12 Ways to Read More Books This Year

I have always been a reader. When I was a kid, I loved stealing away with Jack and Annie for adventures in the magic treehouse, the witches and wizards at Hogwarts, and into Judy Blume’s world with Fudge and Peter. And not much has changed as an adult. Except I’m constantly plagued with the idea I’ll never get to read all of the books I want to read! I get emotional over it, which is dramatic, I know. So, one of my goals every year is to read more books than last year. And I know a lot you have have similar goals as well. So today we’re talking about 12 ways to read more books this year.

They’re simple, and they’re accessible. And don’t feel like you have to do all of them, but they are sure to help you hit those reading goals.

1. Set up a Goodreads Account

I’ve had an account with Goodreads for years, but it’s only recently that I’ve really started using the platform consistently and enthusiastically.

If you aren’t familiar, Goodreads is a community-based site that allows you to track and review your reads as well as interact with other readers, authors, and content. It’s kind of like a social media platform just for book lovers.

The main reason I love Goodreads is: it’s an easy way for me to track what I’m reading. You can add books to various shelves including your current reads, what you’ve already read, or want to read. You can also rank and review books, as well as read reviews from others.

But another fun feature is that every year, Goodreads allows you to participate in a reading challenge in which you set a goal for the number of books you want to read in a given year. Your goal can be anything – 5 books, 30 books, 100 books. My goal for 2023 is 75.

You can also track your progress as you read each book, another feature I love. Say you read 15 pages, you can update that book’s progress. It makes you feel like you’re achieving something with every page you read. Plus, you can visibly see yourself reaching your reading goal – which can be incredibly motivating to continue. I feel a huge sense of achievement when I finish a book and see myself one book closer to my goal.

You can follow me on Goodreads here.

2. Follow More Bookish Accounts Online

In the age of social media, we’re constantly consuming content. And oftentimes, that content either is reflective of our current lifestyle or helps us transition into a new lifestyle.

So if you’re wanting to read more, try following more bookish accounts on your most used social media platforms.

I follow multiple bookish Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter creators. And I find a ton of new book and genre recommendations this way, most of them I’d have never heard of otherwise.

Also, constantly seeing and hearing people talk about books and reading really does motivate you to pick up a book and read it. It’s a bit of a mind game. Not to mention, there are so many beautiful books, and seeing them on a curated Instagram feed is a delightful way to engage in your love of books.

3. Listen to Audiobooks

I hate to admit it now, but I used to be a total audiobook hater. I didn’t think they held as much weight as sitting down and reading a physical book. But I have been reborn, and I always have an audiobook going now.

Not all of us have the luxury to sit down and read for hours a day. However, most of us do have moment where we can pop in a pair of headphones and listen to something. I almost always have an audiobook going while I’m doing mindless work at my job, chores, driving, etc. Audiobooks make the mundane fun.

You’re getting the same content you’d get from a hard copy, and sometimes the audio narration makes for a totally different reading experience.

I have an Audible subscription – for $15 a month, you get one book credit you can use toward anything in their extensive audio library. You also get access to a ton of free content from Audible.

But there are also places you can listen to books for free. Libby is an app that lets you check out audiobooks from your local library for free. Youtube also has audiobooks for free, as well.

4. Read What You’re Interested In

In my opinion, the most effective way to read more is to read works you actually want to read, rather than things you think will make you look cool or smart.

Unless you’re a student, working in academia or a publishing house, etc., there are few factors dictating what you spend your time reading. So, cater to your own preferences.

I don’t like romance novels, so I avoid them. I’m much more likely to grab and enjoy a thriller/mystery, classic work, or poetry book.

And read with intention. Select books relevant to your current situation and will engage you. If you’re struggling with productivity*, try a book geared toward that. If you want to learn more about crystals and crystal healing*, there’s a book for that, too. That goes for fiction as well. Read what feels right at the time.

5. Don’t be Afraid to Re-shelve Something for Another Time

And on the note of reading what feels right, re-shelve something if it’s not jiving with your current vibe. Like I said, most of us don’t have anything forcing us to read something we aren’t getting on with.

Nothing will stunt your reading motivation like a book you’re struggling to get through. It takes up a lot of time, focus, and kills your mojo. Don’t be afraid to re-shelve something to pick back up at another time (if at all) and swap it for something more interesting to you.

6. Always Have A Book With You

The second easiest way to read more, in my opinion, simply has to do with proximity. Always have a book with you. If it’s there, you’re more likely to pick it up.

