There are countless excuses we tell ourselves for why we “don’t have time for leisure reading.” In most cases, reading gets put on the backburner because life gets busy and we simply don’t have the time to dedicate to cozying up with a good book. Or so we think! The reality is, you may have more time for leisure reading than you realize. It all comes down to priorities. If you make time for reading, it will become a constant in your life and, more often than not, a true pleasure. Now, this is easier said than done — especially when you are balancing school, work, and a social life all on the same schedule.
Whether you’re a former avid reader looking to reconnect to your childhood love for fiction or someone looking to start your reading journey from scratch, you’ll benefit from these tips and tricks for making reading a part of your everyday regimen.
1. Use your resources to (re)discover what you love to read
First things first, once you decide that you want to do more reading, you need to figure out what exactly it is that you want to read. There are hundreds of resources at your fingertips that can help you (re)discover your new favorite book; you just need to know where to find them.
Friends and family
The people in your inner circle are a solid starting place for finding a book you’ll love. Think of whether there is anyone you know who always has their nose in a book — they should be your first go-to for a book recommendation. Even if they don’t have the same taste in genre as you, there’s a high probability that they can point you in the right direction toward a satisfying read. Your parents, siblings, and friends will most likely have a good idea of what interests you and what you would like to read.
Goodreads
Not to be dramatic, but Goodreads is truly the holy grail when it comes to book browsing. I have personally found more books through Goodreeads than anywhere else, and I honestly don’t know where I would be without it. For those who aren’t familiar, Goodreads allows readers to track the books they have read, bookmark the books they want to read, and skim through recommendations based on past reading preferences. Even if you aren’t tracking every book you read on Goodreads, it can still be a great place to search for new books by genre and read reviews (usually without spoilers).
Bestseller list
If you are still coming up empty in your book hunt, try doing a quick Google search for the bestselling books of the year. Sites like Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and The New York Times usually have solid suggestions and reviews for reference, so these are always good resources to keep in mind.
2. Keep an open mind
For those of you who have not picked up a book for leisure in a long time, keep an open mind! Reading can and probably will feel different and you might want to quit after the first chapter or even the first page but keep going!
3. Set tangible goals for yourself
Like any goal, the more realistic it is, the easier it will be to achieve. If you haven’t read a book for leisure since middle school, don’t set a goal of reading ten books a month and magically expect to do it. Baby steps are key. Try easing in by reading one book a month and then build up from there.
Another element of goal-setting when it comes to reading is carving out a concrete chunk of time to read. This may sound tedious with such a busy schedule, but it can be helpful to literally plan “reading time” into your daily schedule. Whether it’s swapping out an episode of your favorite tv show for a book or replacing a YouTube video with a novel before bed, establishing a designated time for reading every day will make it much easier to hold yourself accountable and meet your goals.
Tracking your progress is another way to guarantee staying on course. Try using your notes app on the phone or a journal to list out what you read each month. That way by the end of the year you can not only look back on all the amazing books you read and get inspiration for the years to come, but you’ll also feel a sense of accomplishment and growth as a reader.
4. Find a good comfy readings spot
There are many comfy reading spots that you can choose from. At Bucknell, one of my favorites is the quad. Nothing like a warm, sunny day to set up a blanket or sit in one of the lawn chairs and read. Another good spot is the library! The bottom floor couches are a quiet, comfy place to curl up and read. But if you don’t have enough time to go to the quad or library, your room will do the trick!