From an early age on I loved reading and it was one of my favorite things to do. But over the years I got so busy with my life, that I felt like I don´t have the time for it. So I limited my reading time until it didn´t even exist anymore. For a few years I didn´t touch a book, but when I started to read again I couldn´t believe how good it felt and how much I have missed it. For me it´s one of the most calming things and I love to go on an adventure with the figures of a novel. For me reading is sinking in a different world for a few hours…

So if you feel like my old me and struggle with finding the time for reading here are 12 tips that will help you to read more books.

#1 DEFINE YOUR READING PURPOSE

Before you start reading a new book ask yourself, why do you want to read it. Is it for pleasure or because you want to gain some new knowledge? Being sure about your own reading purpose will help you choose the right book and you will stay way more motivated reading it. If you want to read for pleasure and create a relaxing evening routine before bedtime to calm yourself down, than it will probably not be the best idea to read a non-fiction book with a heavy content. Nor will you enjoy reading a book in a different language as much on this special time. That doesn´t mean that you choose the wrong book or that you are not interested in a topic. The timing is just not the right in. So my first tip is to think about the purpose for your reading. That way you will be more likely to choose the right book at the right time and can enjoy it enthusiastically.

#2 ONLY READ WHAT ATTRACTS YOU

It doesn´t better how many people recommended you a book, what is important is that you want to read it. If you want to enjoy reading in your free time it shouldn´t feel like just another task that you have to do, so go for the books that attract you. If you are really intrested in the topic of a book, the writing style or even just the genre you will read it way faster ´cause you enjoy your time with it.

#3 SKIP PAGES and GIVE UP BOOKS

Please don´t feel guilty if you are reading a non-fiction book to skip pages, because some of the chapters don´t interest you that much. Sometimes you will even find out in the middle of a book that you actually don´t like it, so feel free to stop reading it at any time. Better put it away and choose a different one instead.

#4 LITTLE STEPS

If you are someone who is not used to reading than better start little. You don´t have to read for hours or start with a 600 pages book right away. It might be better to choose a thin book for the beginning, that way you get in the flow easier and feel successful quicker when you finished it.

#5 SET YOURSELF A READING GOAL

How much would you like to read in the new year? In 2019 I read 61 books which was way less than in the year before but I challenged myself to read more books in english so it´s alright. If you are a reading beginner maybe try to reach 12 books a year, that way you will know that you can choose one good book per month. Fast readers often set a reading goal of 50 or even 100 books per year, but the thing is it doesn´t really matter how many books you read. Important is that you enjoy your time and that they inspire you. ´Cause you read for meaning and not only to count words, right?

#6 REFLECT

I think it´s very important to reflect the book that you just finished. I often take notes or mark my favorites quotes in a book. Like I said it´s important to not just rush through a book; better reflect and think about the messages of the book that way it will have a way bigger impact on your life.

#7 TRACK YOUR READING

Since I started writing down the titles of the books that I read per month, I felt way more motivated to read. You can either do that in a private notebook, on instagram or on book pages like goodreads and lovelybooks.

#8 SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

By the way authors are always super happy if you leave them a review on the book. It doesn´t have to be a long one, sometimes you might just want to write one or two little sentences and rate the book.  For some readers it gives them the feeling of a bigger purpose if they rate the book after they read it, so maybe you would like to do that too and see if it motivates you.

#9 INCLUDE READING IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

Schedule some reading time in your daily life and make it a habit. You can either plan some reading time in the morning or before bedtime, in the metro on your way to the uni or your job or maybe you like to read a few chapters while you´re sitting on the bike in the gym. Create a reading routine and you will read way more than in the last year.

#10 ALWAYS HAVE A BOOK WITH YOU

Sometimes you will have unplanned free time, that you could use perfectly for reading a book. For example when you missed your train and have to wait for another ten minutes, when you are early at a doctors appointment or even in your lunch break there could be the time option for a few pages of your book. If you have a book or e-reader with you, you can use that time wisely instead of spending unmeaningful screen time on your phone.

#11 PLAN YOUR READING LIST IN ADVANCE

Whenever you hear about an interesting book or see one that you would like to read, write it on a list so that you will remember it. That way you will start reading a new book way faster after you finished another one, as if you would when you would have no inspiration yet.

#12 TRY DIFFERENT MEDIAS

Maybe you are reading way faster on an e-reader than on a paperback and you just used the wrong medium so far. Or you struggle with long pages, but love to listen when advises go straight to your earbuds. As a child I loved to listen to audio books and I actually don´t understand why I ever stopped listening to them. Probably because I found it harder to get good audio books than an old classic hardcover, but nowadays there are so many good options to listen to them. I just fell in love with audio books again and whenever I do a boring task like cleaning, folding washing or even sometimes when I cook I turn on an audio book and enjoy the cozy childhood feeling. I also like how fast you can be done with a book by just listening to it. So try it out!  

Let me know in the comments below how many books you have read in the last year of 2019 and if you have a reading goal for this year!