Tips to Maximize Your Reading
I loved reading when I was growing up. But as the years passed, I didn’t find myself turning to books to fill my time. So, I had to make an intentional effort to re-integrate reading into my life. I started to pick up books I had on hand and after finishing a couple of books in a month, I thought I would try to read 52 books in 52 weeks. Over the course of that year, I made my way through classics, books recommended by friends, ones that had been on my shelves for years, and ones that I picked up along the way. Although I didn’t always finish one book each week, I kept at it. And sure enough, I hit the milestone and even was able to finish a few weeks early.
Ever since I haven’t been able to stop! But my pace has sped up considerably in the intervening years. I think my record was over 200 books in a year, but for the most part, it has settled down around the 150-book range. I love keeping track of what I read and sharing about the books on my blog. I’ve been asked many times, however, how, in the midst of a regular busy life, I get through so many books! I’m certainly not an expert by any means, but I have learned a few tactics over the years to keep myself reading…
Always be reading - this one is admittedly kind of obvious. If you want to read, you have to read! But there is quite a bit of intentionality that goes into the practice - not only do you have to actually have books to read (which isn’t hard for most of us), but they have to be accessible and also ones that you actually want to read, which leads us to…
Read books that actually interest you. For years (ever since the 52 books in 52 weeks, and likely even before), I always forced myself to finish every book I started - with very few limited exceptions. It was only recently, when I was just a few pages into a book I could already tell I would hate, that I decided that enough was enough. I’d heard people mention that it was really not worth reading books you didn’t like, particularly in light of how many amazing books exist in the world, but that had never been a belief I’d accepted. Now, however, I’ve fully embraced the idea. I still finish the vast majority of the books I start, and plenty of them are just okay - not fantastic, but ones that I still feel compelled to finish - but knowing that I will let myself put down ones I’m really not enjoying makes such a difference. Now, not only do I get to enjoy books that I like, but it keeps up my momentum…
Monitor momentum. Reading books that you don’t really like isn’t the only thing that can kill the momentum of a reading habit - it can be any number of things. However, by tuning into the moments when you reach for the TV remote instead of a book, play music or a podcast instead of the audiobook you are in the middle of, or turn to something else entirely, it is worth taking note of. Trust me, I watch plenty of TV and listen to a lot of Taylor Swift, but there are times when I recognize I’m doing that because I don’t really want to continue to read or listen to the book I’m in the middle of, and that is important to note.
Try different formats. I’m almost always in the middle of an audiobook and a physical or ebook at the same time. Audiobooks are my favorite medium - they propel me through material, often add a unique dynamic, and sometimes are even ready by the author. But I also try to always have a book or ebook on hand for when I’m not listening, or when I can’t get a book I want to read on audio. With all types, though, I am always prepared to start another because that’s another thing that maintains momentum.
Utilize reading resources. Of course, there are obvious examples, like ordering from Amazon, browsing Barnes and Noble, and picking options up at the library (both physical books and digital collections, such as through apps like Libby and OverDrive). I also love Scribd as a subscription service that gives me almost unlimited access to a wide collection of audiobooks and ebooks and Thriftbooks as a great place to buy the books that I truly love (another reading-related rule that I have is only to purchase books I’ve read and really enjoyed).
Speed it up. Although I don’t read physical books very quickly, I can process auditory information at a rapid pace. Over time, I have sped up the rate at which I listen to audiobooks (now well over double speed), which enables me to get through books much more quickly. Now, I almost can’t stand to listen to books at anything below double speed because it feels so unbelievably slow. While this may not work for all books or all people, everyone I know who has slowly ratcheted up the speed by increasing it gradually over time has quickly agreed they would never go back.
Reading is amazing - but it isn’t a competition, challenge, or race (although you certainly can engage in such reading-related activities if that’s your speed). It is a great way to learn, grow, and discover new things. Or to escape reality, discover new places, and experience things you may never encounter in real life or the real world. Everyone likes to read different things, in different ways, at different times, and at different speeds - all of which is okay. While these are some of the tactics which have allowed me to integrate reading as a regular habit in my life, the best way to institute such a habit is to take full advantage of whatever strategies work best for you. The key to discovering what will work best, however, requires you to start reading. Which, fortunately, is exactly what we want to do, to begin with.
Until next time,