Did you make a New Year’s Resolution to read more? Reading for fun has been shown to make you more creative and open-minded. However, it can be incredibly difficult to find time for books of our own choosing when we’re too busy with school and assigned textbooks. Here are some tips to start reading more.
- Choose books you’re actually interested in
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A lot of us want to feel impressive, so you may be tempted to pick up a biography of Winston Churchill or a self-help book. However, if you’re reading a book to fulfill your vanity instead of enjoying yourself you’re more likely to abandon it and go back to playing a game on your phone. If you like romance, read romance! Love crime novellas? Read that! There’s no shame in reading what you love.
- Don’t be afraid to abandon a book
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Don’t like what you’re reading? No problem! There’s no law that says you have to finish what you start. If abandoning a book to choose a new one is going to keep you reading then there’s no problem. You can always finish deserted books later.
- Try e-books
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I get it, I was a paperback holdout for a long time. However, ebooks are more convenient for the modern-day student. You can read on your phone instead of lugging around a physical book. E-books are also great for privacy if you don’t want the general public judging what books you’re reading.
- Delete games and other apps on your phone
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Decide you want to dedicate more of your time to reading. Instead of playing Tetris or surfing Facebook before class, try reading! You’ll find that you feel a lot more accomplished after reading a chapter instead of finishing a level.
- Track your progress and make goals.
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I didn’t know how many books I read until I started tracking them this year on Goodreads. Not only can tracking your reading be a fun thing to show off, but it’s also a great way to hold yourself accountable. Give yourself a goal to read five books this year, and track your progress in each. You can also share your progress with friends!
Reading more is a great goal to have, and can be very relaxing. So, next time you’re taking Trax home try downloading a new book instead of playing Subway Surfer!