Measure Your Progress
'Read more' is one of those woolly goals that is hard to quantify. I would highly recommend setting yourself a tangible goal, as knowing whether you're keeping up the pace is vital. I keep track of my book reading through the handy website Goodreads. You can see my profile here. Recently the 'Reading Challenge 2015' popped up on my screen, and for some reason I enthusiastically and perhaps over-ambitiously set my 2015 reading goal at 100 books. Last year I'd estimate that I read about 50, so this is an aim to double my reading. I'm currently 8 books behind schedule, but I'm not that worried, because I have a strategy that includes the below tips.
Make Reading A Habit & A Priority
Sometimes it's easier to keep to the same old habits of half-watching TV in the evenings or playing on social media on our commutes to work. If you can make reading a habit, then it will easily slot into your day, but to make something a habit you have to devote some conscious effort to it first and make it a priority! I do this with household chores, such as tidying away clean dishes while the kettle's boiling. At first I had to remind myself to do it, but now it's automatic.
Read In Short Bursts
Last year I tended not to read unless I had at least half an hour to devote to it (unless I was reading something particularly gripping, when I'd be cramming in reading at every opportunity to find out what happened next). Now, little and often is my mantra. One useful website that might help you with this is called the Daily Lit. You can get email installments of a massive range of books, for free, and you can choose the frequency and length of the installment. A great way to catch up on some classics that you've overlooked so far.
Choose Accessible Books
Reading is supposed to be enjoyable, and not too much like hard work, so pick books that you will find both pleasurable and easy to read! I've tried to read Mervyn Peake's 'Titus Groan' several times but just can't make headway with it. I have to stop after every page to look up all of the vocabulary I don't understand, and I get frustrated. If I made another attempt to read it this year then I'd probably use up about 10 books worth of normal reading time, so if I want to reach my 100 book target I'll have to leave that one for another year. War and Peace is probably one for another time too.
Keep Books With You
I keep books in my desk drawer in work, I keep them in my handbag, and I have them in the boot of my car. Now that there are e-readers like Kindles, there's no excuse not to have a book on hand, anywhere and everywhere!
Read Different Types Of Book At Different Times Of Day
I have heard some people say that the best way to finish a book is to read just one at a time. I disagree with this; although I wouldn't read two similar books at the same time e.g. two Georgette Heyer novels, I quite often have a fiction book and a non-fiction book on the go at the same time. I like to read different types of book at different times of the day, so I'll make more headway if I stick to lighter books before bed and heavier reads during the day e.g. I recently read a Jeeves & Wooster book in bed each night, that was just perfect for some relaxed, effortless reading and a bit of a giggle before sleep. I saved 'The Hare With Amber Eyes' for my commute on the train, as I needed to concentrate more for that one and anything with a bit of an unsettling theme isn't good for me right before bed as I struggle to switch off from it and get off to sleep properly.
Join A Book Club
There's nothing like a deadline to provide a bit of motivation! Once a month is frequent enough, and if you have to meet in person rather than discuss a book online, you've got even more of an incentive to finish that book on time.
Listen Instead Of Read
Finally, a bit of a cheat is to listen to an audio book. I have some Agatha Christie short stories on CD in my car. You can borrow audio books from your library, or they quite often turn up for pennies in charity shops.
Do you have any more tips about how to fit in more books into your life? Have you set yourself a reading goal this year?
I've already read 30 books this year! I've always got a book on the go.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is that if you're not enjoying a book then give it away and read something else, life's too short. xxx
Blimey you're storming ahead there Vix!! And yes I think that's so true, there are not enough years to read all the books in the world so we have to be a bit selective!! xx
DeleteNice! I have always had trouble reading books even though I enjoy it very much, but these tips helped!
ReplyDeleteI tend to go on binge reading. I would read 3,4 books in a period of time, even go on buying spree on Kindle and then go for months without reading. That's the pattern. Now I am reading a book called Goodbye Iran. The author happens to be my doctor. It's well written, simple and the story is touching
ReplyDeleteI love the 'binge reading' confession! And I will look out for your recommendation, thank you x
DeleteI have finally managed to make myself give up on a book if I'm just not getting on with it, I used to soldier on, but as Vix says life is too short! I don't read anywhere near as much as I used too, or as much as I'd like too I keep meaning to rectify that but haven't yet. I'm definitely one for having at least 2 - 5 books on the go at once.