And if you can’t have a book with you, make sure you have an audiobook downloaded.

Utilizing the small windows of time we have throughout the day will definitely help you power through your reading list.

7. Read Multiple Books at the Same Time

I am a mercurial being, and it comes hard and fast. And I get a lot of heat for reading multiple books at one time. It’s not uncommon for me to have 2, 3, sometimes, 4 books going at one time.

And by having multiple books going at once, I do feel like I read more. That’s because each book has its own tone and mood. And sometimes you’re just not in the mood to read about murder or plagues.

Personally, I read a lot of dense, complex, character driven literature. And that gets to be a lot sometimes. So I like to also have something fluffy or easy, like a YA novel, to reach for when I’m in a mood that doesn’t allow for the same amount of focus. I also typically have an audiobook going and something non-fiction that’s easy to read in snippets.

For example, right now I am reading a book on crystals that’s broken up into small sections as well as a book of poetry. I can read a few pages while I’m waiting on my coffee to brew and then put it down.

And if you’re worried about getting confused, just make sure your books are vastly different – with different language, set in different time periods, different genres, etc.

8. Keep a List of Books You Want to Read

A complaint I hear often is: “I don’t know what to read.” There are a lot of books out there, and new pieces of literature are being published every day. It’s overwhelming to choose your next read!

So, in order to never be unsure of what to read, I keep a running list of books I want to read. I just chuck them into an Amazon wishlist*, but you can keep a list in your phone or in a notebook.

Whenever I get a recommendation, read a synopsis that sounds interesting, or just stumble on something I think I’ll want to check out, I put it into this list.

Then, when the time comes to move onto my next read, all I have to do is decide what kind of mood I’m in and find a book that corresponds. It’s great, because everything on the list has already been vetted and approved by me!

If you don’t want to keep your own running list, use someone else’s. There are tons of recommendations posts and videos online with reading lists.

9. Give Yourself Reading Challenges

If you not only want to read more in quantity but also in diversity, try giving yourself a reading challenge.

Recently, I challenged myself to read 5 Russian lit. books in the month of March. I didn’t get to all 5; it was a lofty goal, and I sort of set myself up for failure on that one. But it was fun to have set books I wanted to try to read for the month.

Maybe try reading books one of your favorite celebrity recommended or find a mystery book box or subscription. My local library does mystery book boxes where you fill out a questionnaire, and they select books they think you’d like. I’ve been satisfied every time, and it’s a fun surprise opening the box and digging into them.

10. Take Notes

There are a few tricks I use to better focus and retain the information I’m reading. That’s not what this post is about, but I do think paying attention to what you’re consuming does help you read more.

To me, being focused keeps a momentum going and increases the likeliness you’ll continue the habit.

Reading with a pen in hand is one of my favorite ways to make sure I’m really paying attention to the words I’m reading, a habit I picked up from a high school English class.

If you see a great quote that resonates with you or sticks out in some way, a concept or theme you want to revisit, or anything you feel requires a notation, underline it. Mark it with an asterisk. Highlight it.

Even if you never go back and revisit it, noticing it enough to mark it means you were honed-in on the content at the time. And keeping focus will ultimately help you read more.

If you aren’t someone who likes to annotate your books, take notes in a journal instead. Write down your favorite quotes, characters, descriptions, references, etc.

11. Make Reading a Daily Habit

Just like anything else, reading can become a daily habit that becomes a normal part of your day.

Whether it’s setting a goal to read 20 pages per day or becoming an integral part of your evening routine, reading a little bit every day will allow you to read more over the course of a year.

For me, I typically read for 30 minutes with my coffee in the morning before I start work as part of my morning routine, and for about 20 minutes before bed as part of my evening routine.

12. Try Short Story Collections Instead

Reading is reading, whether it is a mammoth like Anna Karenina or a small collection of essays.

In my opinion, reading more is really about reading consistently. And not everyone has the same reading preferences or habits.

Novels can be a little daunting for anyone with a short attention span or gets bored easily. I like to recommend short story, essay, or poetry collections for these people.

Because they’re broken up into small, complete stories, it’s easy to pick up the book, read one essay, close the book, and still feel like you’ve accomplished something.

And the more accomplished you feel, the more likely you are to pick it up and read some more.

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Does reading this crazy long blog post count as reading more? If you’ve made it this far, thanks! How do you fit reading into your life and hit any goals of how to read more?

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