Six Tips to Reading More in 2018!

So I read 338 books last year. It's a lot (and that's not even a record for me), I know. Since announcing my 2017 number, I've been asked many times how I'm able to read so much. I do have a few tips that I thought I'd put down for you to help you read more in 2018.

1. Read wherever. 

Waiting in the grocery store line? Waiting for friends at a restaurant? Would you otherwise be scrolling away through your phone? Yeah? Read then. I always have a book or two in my bag with me. If you have access to it, it's easier to pick it up and read a few pages.

2.  Audiobooks!

Audiobooks have been a game changer for me. Think you can't read while you're doing dishes, cleaning, or gardening? You can! I use an app called Libby and my handy, dandy library card and listen to audiobooks all the time.

3. If it's not working for you, put the book down.

Life is too short to read bad books. You do not have to finish every book you pick up. It took me a long time to learn that but once I embraced that rule, it has made the pool of the books I read so much better. Here's my personal rule: A book gets 50 pages to grab me and if it doesn't, I have no issue about putting it down!

P.S. I don't count what I don't finish!

4.  Find your happy reading time.

This doesn't happen nearly enough but if I could plan my perfect morning, it would involve waking up in a light filled room with a fresh cup of coffee on the nightstand and being left alone to read for a bit before getting out of bed. I'm an early bird and my most productive reading time is morning! I have other friends that are night owls and read the most late, late at night. Test things out! Find out what works for you!

5. Fix your bedtime ritual.

I usually like to get in my bed for about an hour before I actually go to sleep. Once I get in bed, I try really hard to stick to the no electronics rule. You know how hard it is to pick up the phone and start scrolling? It's hard but with practice, it's doable. And you all know that you've read that staying away from electronics before bed will help you sleep better so while you're reading more, you can also be sleeping better! Win - win!

6. Figure out what you're going to read next.

I always have the next three or four reads in my queue picked out. I'm not sure how much this increases my reading speed but I know it keeps me moving so I can move on to the next book that I'm excited about!

Those are just some of the tips that have worked for me! I know there are a lot of other tips out there. I have a friend who can read while she walks (Hi, Carrie!!!) and I am endlessly jealous of that. I just don't think I'm coordinated enough to do that but maybe I can practice in 2018! Some of it really comes down to being able to read quickly. While I don't speed read, I do read fast. I can't exactly tell you how I've been able to hone that skill other than a lot of practice.

What tips do you have for reading more?