How to read more books every week in 2023.

Want to read more books this year? Have you set a reading goal and want to achieve it sooner? Or you always wanted to read but never find time to do so. Well, you are at right place. Find out how you can read more books. You will find amazing tricks (tricks that really work!!!) to build reading habits in your growing kids.

As a growing kid, I was avid reader. Like most of the kids, it was all about comics and short stories. As I grew, I moved from reading Chandamama and Tinkle to reading Famous Five and Tales of Nancy Drew. My teenage had staple diet of Silhouette Romance and Mills and boons series with sprinkles of self-help books.

It was only in the University days that I started exploring other genres and new authors. That’s also when J.K Rowling gifted the world with amazing series of Harry potter. Man, those were the days!!! I still remember watching Harry Potter movie and being disappointed. (No offence to the makers of movie, they were truly amazing movies). But the imagination of the scenes that I had experienced while reading those books were farrrrr more beautiful. The miracles of magic wand were more powerful in my mind.

Reading is magical and thrilling.

That is when I realized the power of writing. It was the magic of words that apparate me from world of muggles to Hogwarts. I remember imagining the flying car, the quidditch with flying broom, the dragon egg and dobby too. The scenes are so clear in my mind even after a decade.

Not everyone is interested in same kind of books. Some like self-help while some get absorbed in reading fiction. The taste of person also varies with age and time.

Every author has different style of writing, a different way of story-telling, a different level of creative space. The books are influenced by author’s personal experience, by the people around him, by events in the world or just by sheer imagination.

Why to read more books?

• Building a reading habit is an excellent way to self-improvement. It does wonders to mental health. Reading improves longevity.

• Reading stimulates the mind and improves cognitive function. It sharpens your mind, enhances your skills of critical analysis and concentration.

• It improves our knowledge in various field and leads to professional development. All the how’s, why’s and what’s are answered by books. You can learn about new skills, languages, cultures and countries all over the world.

• It enhances your vocabulary. You can express your thoughts and emotions in better words to convey what exactly you are thinking of.

• Reading enhances your imagination and increases creativity. The characters and situations of the novel comes to life as you get engrossed in an interesting book.

• Reading at night helps you relax and de-stress. (Well, it does the same during day time too.) I just drift away into my sleep when I read at end of my night routine.

How to improve reading habits to read more books?

1.Start with small books

If you are new to reading, start with small books. Small books are easy to carry, easy to finish. You can finish a book within a week. Also you will be able to read more books in shorter span. This will boost your morale to read more. Simple folk tales or short stories are great way to start with reading habits.

Reading book aloud with your kids is great way to build reading habit in your child. Take up an interesting book which both you and your kid will enjoy. Snuggle in the bed and enjoy reading aloud with animations. This can be great bonding time for your child.

My daughter loved the bedtime stories. She actually remembered each sentence of the book before she even learnt how to read alphabets.

2. Carry a small book wherever you go

This is the best trick to achieve your reading goals. You may think that it seems like a chore to do. But trust me, this works wonders.

In your busy life, you never know when you find yourself in waiting mode. It may be while standing in queue, travelling to work or some other place or just waiting for your turn at your dentist.

What we usually do at times like these, is to glare mindlessly at the mobile screen. If you carry book, you may get opportunity to finish off few pages as you wait.

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3. Set reading goals

I always make it a point to set a reading goal at the beginning of the year. It’s part of my yearly planner to list down the books that I wish to read this year.

By setting reading goals for an year, you add it to your to do list. You are unconsciously making an effort to inculcate it in your routine.

Build a realistic goal. Reading 12 books a year seems to be realistic goals assuming that you can finish a book per month. If you are confident you may increase your goals for more books. (or even less if your schedule doesn’t permit you to read often).

Break down your yearly goal in weekly / monthly goals. If you never read in first six months of the year but try to finish your goal in the remaining months, it’s going to be like cramming your schedule even more. You will not enjoy this kind of reading. So split your yearly goal in weekly and monthly goals so that you can maintain the habit of reading regularly.

