I love sharing what I’m reading with you all. I love when we talk about books we love. But, most of all, I love having that shared connection with so many of you. When I shared my 24 in 2024 list on social media, many of you said that your goal was to read more this year or to start reading again. Which got me to thinking — while I routinely share what I’ve been reading (select Book Recs under Life at the top of the site), I haven’t necessarily talked about how I read as many books as I do.

Now if you know me IRL, you know that I haven’t had a full-time job for the past couple of years while we’ve been living abroad. However, I was still finishing roughly the same amount of books while fully employed, so that hasn’t made much of an impact. The reason I can read so many books is because I’ve experimented with multiple habit strategies until I found what worked for me.

So what are these strategies? We all know that setting a lofty reading goal is as ambitious as it is daunting, so here are some tried and true tips to help you turn those pages more effortlessly:

Start small

Aim for a small daily page count or minutes goal (something like 10 pages or 10 minutes) and aim to complete it every day. Even if you miss a day here and there, it’s okay. You’re building a new habit. I’m also a big fan of giving credit even if you only do part of the daily goal. Once you’re easily accomplishing your small goal, bump it up to the next level. Also, if after the time or page count is reached for the day and you still want to keep going, go for it! No one wants to stop during the twist!

Track your progress

There are so many ways to track progress. Use a productivity app (I like Streaks), join a challenge (like the Goodreads annual), earn badges in Kindle readers or even join or start an in-person book club or group chat. You don’t know how far you’ve come if you don’t keep track.

Get your library card

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, get your library card! This is your sign. It is an absolutely free service (I mean you are paying the taxes for it, so you might as well reap the benefits). With your library card, you can either rent physical books or connect to their Libby app. I can confirm, they have all of the popular titles (my library even lets me place holds on books that haven’t released yet). In fact, almost every book you’ll see on the book blogs was borrowed from the library. Military peeps—all you need is your DoD ID number to sign up for your card.

Mix it up

Allow yourself to try new genres. Reach out to friends with different tastes and ask what their favorite book is. A little variety keeps your reading palette excited. Plus, you never know what new genre you may enjoy.

Keep a big pile

Once you sign up for your Goodreads account and add me as a friend, you’ll see I have a stacked Want to Read list. Basically every time someone recommends a book or something catches my eye on r/suggestmeabook, I add it to the list. I also routinely add titles from Goodreads most anticipated blog posts. If something is a new release, I’ll often log into Libby and place a hold on it (my library allows me to have 20 holds at one time). With this system, I never have to think when I finish a book. Chances are I’ll have something I’m in the mood for, whether it’s a spooky read during the fall or the latest title in health during the beginning of the year.

Yes, your audiobooks count

Listen, in this 24/7 economy there is no reason to make your reading goals harder on yourself. If you read my book blog, you’ll notice about half of my books (mostly the nonfiction titles) are audiobooks and that’s because I have a lot of time I can spend listening! I listen to books while I walk the dogs every day, when I clean, on transit, while I’m knitting… the list goes on. Try to identify “dead zones” in your day where you could add some audio and match up the perfect book. Some possible times you may try could be while you’re cooking, getting ready for the day, commuting, grocery shopping, waiting for appointments… actually just waiting in line for anything, period. Chances are, even if you are incredibly busy, you have at least 10 minutes in the day where you could be listening to something. I struggle to stay awake while physically reading nonfiction, so that’s why they are my audiobook of choice! No judgement if you need something you can space out to.

Embrace shorter reads

And while we’re on the subject of counting audiobooks, you can count short books too. There isn’t some rule that a book has to be long in order to count, and honestly, sometimes we’re just not in the right headspace for a lengthy tale. Match your energy and what’s going on in your life to what you’re reading. I inevitably always seem to drop off at the end of the year, and that’s okay! There’s a time for everything, and sometimes we just do the bare minimum to get by. Again, no judgement.

Ritualize it

You’re more likely to keep habits that are enjoyable. We’re hedonistic creatures deep in our souls. So make reading so special that it’s indulgent. Pair it with your favorite drink or find a special spot in your home. Maybe you listen to some soft music while you read. I personally love reading in bed. In fact, I often go to bed ridiculously early just so I can spend a few hours reading before I get too tired.

Consider reading multiple books at one time

This is one of those strategies that will absolutely work for you, or you’ll hate it. I always have multiple books going at the same time, but I have a few different ways to make sure I keep them all straight. First, I’m usually listening to an audiobook and reading a book simultaneously. To avoid confusing plots, I often choose a nonfiction for the audiobook and fiction for the physical read. Occasionally, I’ll add a classic literature book into the mix and have found I don’t struggle to keep plots and characters separate when I do this either.

Don’t fear abandonment

If you don’t like a book, I give you permission to stop without finishing it. This is why I love having the library card. I feel zero guilt releasing a book I don’t love back into the wild to find someone who will cherish it. How do I know I should DNF (Did Not Finish) a book? I consider abandoning a book if I find myself getting distracted every few pages, sighing exasperatedly, or start scrolling through Goodreads to make sure I'm not the only one not vibing with it.

Share what you’re reading

I’m not saying you have to start a blog like this one (though it would be cool if you did!), but consider sharing what you’re reading on social media. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I have connected with so many different people from different points in my life simply by sharing what I read. The more you share, the more people view you as a reader and will start recommending books to you. Some of my most beloved books have been given to me by friends.

So, there you have it – my personal toolkit to help you dive deeper into your reading adventure. Remember, it's not about racing through pages, but savoring the journey each book takes you on. Books are not just stories; they are experiences that shape us, conversations that stay with us.

I'd love to hear how you plan to step up your reading game. What's on your to-read list? Got any tricks up your sleeve? Drop a comment below – I'm always looking for ways to make things easier and more fun. You’re always welcome in this space, no matter what you’re reading. Happy reading!

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