ReplyDelete100!! I thought I was ambitious with my 52 this year... mind you, I did also have 50 for last year and managed it comfortably, so really I wasn't pushing myself there was I ;) I go through phases where I don't read as much though and I'm in one of those right now so I'm currently 3 books behind even my 52. Whoops. Text/email me your goodreads account by the way - I'll add you! Also, love the picture at the top ;)
ReplyDeleteOh and my top tip for getting through vast numbers of books is to download one of the new speed reading apps that are about - they really work and you still read every word! xx
I'm intrigued by the desire to list and count what you've read, it's not something I've ever done. I think of reading as a pleasure and an integral part of my life, it's not something I set myself targets to do. I read as much or as little as I want, which usually means one book at a time, and a mix of easy/fast reading and some books which require more effort. I'd hate to think I only ever read stuff that was easy, since more challenging books can repay the extra effort. Hope you enjoy what you read this year! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed one of life's great pleasures! But i often feel like I'm missing out because of all the classics I've never read, or the books my friends rave about, and I get annoyed after a few months when I realise I've read hardly anything but managed to watch some rubbish telly! I think once I'm really in the swing of it I won't need to keep count anymore, but until it's habit I need the discipline. And you're right about challenging books, but I need a bit of space in between those. X
DeleteLove these tips, it's pretty much how my reading has jumped up so much in the last couple of years, Goodreads is the biggest factor for me! I'm aiming to read betweek 40-60, think I made it to 54 last year. Good luck with the 100!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you too! We're buddies on GoodReads now so we can spur each other on. X
DeleteReading more has never been an issue for me - when I was in school, I would actually get in trouble for reading at inappropriate times. This actually continued all the way up through college, so I guess I never learned that particular lesson...
ReplyDeleteI just set up a new page on Goodreads, and it's been fun actually keeping track of what I'm reading. I've got a library fine I need to pay off, so right now I'm just reading off of my bookshelf, but it's been nice to revisit some favorites.
My advice would be to make sure you actually like what you're reading. I've slogged through really dull books just because I feel like I should, and that's not something I'm willing to put myself through anymore. If I don't like something, I just put it aside and try the next thing down the line. That said, it can be worth revisiting things that once seemed dull. I never thought I would be a Jane Austen fan, but after reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which I really enjoyed, I thought I would give the originals a crack, and I ended up loving her.
I did find Jane Austen dull when I was younger but perhaps it was because I didn't understand the humour at that age, so I am always open to revisiting books. Not Titus Groan though. Tried. Failed. Not enough time to read unenjoyable books. I love how you have been a bookworm since an early age! X
DeleteWonderful post! I am a massive lifelong bookworm. I could pretty much read all day, every day, if such were possible. I really agree with your tip to read certain things at different times of the day. I find certain topics/genres generally more enjoyable in the morning, afternoon, evening, and middle of the night and love that this gives me the ability to easily and happily have multiple books on the go at the same time. Right now I've got four going, which is about my average, but I've had up to (at least) ten sometimes, especially back in my school days, when I'd often read more (beyond the course load) on what we were studying.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading, dear gal!
♥ Jessica
It seems quite a few of us vintage lovers are book worms, perhaps another thing related to a more introverted personality? X
DeleteGood tips, though I'm so hooked on escapism that I start to feel quite devastated if I don't read anything for a while. Watching TV is not the same after all. I try to read non-fiction in the morning and fiction in the night with a cup of decaf tea (and I read in toilet, too, but I'm not going to tell you that!). I keep a private list of what I've read and I've often thought of joining the Goodreads but never got around to it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe because I read mostly in English (not my mother tongue), it does not bother me to check words out from a dictionary now and then. I liked Titus Groan :) Currently I'm tackling French, so I decided, as this year's goal, to read fiction only in French for a while, but we'll see...
The only time I really read is when I go on vacation. Since we just got back from Cuba I managed to read 5 books when we were there. I'm a fast reader, and I enjoy it, but I spend so much time reading on the computer already that I like to do something else in my spare time now that gives my eyes a bit of a rest.
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Good luck with your 100 books this year! I used to average 24-28 books a year but now I'm more like 12 ;)
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