{"id":12255,"date":"2020-09-15T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alifeofproductivity.com\/?p=12255"},"modified":"2022-09-15T02:09:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T02:09:26","slug":"10-strategies-to-read-more-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrisbailey.com\/10-strategies-to-read-more-books\/","title":{"rendered":"10 strategies to read more books"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Takeaway:<\/b>Many of us want to read more but are unsure of how to do it. A handful of tactics to try: set specific times to read, create a comfortable physical environment, identify less meaningful activities and replace them with reading, read shorter books, have multiple books on-the-go, put down books you\u2019re not enjoying, make reading a social activity, know which reading format you prefer, and schedule a reading day. Estimated Reading Time: <\/b>4 minutes, 19s. Podcast Length: <\/b>31 minutes, 58s (link to play podcast at the bottom of post).<\/div><\/div>\n

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Whether it\u2019s immersing yourself in a faraway fictional world or digesting the\u00a0ideas of a nonfiction book, reading is one of the most meaningful ways to spend your day and activate your mind. It\u2019s also one of the best temporary escapes from this anxious time\u2014all while staying within the comfort of your home.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A lot of people want to\u00a0read more\u00a0books,\u00a0but are uncertain of where to start. On this week\u2019s episode of\u00a0Becoming Better<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(which you can play at the bottom of the post), we explore this\u00a0goal\u00a0and share a buffet of tactics to get you started.\u00a0Here are a few ideas that have worked for us, pulled from the episode!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1.\u00a0<\/strong>Set\u00a0<\/strong>aside specific times to read<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Figure out how reading can fit into the structure of\u00a0your day. Maybe it\u2019s right after you wake up alongside a mug of tea, or sitting on a park bench at lunch. Think about\u00a0how you\u2019re spending your\u00a0day<\/a>\u00a0and how you could carve out a window of time to sit down with a book. Reading is also a great way to transition from your work day into your personal time\u2014an especially important divide when we lack the physical separation between our home and office.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2.\u00a0<\/strong>C<\/strong>reate a physical environment that\u2019s\u00a0<\/strong>conducive to reading<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This can be extraordinarily helpful when it comes to starting your own reading ritual. I personally put my phone and tablet in another room, lie\u00a0on the couch, and tune into the\u00a0\u201cSimply Piano Radio\u201d\u00a0station\u00a0on Apple Music. Take this\u00a0ritual\u00a0with a grain of salt, though\u2014the \u201cperfect\u201d environment for reading can be elusive,\u00a0and if you wait for\u00a0the stars to perfectly align\u00a0you may never pick up a book.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

3.\u00a0<\/strong>Replace\u00a0<\/strong>less meaningful<\/strong>\u00a0tasks with reading<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Whether it\u2019s engaging in\u00a0an\u00a0endless Twitter scroll or binge watching Netflix, we all have parts of our day that could be categorized as less-than-meaningful. Identify what those things are and take them as a sign that you should pick up a book instead. We all have time for reading if we choose to prioritize it.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

4.\u00a0<\/strong>Read shorter books<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This might sound like cheating, but short books actually pair really well with longer reads\u2014right now, for example, I\u2019m reading a bunch of short books while also reading\u00a0the tome that is\u00a0Cryptonomicon<\/em><\/a>. It\u2018s\u00a0rewarding to\u00a0make\u00a0progress in a short book\u00a0while\u00a0progressing through\u00a0a larger one.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

5.\u00a0<\/strong>Read multiple books<\/strong>\u00a0at once<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Think of it like diversifying your portfolio of investments. If you\u2019re reading multiple books you can pretty much guarantee you\u2019re going to enjoy one.\u00a0I ran\u00a0a Twitter poll<\/a>\u00a0asking\u00a0how many books\u00a0people\u00a0read\u00a0at once\u2014most (60%) said they\u00a0read\u00a0more than\u00a0one book at a time.\u00a0I personally have\u00a0around\u00a0four\u00a0or\u00a0five books on-the-go at once.\u00a0This is especially true with nonfiction. You can process reading multiple simultaneous nonfiction books better than you might think, since you\u2019re just accumulating facts, and have no storylines to cross.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

6.\u00a0<\/strong>Stop reading books you don\u2019t enjoy<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some books just won\u2019t connect with you, regardless of their reviews or recommendations. Putting down a bad book is naturally motivating.\u00a0This approach\u00a0is probably not worth applying\u00a0to everything, but life\u2019s too short to read books you don\u2019t like.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

7.\u00a0<\/strong>Put more thought into your reading list<\/strong>\u00a0in order<\/strong>\u00a0to read better books<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This can include the classics\u2014many of which are available for free online or through\u00a0the\u00a0library. Look at literary recommendations but also be open to reading something that doesn\u2019t have a five star review. Taste is so personal, and who knows where you\u2019ll find your next favorite book\u2014in general, we should spend more time choosing the books we read than we do.\u00a0One suggestion: see the description of each book you\u2019re considering reading as a pitch for your time and attention.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

8.\u00a0<\/strong>Make reading\u00a0<\/strong>more<\/strong>\u00a0social<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You may\u00a0already\u00a0be\u00a0familiar with\u00a0Goodreads<\/a>, a social network where users can review, recommend, and save titles. Book clubs are also a great way to make reading a social activity, and are one option for staying connected with friends and family during the pandemic. Both can help you stumble on\u00a0great\u00a0books you\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0read otherwise.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

9.\u00a0<\/strong>Know which reading format you prefer<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I\u2019m a physical book kind of\u00a0guy,\u00a0and always have a pen and highlighter in hand to scribble in the margins. Look at what you\u2019re reading and how consequential the information is\u2014audiobooks can be great for fictional reads, but you may prefer a physical book if you\u2019re digging into something meaty.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

10.\u00a0<\/strong>Have a read<\/strong>ing day<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This is a single day where you sit down and finish an entire book. Reading days can be a reward for meeting a deadline or finishing a project early.\u00a0I find that a\u00a0300-350 page book is ideal for\u00a0a reading day.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Like all productivity advice, you need to take what works for you and leave the rest. Happy reading!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n