The inner bookworm in me is almost ashamed to admit this, but I made it through a whopping ONE book last year. The 3rd-grade me who read a full Harry Potter book in one day would be appalled that adult Jasmine could only muster one book in 12 months. If you’re struggling to read more, I’m right there with you. Last year was admittedly a low point for me as far as reading goes, but I’ve had years where I made it through a good chunk of my reading list. This year, I’m pulling from old tactics that worked well for me and sharing them with those of you who want to read more this year too!
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Create a reading wishlist
Decide how many books you want to read this year, then take it a step further and decide which specific books you want to read. You’re much more likely to read more if you’ve decided ahead of time what books you want to enjoy.
Now you don’t have to have a full list that encompasses the whole year just yet, but I advise to start with at least six (that’s one book every other month). As the year progresses, add more to your reading wishlist.
Schedule it
Reading more doesn’t happen by accident. Everyday life and responsibilities will absolutely steal your reading time if you don’t prioritize it. Find a time when you are most alert and have the least distractions and designate that time as your reading time every day. If you have a spouse or children, communicate your reading schedule to them as well so they know not to interrupt you during that time.
Take advantage of idle time
This is a tip I got from one of the books on my reading list below. In Fringe Hours, Jessica Turner encourages her readers to use small pockets of idle time to get tasks done. If you’re waiting in the carpool line for afterschool pickup, or waiting in a doctor’s office for your appointment, whip out your book and get a few pages in instead of idling those extra 15 or so minutes away. It might seem insignificant, but those minutes add up!
Set page goals instead of duration goals
I used to aim to read at least 30 minutes a day, but now that I have two kids (one of which is still breastfeeding), it’s hard to get a full 30 minutes uninterrupted while I am at my best and most alert. My solution is to aim to read at least 10 pages each day throughout the day. You may not be able to commit to a full time block, but setting a page goal and reading through the pages throughout the day when you have pockets of time is an effective strategy to help you read more.
My 2024 Reading List
I’m always excited to gather my list of books at the beginning of the year. This year my list is a mixture of new (to me) books and ones I want to re-read. The number of books I want to read is a bit of a stretch (especially since I only read one all of last year), but the goal is to read more so I went the ambitious route.
Spiritual Development
These Are the Days of Elijah: How God Uses Ordinary People to Do Extraordinary Things
Personal Development
Everyday Magic: The Joy of Not Being Everything and Still Being More Than Enough
Choose Your Story, Change Your Life
The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You
Business/Professional Development
Holy Hustle: Embracing a Work-Hard, Rest-Well Life
I Am My Brand: How to Build Your Brand Without Apology
What Losing My Job During the Pandemic Taught Me
How to Plan for a Productive and Stress-Free Week
The Perfect Morning Routine to Slay Your Day
How to Show Up For Yourself: Reflections on my 30th Birthday
