1. Read books in every format.
Have an ebook, audiobook, and a physical book to read. Doing this means you’ll always have a book on hand. This means you might read your ebook on your lunch, listen to your audiobook on the way home, and read your paperback as you wind down for bed.
This is also a great tactic to prevent a reading slump.
2. Listen to audiobooks on long commutes or while doing chores.
Riffing off the first tip, always having an audiobook to read means you can easily get in a chapter or two a day while doing activities you would do anyway. Soon, the hours will add up, and you’ll have read all of Bram Stoker’s Dracula while doing laundry!
3. Try Kindle Unlimited, buy omnibus editions, and borrow from your library.
This one’s really three tips in one, but it’s important to note that you have options if you’re on a budget.
Even though these tips won’t have you spending a lot, these are all great ways to support the authors and publishers of the books you read, which in turn helps them put out more books!
4. Try some short stories or novellas.
If you do fall into a reading slump, a quick fix could be a novella or a few short stories. You’ll blaze through the pages only to realize you’ve finished another book for your reading goal.
Once that takes some pressure off you from having to read x amount of books for the month, you can relax and pick up some longer works again–or stick to the short reads!
5. Keep track of your progress on Goodreads.
And while you’re at it, set a reading goal for the year. Whether you try to challenge yourself or set a goal you know you can reach, a concrete goal will help you understand your reading habits better.
And the more you know about how much you read, the more you can push yourself to read more books.
Which is always #goals.
6. Read in series.
It’s probably the fastest way to breeze through 4, 5, or even 10+ books.
7. Change it up.
If you’re not enjoying a book, consider coming back to it rather than trying to plow through the rest of it. If you’re still intrigued by the story, you’ll come back to it. If not, you’ve saved yourself some time to start reading a book you’ll really love!
8. Check out your favorite authors’ backlist of other titles.
Chances are, you’ll like some of their other books, as well.
9. Join a read-along online, participate in #bookstagram or make friends on Goodreads.
Basically, find your community. This tip doubles as both a source of accountability and of belonging.
Doing some form of a book club can be a rewarding experience, especially when you all get to that chapter. You know the one.
10. Read what you want to read, not something you feel you should read.
If you’re not sure what it is you want to read, try out different genres to get a feel for the kinds of books you can devour.
If you know what you like but need ideas on what to read, try out a new author you’ve never read before in a genre you love.
No matter how many books you read in 2021, enjoy all the new worlds!
