You know this feeling when you look at the stacks of books in your living room and feel disappointed. Some of them are dusty – no wonder, they’ve been sitting there for a long time. You’re almost ashamed to admit it. Listening to your friends talking about the books they’ve been reading or seeing people indulging in books during the commute is not helping. In the age of speed reading, e-books, audiobooks, book challenges, it’s easy to feel like a bad reader. But remember the times you used to love the book, live the book, breathe the book. It was amazing, right?
Your reading progress may be slowed by many bad habits – here are a few of them.
Reading only one book at a time
When I was a teenager, I never read a few books simultaneously. I would force myself through the book I didn’t enjoy rather than picking up the perfect book that was laying across the room. But reading doesn’t have to be monogamous. Remember how the biggest TV bookworm, Rory Gilmore, was shoving multiple books in her school bag to have a choice of books to read? Well, she was right. And while you don’t have to carry five books with you, you should let yourself to switch between them as you like.
Not quitting books you hate
Oh, that one. I used to be like this too – the frustration that comes with the half-read book is overwhelming! It always seemed like a better option to keep reading and struggling. It’s too early to get hooked. Maybe a few more chapters. I should give it a second chance. What if it’s a series? No. Quit it now. Why waste your precious time on the book you clearly don’t enjoy? Just quit it already and take the next one. Maybe it’s not time for this book yet and you’ll get back to it later. Reading is too fun to feel miserable.
Thinking you don’t read enough when you read a ton
How many books do you think a person should read to be considered an active reader? The truth is, it’s different for everyone. I often see people who read a lot of things for their studies or work. Naturally, they don’t have the time or the energy to read, for example, a novel or that hot non-fiction title. So, before you criticize yourself, look at the many things you read daily and ask yourself what exactly you want to read more of. Reading for pleasure may be hard if you go through documents and papers all day long – be kind to yourself.
Challenge: 100 books a year
Don’t get me wrong – some challenges are great. They keep you disciplined, provide a community, and make the whole experience more enjoyable. But challenges are not for every person and every activity. If challenges make you anxious, it’s better to avoid them. Reading is supposed to be relaxing, so putting pressure on yourself may not be the best decision.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how many books you read, as long as you take something out of them. Happy reading!