Many of my busy mom friends have asked me how I have managed to read as much as I do so I decided it would be good idea to share my tips on how to read more!
If you are like me, you love to read but find that you have limited time. Be it kids, chores, work or other commitments that are holding you back, don’t worry, you’ll still be able to read more than you think. I will share with you how you can read more, and how to read more often.
Here are my top 5 tips on how to read more.
1. Always have a book around.
This may seem obvious but if it’s in sight you are more likely to pick it up. I usually have my books in areas where I spend most of my time such as the kitchen, living room, and bedroom. But also I will bring them into the bathroom!
You can also have your e-book in your handbag or leave books in the car as well. Be like Sam I am (Green Eggs and Ham) and have them here, there and everywhere!
You’ll be surprise with how much reading adds up if you read a couple pages here and there.
2. Make sure that you have books that you want to read.
Whatever genres you like to read, make you choose books that are highly recommended and that you want to read them. This way you avoid the disappoint of a not so good book and then not picking it up!
Having a book that interest you is the first step in getting you to read more, and read more often! If you start and find the book boring, leave it and get one that pique your interest. (Discover your next great read here or best sellers here).
Find a book that you like. You’ll be turning the pages if it’s exciting and you’ll read more when it sucks you in. When a book is very good, I just keep on reading and look for opportunities to read some more!
So a good book will get you reading more and more often!
3. Have the books in different formats.
Having books in different formats will help you read more. I usually have my books in paperback or hardcover version, e-books and audio books.
In the past year or so, I have started to listen to more books. Audio books are great because you can be listening to them whilst doing other things. I listen to an audio book while I clean the kitchen or do laundry. Going for a run? Listen to a book! If you are in the car or public transport, why not listen to a book?
It’s amazing how much more reading you can get done when you listen to a book. The quality of the audio books vary but I have found that in most cases they are very good. So don’t be afraid to check them out! If you haven’t got Amazon’s Audible, try if for free and get 2 free books!
Audio books are read by professionals so they are done expertly. Author Richard Russo told us at his reading recently that actor Kevin Spacey did the unabridged version of his book. Some are read by the authors themselves. Whilst not all books are done by famous people, you’ll be surprise how well they are done. Go check it out for yourself!
Having books in different formats will help you read more effectively by using your time in the most efficient manner.
4. Have 2 books on the go at the same time.
Yes, reading two books at a time will actually help with reading more and make your time efficient. Whilst folding clothes I will listen to my audio book. I also listen to my audio book whilst I am driving, cooking, washing the dishes or giving the kids a bath. When I am able to physical read, like later in the evening, I will pick up my physical book whether it’s an e-book or the real paperback book.
Having the books in different formats and reading two books simultaneously is an awesome way to read more!
5. Set yourself a rule of reading every day.
This rule is a must! Set a goal and make sure you stick to this rule and everything will work out!
This goal can be adjusted to how busy you are, but either 10-20 pages or a chapter depending on how long it is. This rule is great as it will get you into the habit of reading.
The habit of reading daily will become something you do after awhile, just like brushing your teeth. You won’t even have to think about it.
How do you choose how long to read? Say you read 1 page 1 minute, you can spare 10 minutes each day right? Start off with 10 minutes and see how you do, you can always increase the time but the minimum should be 10 minutes a day.
I know this method definitely works for me and my son. I used to make my son read 10 minutes each day but now it has increased to 30 minutes daily. I am a strong believer in books making us smarter through reading daily. (See my post on Do Books Make You Smarter?)
So there you have it, my top 5 tips on how to read more! The most important thing is getting started! Make that commitment to read and just go for it!
And before you know it, you’ll have read more than you think.
How do you read more? Do you have a tip you would like to add?
I love audio books for when I am at the gym. There’s nothing like killing 2 birds with one stone! 🙂
Awesome post!! I really love the tip about having multiple formats of books! Just listening to an audiobook while driving/commuting or while at the gym would help boost anyones reading stats! 🙂
Hi Erica!
Thanks for the compliment.
I love audio book now and don’t know what I would do without them. I feel really productive when I use my time to the max.
Thanks for popping by! 🙂
Ha, I read so many books at once! (To be honest, I try not to count how many! 🙂 )
Hi Cee!
I usually only have 2 as I invariably find that I lose interest if I have too many going on. I won’t be able to keep track of what I am reading!
