bed to reading. It’s been helping me sleep better, too!
What’s your habit that could be decreased or substituted with reading? Watching TV? Gaming online? If it brings you joy, don’t quit altogether. But even if it’s just spending 10 minutes less than usual on Netflix, take the small step to pick up a book instead. You’ll be amazed how many pages you can read in a short amount of time!
6. If you are not enjoying a book, stop reading it!
It seems silly but I think this step is crucial to reading more books. Reading a book you don’t like is not fun! Whenever I find myself not enjoying a book, it makes me want to stop reading altogether. That time spent dreading a book is valuable time that could be spent reading a book you actually like!
There is no shame in not finishing a book. I’ve left books unfinished for so many reasons — even dumb reasons like, I don’t like the main character at all! This romantic dialogue is too cheesy for me. This author doesn’t use enough punctuation, it’s too difficult for me to follow. So many reasons!
Just remember that reading is supposed to be fun. As a hobby, no one is forcing you to do it. It’s literally just for you! If it’s for you, at least make it enjoyable. Making sure it’s fun is the key to consistency if you want to incorporate more reading into your life.
These are my tips to read more books. I will be updating this list if any more come to mind! Share your reading tips with me in the comments below.
If you’re interested in what I’m reading, check out my Goodreads account.
