I have been looking forward to the fall season since it ended last year. The weather, the delicious baked goods, Halloween–what’s not to love?! Every year around autumn, I become highly motivated to read the books on my TBR list. I don’t usually read as much as I plan to, but something about the wholesome atmosphere of fall just makes me want to pick up a book and cozy up by the fire. However, if there’s anything else fall is associated with, it’s academic stress. I don’t know about everyone else, but college greatly hinders my mental capacity and energy for reading for pleasure. I believe that one of the best ways to get myself to do something is to romanticize everything about it. Here are my tips and tricks for motivating you to check some books off as “read” on your Goodreads!
- Destress from school with a book instead of doom-scrolling
I find that getting home from classes and scrolling on TikTok for hours, doing homework, and going to gym is soul-sucking and not exciting. Shocker, right? Fill the time you might be (over)spending on social media with reading time. When you are using social media, check out book-related YouTube, TikTok, or Pinterest posts to get inspiration. I find that the more literature content my feed has, the more often I pick up my book and get to reading. Reading is a great way to escape from boring textbook chapters and actually forget how many pages you’ve read because you’re so immersed in the story.
- Bring the reading outside – or to a cozy cafĂ©!
If you live in a place with moderate weather during the fall (like us here at Cal Poly!), find a good park or garden to sit and read outside. Reading outside is one of my favorite activities because of how peaceful it is, as well as a perfect opportunity for a cute photoshoot. If it’s too cold, going to a café to read is cozy, warm, and you have an excuse to get a sweet treat or drink (I’ll be getting both).
- Be interactive and annotate your books.
I love annotating my books because it makes the experience of reading interactive, as well as more visually appealing. Annotations also help me remember the story better. It’s like studying, but a little more fun. It brings an artistic element to the pages. Annotations are also a great way to communicate your thoughts on the book to anyone who borrows your copy, and could inspire them to continue on with annotations of their own!
- Recommended books with fall vibes
If I can make any of my goals seasonal-themed, especially in the fall, I feel much more motivated to do them because then I have an actual timeframe to do them. My favorite book that I read last fall was The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I got lost in the world of rich college students with trench coats and stacks of Greek classics in rural Vermont. Perfect for fall, right? This fall I’m reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. I saw it on a list of good books to read during fall, and I have to agree with the recommendation–it’s perfect for cozying up with some tea and pumpkin bread. I also found Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, and Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy on Goodreads’ Best Books To Read In Autumn list. I will definitely be adding those to my TBR!
Good luck to all of my fellow students and booklovers who wish they had more time to read for fun. Hopefully these tips give you some inspiration!