5 Ways to Read More Books!

We all know that the act of reading and being engrossed in a book that takes you to a different place or a different time, is a dreamy act of self-care. We all know that when our mind is busy following a character’s journey, we don’t have nearly as much time to create anxiety inducing scenarios that will never, in a million years, happen. And in today’s world, that’s certainly a plus.

Here are 5 ways to increase your reading production and calm your busy mind:

Tracking

Tracking your books, like tracking any other behavior you want to either increase (water consumption) or decrease (calories), is a great way to stay on top of the habit. There are two ways I have tracked my books read, and both were successful for me.

• Journaling: Keep a journal and list your books read with the date, title, author and rating. Some people even like to include a summary. With the popularity of bullet journals, there are a zillion ways to decorate the pages and track your reads. Check out Creative Ways to Track Books in Your Bullet Journal. The sample pages are inspiring.
• GoodReads is what I currently use to track my reads. On the app, you can search for books, add books to shelves you create (completed, currently reading, want to read), and easily rate your books. You can also see what your friends are reading and join reading groups.

Goal Setting

Set reading goals for the day, week, month, or year. Whatever feels right to you. GoodReads

has a Yearly Reading Challenge and the act of keeping pace with my own goal really helps me. This year, I set my goal for 52 books (basically a book a week) and I’m finishing up book 40 as we finish up October. This might be the first year I hit my goal. But ya know, Covid. Just don’t beat yourself up over falling short of your goal. There will always be someone reading more than you, and someone reading less. It’s not a contest, it’s a personal goal.

Go Screen Free Before Bed (Insert book time)

This is the one I struggle with the most. Especially since I am writing this blog from my bed with a face mask on. I’ll start tomorrow.

I make my Kindle Paperwhite an exception. The screen has no glare, is black and white, and has no apps. There is no way in which I can access the internet and type the obscure symptom I just noticed, into Google and diagnose myself with a rare illness that has me gone by the end of the week.

No phone, no internet, no google. Just books.

AudioBooks

This has been a game changer for me, and I have been able to up my reading goals. And if you think you don’t like to “listen” to books or struggle to pay attention, stay with me here. I was the same way. But I kept trying and for the first few years I only listened to non-fiction audio books. My first successful audio book was Bossy Pants by Tina Fey. Hilarious. My all-time favorite audiobook is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. And anything by Brené Brown is fabulous. Fast forward a few years and I now listen to fiction, as well. It’s great when you want to give your eyes a rest, when you are soaking in the bathtub, or on a long car ride. I would even rather clean out a closet with a good audio book than be alone with my own thoughts. Audible through Amazon is fantastic, but you can get audiobooks for free using Overdrive or Libby/Overdrive.

Set Aside & Implement Family (or solo) Reading Time

Make an appointment with yourself, put reading time on your daily calendar, even set reminders on your phone. During the week I try to give myself at least 30 minutes of reading time around 4pm. This is usually when my work for the day has wrapped up, and before I am thinking about what to make for dinner. On the weekends, I try to give myself a few hours per day. Easier in the winter, in Maine.

There are so many advantages of upping your reading game and as we head into winter. It’s a great time to set new goals. Maybe explore a new genre or try audiobooks for the first time. So go ahead, broaden your horizons, improve your vocabulary, follow bookstagram accounts on Instagram, but whatever you do…..read more books!

On the Web

Every week I will be posting a 10-minute tutorial on YouTube, on a topic related to executive function and the science and psychology of learning, as well as ways you can develop personally and professionally while focusing on your own Executive Functions. 

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