I would have to say reading on the PC so I can have bigger print, but still love to have an autographed book from the author. I agree with you on 2 books at one time. I read my “devotional” type books in the am went I get up, and then the fun ones in the evening. Thankfully I can use the iPhone (which is a bit hard on my eyes after a while) when in any doctor’s office or any place I have to wait. The strange thing I found with myself is that after I had my pre-strokes (3 in one year) I found it harder to read out loud in a consistent fashion, but was amazed that my brain seemed to be able to read faster IN my head when there were no distractions…strange but true 🙂
I don’t always read a lot every day, but I try to read at least two chapters a day? I also read different formats. Sometimes, it is just more convenient to read on my kindle at the time, than with a physical book! Which also contributes to reading more than one book at a time, because I have at least one to go with each format at a time 😀
Hi Olivia!
2 chapters is great! I try at least a chapter, depending on how long the chapters are.
Convenience is key in reading; this helps with focus and actually enjoying the book.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
Great suggestions, Dinh! It’s funny how I follow many of them already without even realizing it. 🙂 I completely agree with #5. Scheduling a few minutes each day to read will naturally become a good habit that will happen without effort. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Lonna!
Well you’re an old hand at this! I think being a blogger you look for the best ways to do things and most efficiently. 🙂
I agree good habit is a must and needs to be cultivated.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Great minds think alike–another blogging friend also listed 5 tips for reading more and she mentioned establishing a good habit, as well. =)
Hi Lonna!
I remember watching Olivia’s video on how to read more a while back and was hesitant in doing this post but my mommy blogger friends asked me to write it. I can’t remember what Olivia said about her tips but I am sure we have similar tips…She’s very efficient with her time 🙂
I forgot to add another tip to the audio books: listen to them at 1.5x instead of the regular speed. 🙂
I love the idea of audio books but I have never used or purchased one before. I definitely need to check out Audible from Amazon. I like your idea to set a schedule. I used to read at night before life got so busy but it started putting me to sleep and I couldn’t even make it through a few pages. Also, I agree with you very much that reading makes your smarter! Great post, thank you.
Hi Jen!
I used to try and read late at night but found the book to be a horse tranquilizer. I would be asleep before I read a page!
Now I do my reading at all different times and not fall asleep. 🙂
I highly encourage to try audio book, they are great to get into reading more.
Thanks for stopping by at Arlene’s Book Club!
Absolutely brilliant Dinh, I really enjoyed reading this especially since I was one of the moms that suggested this topic. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it.
I love reading and before I got married and had children I didn’t even have a TV I just read every single night. I would go to the library every week and get a pile of books to read. Now that I have a family it is so hard to find the time to read.
It never occurred to me to try out audio books though, I’m not sure it would feel the same! But it is certainly worth a go.
You are so right though, taking 10 minutes out of a day to read a few pages is not a lot of time to take for myself. I’ve seen the Amazon Audible but I wasn’t really sure what it was about, so thanks for that explanation.
In addition to that I really need to get some good books. I don’t bother getting any books anymore because I don’t have the time to read… which means on the odd occasion I do have the time I don’t have the book.
I manage to find the time to read to my children every day, now I will make sure I find the time to read myself every day too.
Hi Lynne!
Thanks for suggesting to write about this topic. I hope it helps. 🙂
I was always hesitant about audio books until the last couple of years when I started to listen to them. I was really surprised how good they are. It’s like being a kid again and being read to! The reading is done so well and are so professional. I read and listened to A Gentleman In Moscow and found that my level of enjoyment was the same. The gentleman who read it was excellent!
As a mother we tend to take care of our kids first, so reading to them is important but we must also take some time for ourselves. A few minutes of light reading is all I ask. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
As a working mum and one who loves to read and write, I was curious to read this post. I have a toddler, so it’s hard for me to leave my books around. She’ll always pick them up and dump them where I can’t easily find them–under her mattress, behind the TV, or under a sofa. What has really worked well for me is to leave my books in the car, where she can’t easily have access to them since she’s always sitting at the back. I never drive (women don’t drive in Saudi Arabia), so I always enjoy my rides with a book to keep me busy ;-).
Hi Princila!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
My toddler whose 3 prefer to pick up her picture books than my mine luckily. I usually have them not in reach of her little hands but have found at times that she would take out my book marks when she has got them!
I have heard that women don’t drive in Saudi Arabia. On one hand it seems nice not to have to drive but on the other I’d hate not to have the freedom to just pick up and go when I want instead of waiting for rides… LOL unless you have a personal chauffeur?
I love listening to audio books in the car, especially when we go to NJ which is about just over 2 hours for us to drive. I can get quite a lot of done in that time!
Thanks for stopping by and hope to chat again. 🙂