4. Decide after first 50 pages

When you read first 50 pages, you will know if you like the book or not. If not, please move on to other book. The book may have been the best seller and has great reviews. But if it doesn’t make you interested, it JUST isn’t meant for you. You will take longer time to finish the book.

Life is too short and there are many books to read. So choose the books which you will enjoy reading. Stay away from guilt of not reading or not liking the book that world loved. It’s totally fine to do what you love to do.

Reading books is not a competition. It is form of your entertainment and education so you choose what interests you.

5. Follow reading groups on Facebook or Instagram

Social media can be your source of inspiration. Not only can you get recommendations of good books but you can also have accountability partner. May be, you may even make new friends who share similar interests in same genre of books.

Look out for reading groups on facebook or instagram. There are different reading groups specifically as per age, gender, genre. You will surely find one that interests you.

6. Set environment for reading

I have a book by my bedside. So reading has become part of my night routine. I am not sure if it’s other way around. But that’s how it is.

Fix a place specifically for reading. You may keep books handy at your side table or in your bag. Your mind gets trained by your habits. Keeping the books at place where you can see it will make you want to read more often.

7. Set a fixed time for reading

At any given point of time, I am reading two books. You may notice it in my Good reads.

The reason is that I have fixed two times in the day for reading books. One is during my lunch break. It gives me break from my routine. I read while I eat. That book is mostly ebook on my mobile.

The other book is part of my night routine and is kept at my bedside. I manage to read about 10-20 pages daily at the end of the day. It also helps me to relax and drift into sleep easily. It gives me kind of “All is well” feeling as I call it a day.

Set a time for your reading as per your daily routine. Keep the books handy so that you will find them at the time of the day when you plan to read.

8. Set up a  goodreads account

Goodreads is an amazing source of catching up with what books others are reading. You can catch up with new books released. The recommendations by people whom you follow can give you good idea about some interesting books.

You may follow me on goodreads. I am linking my account here. I would love to be part of your reading journey.

You can also participate in reading challenge and keep yourself motivated. It’s a great way to keep track of books that you have read or want to read.

9. Audio books are good alternative

Audiobooks are recordings for books or other written work, read aloud, sometimes by the author himself. If you are not interested in reading or are running short of reading time, audio books are great alternative. You can listen to audiobooks while driving or even while cooking.

It is as good as reading books. Audible is a great app for audiobooks. Sign up for Audible now and you can get two months of free subscription. The monthly subscription rates are also low. You may cancel the subscription at any time and the books downloaded during the period of subscription remains with you. Isn’t that worth a try?

10. Write a review of the book

Just after you have read a book, write a review for it. You can review it on Goodreads, on amazon or on facebook reading clubs that you become member of. You may have liked it, loved it or just despised it, let the world know.

Writing reviews will add up to your interest in relating with each book that you read. It also gives you credibility in the groups. You may build following or make friends on the book-sharing platform.

11. Discuss books with friends who love reading

There is no conversation starter as good as a discussing a book that you have read. It makes you look smart and intelligent. You actually gain a new perspective on a book by discussing it with friends. You may be lucky to get recommendation for a book that you would love to read. It’s totally a win-win situation.

12. Cut down social media

You know how much time is spend on social media. Social media isn’t completely bad. It is a necessary evil. However, you can surely cut down the excessive time that you spend on social media and devote that time towards reading books.

Figure out the time that you spend on social media daily. Just substitute that time with reading book. You will realize you are finished your book faster than you thought.

Final note :

Reading is one of the most amazing habits to build in ourself and in our growing kids. It will expose the kids to limitless experiences and knowledge. So try step-by-step to build reading habit in your child as he grows.

I have shared the tips which help me to remain a book-worm. I would like to know  about your difficulties in building reading habit. If you have any other idea to improve reading habit, I would love to hear from you.

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Stay in touch

This blog is all about being champion in self-improvement. So let me know, what would you like to improve in your self.

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