Could you be a better reader?

Posted on August 12, 2021

There are so many books and so little time, so the saying goes!

It seems impossible to keep pace with the Bookstagram world, the Bestseller Lists and that ever-growing TBR pile (‘to be read’). I often wonder how it is that some people are able to whizz through mulptiple books within the space of a week, whereas I seem to plod on with the same publication for weeks on end.

So, how do you make sure you can maximise on any reading time that you do have?

Here’s what worked for me!

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Set a goal

When you break things down into manageable chunks and set a daily goal with them, you’re much more likely to make a habit of it. So set yourself a goal to read for, say, 15 minutes a day, every day. It’s remarkable how that quickly becomes a habit and you’re suddenly racing through more books than you could have dreamed of!

Be a diverse reader

I have found that when I branch out from my usual reading choices, I am suddenly hooked and making more time to read than usual. Get to know more styles of writing, different genres, and authors you would otherwise overlook.

Diversifying my reading also opened up space to explore my own lived experience and perspectives.

Remove distractions

Turn off the TV, the radio, etc. And put your phone down! The fewer distractions, the more you focus on what you’re doing and ultimately the faster you read. It makes sense!

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The best way to be a better reader is the simplest – take the pressure off! I put so much pressure on myself to be a better reader that I inevitably end up reading significantly less than I would have otherwise.

Share your advice over on social media and let me know what works for you.

Happy reading!