How I Read So Many Books

Ever since I started my bookstagram, I have been getting asked how I read so much. Each month the number of books I read varies based on my schedule, but I personally aim for one a week. For some people that is a lot and for others, its not enough. One of the biggest lessons I want to stress before we get into this post is to please not compare yourself to other readers. I have been there; I know how hard it is to get on social media and see people that read more than you and, in turn, feel bad about your own reading habits. I know its much easier said than done, but a hobby should be about YOUR enjoyment. So, read what you love, and read for you!

Now, I have come to learn that life for me is no fun if I am not doing the things I love. That being said, as much as I wish I could, I can’t sit at home and read all day. Until I can make that dream a reality, here are a few things I do throughout my days to make books a bigger part of my life.

1. Audiobooks

My biggest tip for reading more books is to listen to audiobooks! For me, it took a while to get into audiobooks because I was not great at multi-tasking. I started with books I was very excited about or knew I would love so I was more likely to pay attention to them. I got more and more used to them and started listening to them all the time.

Now I listen to audio books while I work, run errands, when I’m at the gym, and doing housework! This is probably the biggest reason why I read so many books as this makes the stories so much more accessible to someone always on the go such as I.

My go-to app to listen to audiobooks is Libro.fm! Discovering this app has been a game changer. Not only can you listen on a wide variety of devices, but each book listened to helps support your local independent bookstore! They are a small business that cares about small businesses, and I am so proud to support them. Click here to check them out and use my code LFM280632 to start listening today.

2. Scheduling reading time

When trying to integrate more reading time into my routine, I found the biggest reason I wasn’t reading was because I was getting sucked into TV/social media. There are days where I just need that mindless scroll or comfort show, and that’s totally okay! But, to balance that, I try and schedule time for reading.

I will often get up a little earlier and read before work or bring a book with me to read at lunch. Sometimes at night I even set a timer on my phone and dedicate that time to only reading. It can be any amount of time that works for you. This helps me make reading a habit but also to balance it out with the rest of my busy life.

3. Always carry a book

I can’t even count how many times I’ve been waiting somewhere and thought to myself ‘if only I had my book with me…’ – so, I started bringing my books with me! Sometimes ill put my kindle or physical book in my purse when I go out, or I put the kindle app on my phone so that I always have easy access to a book if needed.

4. Join a book club

When I first got back into reading, I was in a period of my life where I felt very lonely. I decided to turn further into my passions and threw myself into the bookish community. Through Instagram I found many online book clubs, and even ended up finding a local book club to join. Through that book club I met 2 of my best book-loving friends! We ended up starting our own book club too.

Finding your people is hard, but I fully believe that if you put yourself out there and keep doing what you love, like minded people will find you. It helps me read so much when I have more people to talk books with, and the online bookstagram community to immerse myself in.

5. DNF BOOKS!

My last tip is one that I know a lot of people struggle with. DNF stands for Did Not Finish. I learned about this term through reviewing books as people will often use it in a review of a book they could not get through.

I used to be the type of person that once I started a book, I would force myself to read through it even if it was boring to me. However, I have learned through the years that life is too short for doing things you don’t like. If a book isn’t for you or its not piquing your interest, its okay to put it down! I have always struggled with this, especially with books that have lots of social media hype.

In the end, what matters is your enjoyment of your own hobby. Its okay to not love every book or to become bored of books at times. Read what YOU love and do it for yourself!

Whew, that was a lengthy post! I hope that these tips help you with reading more books, and if you have tips that I have missed, leave them in the comments below!