How to Read More in 2023
Alright, did you make a goal to read 100 books this year like me? 50? 25? Just one?
I get it. With a new baby and trying to keep a household together as well as get work done, it seems crazy that I want to add one more thing to my plate. But there’s something really wonderful about reading - it’s not just an escape, but a form of self care. Still, it can be hard enough to find five minutes just to take a shower some days, so if you want to figure out how to read more this year, take a look at these tips.
Carry a book with you
There’s a magic Kindle app that can be downloaded on your phone for free. Apple Books, too. Heck, I guarantee your library has an app for ebooks that you might not know of yet. That’s a handy dandy way to keep a book in your pocket at all times - for waiting in line, gassing up your car, sitting at lunch.
Or, you can be extra cool and carry around that 800-page smut book you grabbed from the library. Intimidate strangers or find a new friend who notices you’re reading one of their favorite books!
Join a book club
If you don’t know where to start, check out your library’s events page! There are also plenty of Facebook groups that do book clubs so you don’t have to be in the same location as the other members. Book clubs offer some accountability and it’s tons of fun to talk about the book you just read. And if one isn’t offered in your favorite genre, start one!
Find a reading challenge
There are plenty of reading challenges on the internet, none of which require that you read everything or sign up. Miss a month or don’t like a book, no worries! Look for hashtags on Instagram, or find these common ones: PopSugar, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and this list of 65+ challenges.
Read what you want
Well, duh. Isn’t that what we all want? Reading is a lot more enjoyable when we get to pick what we read and actually want to pick up the book. That means you don’t have to pick up that new booktok / bookstagram hot read that doesn’t sound all that interesting. The reading challenge you joined that makes you read a horror when you absolutely hate that genre? Don’t read it! What’s more frustrating is when you’re forced to read a book you don’t want to read in a book club. Did you know, I offer a BYOB (that’s Bring Your Own Book) Club on Patreon? It comes with Discord benefits where we all read whatever we want and get to talk to other readers about that book, even if they don’t read the same genre or styles we do. We just love reading and encourage others to do it alongside us so it’s not so lonely.
DNF
Make this the year that you put that boring book in the DNF pile (did not finish). If you don’t like a book, why slog through? Maybe you try it again later, or maybe not. Life is too short to read / spend time on things we don’t enjoy.
Just one chapter
I’ve started doing this one lately and it is HUGE for me. I set a book on my nightstand and vow to read one chapter before bed. It’s a great way to work through my physical shelf and a perfect relaxing activity before bed. It’s fun to sit next to my husband as we read our respective books and then tuck in for the night. Bonus, you reduce screen time and can improve your sleep!
Don’t knock the reread
Sometimes, we just don’t know what to pick up next. If you feel like you’re in a lull, the reread is here for you. Grab your cozy favorite or go right back to page one after you finish a book. Rereads still count, and they are a great, low stress way to get more pages in by the end of the year. I guarantee you’ll pick up on clues you missed before and enjoy the book in a whole new way!
Pair it with something else
Do you hate monotonous exercise? Have nothing else to do while feeding the baby? Pair your reading with another activity to get those sneaky page reads in. Enjoy lunch with a book, grab an afternoon stroll with an audiobook chapter, listen to a book while cooking, and even pretend you’re social and read at a party.
Audiobooks
As you can see above, audiobooks are a great way to get more reading in. I have an audiobook that I reserve for workouts and morning walks to keep me entertained. I play some when doing meal prep. And don’t let anyone tell you that audiobooks don’t count toward your reading goals.
So, what do you say? Ready to tackle that reading list?
