How to Read More This Year
Looking for tips on how to read more this year? I’ve got you covered!
2020 was a year of new hobbies for many people. While some people started baking bread or taking care of houseplants, I rediscovered my love for reading in 2020.
I’ve always been a big reader since I was a kid, but I started reading less as I got older (especially during college.) In 2019, I made a goal for myself to read 24 books, and I ended up reading 29 books.
In 2020, I set the same goal for myself, but I ended up reading 73 books by the end of the year!
These are tips and tricks that helped me start reading more and add reading back into my daily routine. If you want to read more books this year, these easy tips should work for you too!
1. Read ebooks!
2020 was the year I started getting ebooks to read on my phone. I’ve always been a big fan of physical books, and I still am… but I can’t deny the convenience of ebooks! I read almost everything on my phone now, but you can also read ebooks on a Kindle or tablet.
If you want to start reading more ebooks, you can get a free trial of Kindle Unlimited which gives you 30 days of unlimited reading of over one million books on any device!
2. Try audiobooks.
I don’t personally listen to audiobooks, because I don’t like being read to and prefer traditional reading, but I know so many people who LOVE audiobooks! Especially if you already listen to music/podcasts a lot, you may enjoy listening to audiobooks too.
If you want to give audiobooks a try, you can get a free trial of Audible Plus which gives you 30 days of unlimited listening to more than 10,000 audiobooks.
You might also like: 24 Inspirational Books Like The Alchemist
3. Read wherever you go.
Try to always have a book on your (whether that’s a physical book or an ebook on your device) so you can read before you go. I always read anytime I’m in transit or even waiting in line somewhere.
Even if you just have 5 to 10 minutes of downtime (and that’s time you would normally spend scrolling through your phone!) make yourself read instead and soon it will become a natural habit.
4. Replace other habits with reading.
I won’t lie, part of the reason I was able to read so much this year is because I cut out other habits and replaced them with reading. Earlier in the year I was spending HOURS a day scrolling through TikTok (such a big time-waster) or watching TV shows.
Now I never do those things, because I’m spending that time reading instead! You have to make a commitment to cut out other habits and replace them with reading, but it’s worth it.
5. Track your reading.
This year I started using Goodreads to track my reading.
Goodreads is a website that allows you to track your reading by creating “shelves” with books you’ve read and books you want to read. You can also rate and review books you’ve read, track your progress towards your reading goal, get book recommendations, and see stats and data about your reading.
I have found Goodreads to be incredibly motivating when it comes to reading more! I love being able to organize and rate all the books I’ve read and see my progress towards my yearly reading goal.
6. Read before bed.
You’ve probably heard a million times that reading before bed is good for you and helps you sleep. Well, it’s true! Reading before bed for a designated amount of time is a habit anyone can start.
If you’re like most people, you probably spend some time before bed on your phone or laptop. I know I used to spend hours on my phone or laptop once I was in the bed. Now, I spend that time reading instead and it’s when I get most of my reading done (also in the morning right when I wake up.)
7. Set a reading goal.
It wasn’t until 2019 when I made the FIRM goal to read 24 books that it actually happened.
Set a concrete goal (not just a vague resolution to “read more”) and write that somewhere you will see it and can track your progress. For me, I wrote it in the first page of my planner. You can also set your reading goal on Goodreads and track your progress towards it throughout the year.
Whether your goal is to read one book a month or one book a week, get specific with it and write it down (it’s been proven you are more likely to reach it that way!)
8. Read what you enjoy.
Don’t worry about reading books you think you “should” read, because that will just make reading a chore. I know for a while there, I was reading books because they were popular or award-winning. But that didn’t always mean I liked them.
This year I discovered that I LOVE reading fantasy. So for the second half of the year that’s literally ALL I read, and that’s probably mainly what I’ll read next year too. (Or until I’m in the mood to pick up something else.) So if you find what you like, stick with it!
9. Join a book club or reading challenge.
Finally, while this is not something I have tried yet myself, a lot of people get motivated to read more by joining a book club or reading challenge!
Books clubs are great if you want some peer pressure to read (and to discuss what you’re reading with others.) And reading challenges like the PopSugar Reading Challenge make a game into what you read for the year with different themed reading prompts to fulfill.
More Literary Inspiration
Looking for more reading and book related content? Check out these posts!
- 9 Best Travel Books Written by Women
- 12 Coolest Bookstores Around the World
- 8 Best Bookstores in NYC You Need to Visit
- 25 Inspiring Quotes About Reading
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About Denise Cruz
Denise is a marketing executive who escaped corporate to travel the world… twice. A Brazilian native living in the U.S., she’s lived in 4 countries and visited 35+ others. After side-hustling her way to financial independence, she curates solo destination guides, slow travel tips, and travel blogging advice on Wander Her Way. When she’s not on the road, you can find her in Miami with her dog Finnegan.