By Jamie Keebler
Ever since I was a little kid, I had loved to read. I have always carried a book around everywhere and actually got excited when it was time for silent reading time in school. I have been able to maintain the hobby throughout high school and now into college. While the transition was daunting at first, I just finished my reading challenge of completing thirty books in 2021. A lot of people told me that they wished they could get into reading but they just don’t know how to approach it. Here are my tips that can help anyone become an avid reader.
Make it a part of your routine.
The key to becoming a reader is establishing it as a part of your day., I am the kind of person who reads before bed every night but depending on your routine, you may find that it is best for you to read in the morning. One of the best ways to do this is to think about when you are most likely to be scrolling unproductively or doing anything else that you would like to remove from your routine.
Take the time to find books that you will enjoy
There are a lot of great resources online that can help you find the perfect book. Apps like Story Graph and Good Reads allow you to track what you are reading and will give you recommendations based on what you liked the most. There are also communities for reading all over social media, where you can find people who share your reading interests and get recommendations from.
Stop reading the books that you don’t like
This may seem trivial but it is something that a lot of readers struggle with. Many people feel a strong obligation to finish everything that they pick up, even if they aren’t enjoying the experience of reading it. In order to read consistently, it is extremely important to not get stuck reading things that you don’t like. What you don’t want to do is turn reading into a chore. It needs to stay something that you enjoy, otherwise, the hobby is not productive and it will feel like the reading that we do for school. You should be reading the books that you want to read and not ones that others may think you need to read.
Read in a way that works for you.
There are so many ways to approach reading that may work for you. While some people only read from paper books, other people like digital or audiobooks. There are pros and cons to every way: audiobooks and digital books are great because you can take them anywhere, but they lack a tangible component. I always found that it helped me focus on my reading by physical copy.
Remember that you can get back into it
Even if you establish the best reading routine, everyone is bound to make mistakes. Even if life gets busy or you simply don’t have the motivation to read for a while, don’t be afraid to get back into it. Don’t put it off or say that you will start again next month. Don’t punish yourself for taking a break by delaying your progress further. To put it simply, when you want to read, read.
Reading has been a great way for me to relax and get a break from the busyness of college life. I hope that others can get the same positive experience from following these tips. To keep up with my reading or look for recommendations you can friend me on GoodReads @jamiekeebler. Happy reading!
Artwork by Kenzie Draper