avatarClaire Freimark

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Abstract

d="797d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*M5JA00PNVzJnFaMi"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@perfecto_capucine?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Perfecto Capucine</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2 id="7a7e">Find the format that works for you</h2><p id="b20e">There are so many ways to consume books. Print, digital, audio — they all have pros and cons. Personally, I am in a committed relationship with my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Now-with-Built-in-Front-Light/dp/B07978J597?th=1">Kindle</a>. I love how small and portable it is, and whenever I finish a book, I always have another queued up. Of course, you don’t need a separate device to read — you can read digital books on your computer or phone or listen to audiobooks. It’s all about finding what works best for you!</p><h2 id="cca6">Track your progress</h2><p id="3bf1">I’m a big numbers gal, and I love keeping track of how many books I’ve read and my thoughts on them. I highly recommend trying <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/">Goodreads</a> or <a href="https://www.thestorygraph.com/">The StoryGraph</a> (the latter of which <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/freimarkc">I use</a>) to track your progress, connect with other readers, and find book recommendations. I religiously rate the books I’ve read, which has helped me figure out what genres I most enjoy. Seeing everything you’ve read can also be a great way to motivate you to read even more!</p><h2 id="fc40">Don’t be afraid to quit</h2><p id="f547">Starting a book doesn’t obligate you to finish it — you’re not going to like reading if you don’t like what you read! If you ever find yourself halfway through a book and <i>really</i> not feeling it, don’t be afraid to put it down and pick up a new one. Use it as a learning experience on the journey to figure out what you enjoy and what you don’t (for example, I’ve discovered I’m not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope). I’m still learning to take this advice myself, but trust me when I say it will make the reading experience more pleasant if you don’t force yourself to read books you don’t like.</p><figure id="4b5b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*6xSIwSAA1sGXbO2C"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@joshapplegate?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Josh Applegate</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2 id="9d22">Keep it low-pressure</h2><p id="57

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76">My love for reading deteriorated when I was forced to read and analyze novels in grade school. The stress of grades and impending deadlines totally ruined the fun. Now, I try to make reading as low-pressure as possible. Read a book in a week? Great! Read a book in two, or never finish it at all? Totally fine! I don’t even set reading goals for myself, although they can be very motivating. I just read for reading’s sake, and I’m loving every page of it.</p><p id="f165"><b>Did you enjoy this article? Follow me for more! Support me and my Medium journey by signing up for a membership!</b></p><div id="ba44" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@claire.freimark/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link — Claire Freimark</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*EPR2MrPNHAgqZhk4)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="093d"><b>Also, check out some of my other articles below!</b></p><div id="86f2" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-i-hid-likes-on-instagram-1471bded6049"> <div> <div> <h2>Hiding Likes on Instagram Improved My Mental Health</h2> <div><h3>Why I hid them, and why I never looked back</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*vUV3GDZsaxMpk-a7joQJ8Q.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="8b31" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@claire.freimark/ive-read-16-books-in-2022-here-are-my-favorites-8ef752c5f2c1"> <div> <div> <h2>I’ve read 16 books in 2022 — here are my favorites</h2> <div><h3>At the start of this year, armed with a Kindle and a library card, I set out on my only resolution: to become a…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*DPzCjkxNDcfs_f_h)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

READING

How to Spark Your Love of Reading

It seems like many of us don’t enjoy reading. It’s time to change that!

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Reading can be an enjoyable, relaxing, and educational hobby. In fact, reading for pleasure is associated with many positive outcomes! Yet, about half of American adults don’t read for fun.

In a recent piece, I mentioned that for 2022, my New Year’s resolution was to become a reader. I’ve managed to rekindle my love for reading — here are some tips for discovering your own passion.

Get a library card

This was possibly the biggest thing that helped me on my own reading journey. I’d wanted to get back into reading for a long time but was intimidated by the cost. That’s when I discovered that I could borrow ebooks from my local library. Libraries are a fantastic resource for getting books without sinking a ton of money into the hobby. Just be prepared to wait weeks, if not months, on hold for more popular novels. However you prefer to read, I highly recommend getting a library card: it has been a game-changer.

Photo by Perfecto Capucine on Unsplash

Find the format that works for you

There are so many ways to consume books. Print, digital, audio — they all have pros and cons. Personally, I am in a committed relationship with my Kindle. I love how small and portable it is, and whenever I finish a book, I always have another queued up. Of course, you don’t need a separate device to read — you can read digital books on your computer or phone or listen to audiobooks. It’s all about finding what works best for you!

Track your progress

I’m a big numbers gal, and I love keeping track of how many books I’ve read and my thoughts on them. I highly recommend trying Goodreads or The StoryGraph (the latter of which I use) to track your progress, connect with other readers, and find book recommendations. I religiously rate the books I’ve read, which has helped me figure out what genres I most enjoy. Seeing everything you’ve read can also be a great way to motivate you to read even more!

Don’t be afraid to quit

Starting a book doesn’t obligate you to finish it — you’re not going to like reading if you don’t like what you read! If you ever find yourself halfway through a book and really not feeling it, don’t be afraid to put it down and pick up a new one. Use it as a learning experience on the journey to figure out what you enjoy and what you don’t (for example, I’ve discovered I’m not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope). I’m still learning to take this advice myself, but trust me when I say it will make the reading experience more pleasant if you don’t force yourself to read books you don’t like.

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash

Keep it low-pressure

My love for reading deteriorated when I was forced to read and analyze novels in grade school. The stress of grades and impending deadlines totally ruined the fun. Now, I try to make reading as low-pressure as possible. Read a book in a week? Great! Read a book in two, or never finish it at all? Totally fine! I don’t even set reading goals for myself, although they can be very motivating. I just read for reading’s sake, and I’m loving every page of it.

Did you enjoy this article? Follow me for more! Support me and my Medium journey by signing up for a membership!

Also, check out some of my other articles below!

Reading
Books
How To
Leisure
Knowledge Management
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