5 Ways to Read More Books

Don’t let half your books go unread

There are a lot of books in the world. Even if you only actually want to read 1% of them, you still won’t even get close. Add a busy life with a lot going on, and it’s hard to find the time to accomplish your reading goals. However, reading more is still a worthwhile goal, and if you’re like me, you have a ton of unread books just waiting for you. Here are 5 ways you can find more time for reading.

1 ~ Watch less YouTube, Netflix, TV, etc.

A lot of us spend way too much time watching series, movies, or just random videos. I mean, the internet was built upon funny cat videos! Swapping out just an hour every other day spent on watching videos with reading can go a long way towards finishing more books. Not to say that watching videos can’t be as worthwhile as reading. Balance is a thing for a reason.

The same idea can apply to time spent browsing social media. These can be good in moderation, but it’s very easy to get sucked into hours of unproductive scrolling. The next time you’re about to reach for your phone, reach for a book instead. Even if you only read 5 or 10 pages, you’ll still have read something.

2 ~ Audiobooks

Maybe this is not technically reading, but audiobooks have helped me finish some book series I wouldn’t have found time for otherwise. You can listen to audiobooks while working out, going for walks, cleaning the house, or lying in bed in a dark room with your eyes closed, knowing you won’t sleep for another two hours but kind of trying anyway.

I’ve found that turning up the speed to around 1,5x is fine with most audiobooks. This will help you read them faster. I don’t always do this, though, because sometimes you just want to enjoy the narration to the fullest.

3 ~ Reading on the toilet

We all spend at least a bit of time on the toilet every week. Some more than others. This is the perfect time to get some reading done, as you have space all to yourself and can focus. Just don’t focus too hard and forget where you are until your legs fall asleep. A page or two every time will eventually add up to a book you wouldn’t have read otherwise.

4 ~ Reading while you are eating

This is another thing you’re pretty much forced to spend time on every day, but which can be multitasked with reading. I used to do this all the time when I was younger, and still do sometimes. I find it easier to read while eating if I’m reading on a screen because I don’t have to hold it. That leaves two hands for eating, and two eyes for reading.

5 ~ Set reading goals

This is less of a practical tip and more of a mental one, but it helps so much! If you set a monthly or yearly reading goal of a certain number of books, your brain will want to finish it. When your brain wants something, it will usually find the time and motivation more easily. Make sure your goal is achievable by taking into consideration the amount of time you have in a day. Unachievable goals can lead to disappointment and demotivation.

There you have it! 5 ways to help you read more of those books that are sitting on your shelf, waiting to pass their knowledge and insight onto you. Now go read one of them!