Reading is usually a habit of academic and professional people. It’s an essential part of our life, being able to share others’ great works and thoughts or broaden the view horizons with amazing stories.
Reading a book is one of the many pleasures in life. To be well-informed and educated, reading books is essential. The following tips will help you read more books and, therefore, become a well-informed and knowledgeable person.
Benefits of Reading More Books
Reading more books can have a positive impact on your life in many ways. Here are just some of the benefits that come from reading more books:
1. Improved Reading Skills
Reading more books will help to improve your reading skills, which will help you to read faster and understand what you read better.
It will also help with your comprehension and vocabulary, which means you’ll be able to understand more words as well as use them appropriately in conversation.
2. Improved Memory
Reading more books can improve your memory because when you read a book, you’re taking in a lot of information at once.
This improves how well your brain processes information and helps it remember things better. It’s also known as “cognitive fitness training.”
3. Better Writing Skills
Just like reading improves writing skills, writing improves reading skills too. When you write something down, it forces you to organize thoughts in a logical way that makes sense to someone else who is reading them later on (or right now).
This makes it easier for anyone to understand what they’re reading without having to ask questions or make assumptions about what’s being said.
4. It makes you smarter
Research shows that reading improves verbal intelligence (the ability to use words), visual-spatial skills (the ability to visualize objects), abstract reasoning skills (the ability to solve problems using logic), attention span, and focus, as well as overall emotional intelligence.
5. It makes you happier
Researchers found that people who read newspapers regularly were happier than those who didn’t, but only if they were interested in what they read. People who disliked their news sources weren’t made happier by them.
How to Read More Books
If you want to make it happen, there are some easy steps you can take to make sure you do.
1. Choose the right books to begin with
When it comes to reading more, it’s important to choose books that interest you and that will challenge you intellectually.
If a book doesn’t grab your attention in the first few pages, it probably won’t improve as it goes along, so put it down and find something else.
On the other hand, if you’re not sure what kind of book you want to read, try browsing through websites like Goodreads or Shelfari, which offer recommendations based on personal interests and reading history.
2. Start small
Reading more books doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Start small and work your way up from there. If you only have time for five minutes today, then read for five minutes.
Once you have more time on your hands, read for ten minutes instead of five. Eventually, you will be able to read for longer periods at once and complete more books each week or month.
3. Track your reading
There are lots of ways to track your reading: use a physical journal or notebook, use an app like Goodreads or Strictly Paperless, or just keep track in your head (which isn’t recommended!). Whatever method works best for you is what you should use.
This will help motivate you by showing how much progress you’ve made (and help keep track of what books are worth finishing).
Also, keeping track of what books inspire you can help point out patterns, maybe there are certain topics or genres that interest you most.
4. Set a daily goal
Setting a daily goal will help keep you motivated when you’re feeling burnt out on reading and trust me, there will be days when that happens.
The key here is not setting an unrealistic goal (you’re busy.), but rather finding something that works for you at this moment in time. If that means reading one chapter per day, then do it.
5. Try different formats
The easiest way to read more is to read a new format. For example, audiobooks are great for multitasking and commuting.
Ebooks are ideal for bedtime reading and long flights. And hard copies allow you to highlight key passages and write notes in the margins.
There’s no right or wrong way to read, just what works best for you.
Learn: How to Choose the Right Book to Read: The 10 Top Tips
6. Read multiple books at once
Many people enjoy reading multiple books at once because they feel like they’re getting more from their reading experience.
You can do this by downloading ebooks onto your smartphone or tablet and carrying them around everywhere with you so you don’t have any excuse not to pick one up when there’s free time in your schedule.
7. Find a reading community
In addition to reading multiple books at once, it helps to find a community of people who enjoy reading as much as you do.
This could be an online community or a local club where people meet up regularly to discuss their favorite books and discuss what they plan to read next month.
Or maybe it’s simply a group of friends who share their book recommendations with each other on Facebook or Instagram. Whatever it is, it can be beneficial to have a reading community when you’re trying to read more.
8. Read before bed
The best time to read is before bed. That’s because it helps you wind down after a long day and get ready for sleep.
When you read before bed, it also helps your mind associate reading with restfulness so you can create positive associations with books.
It’s important to choose books that are relaxing rather than stressful or exciting. Exciting books may keep you up at night (and they might not be as good for your sleep cycle) while relaxing books help put you in a better mood so that when morning comes, you can enjoy the experience of waking up without being groggy.
9. Embrace audiobooks
Audiobooks are an excellent way to increase your reading speed and get more books. You can listen to audiobooks while you’re at the gym, driving, or even working out.
Audible is great for this because it has a wide selection of audiobook titles available for purchase or rent. If you prefer to listen to your books on Spotify or YouTube, there are also many free audiobook options available there too.
10. Read books you actually enjoy
The best way to read more is by reading books you enjoy. If you don’t like a book, don’t force yourself to finish it.
It’s okay if it takes you longer than usual, at least then you’ll be able to remember what happens in the story and who the characters are later on down the line when you’re reading something else.
11. Use reading apps
Reading apps like Kindle and Audible are great because they let you carry around hundreds of books with you at all times, on a device that’s not much bigger than a paperback book.
You can also use these apps to listen to audiobooks while working out or doing chores around the house.
12. Try different genres
If you’re having trouble finding books that interest you, try reading in different genres. If you’re more of a fiction reader, try some nonfiction or vice versa.
You may find that other genres have more appeal than your usual choices.
13. Keep books near you at all times
If you’re like most people, there’s probably not enough time in the day for everything on your to-do list, including reading.
But if there’s an opportunity to grab a few minutes here and there (while waiting for an appointment or riding an elevator), make sure there’s something nearby you can read so it doesn’t go unused.
14. Create a reading list
Make a list of books that interest you and keep it handy so that when you see something interesting on social media or in a magazine, add it to your list.
If there’s a book that several people have recommended over time, add it too.
Having a list will motivate you because seeing all the titles together will remind you of what’s out there waiting for you to read them.
15. Read some poetry
Poetry is often overlooked as a serious form of literature, but reading it can make you think about how you express yourself and the world around you.
Choose a collection by an author whose work speaks to you, or look up poems on your favorite topics such as nature or love.
16. Share what you read
If you find a book that really resonates with you, share it with someone else who might enjoy it too! It’s an easy way to get others involved in reading more books and spreading the joy of literature.
17. Have a reading buddy
Reading is fun, but it can also be hard work if there’s no one around to keep up with you or discuss what they thought of the book afterward.
Try finding someone who shares your interests and agrees to read the same book at the same time so that we can talk about it later on.
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Bottomline
People often say they don’t have time to read, but the truth is that they don’t prioritize it. If you’re serious about reading more, start by setting aside a small amount of time each day and gradually increasing it. Reading for just ten minutes a day is better than nothing.
After all, it only takes a few minutes to read a passage and think about what you just read. The more time you spend reading, the faster you’ll get through books and the more likely you are to remember what happens in them.
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