B’s Reading Tips

Happy 2019! I am hoping to read about 25 books this year! Here are 5 tips that keep me on track and focused if you need to get your 2019 reading started on the right foot.

1. Give your book some uninterrupted attention

The exposition is often the most important part of the story.  With that being said, the background knowledge on setting and character can sometimes be mundane as we are chomping at the bit to get to the climax of the story.  But how can we really be invested in the climax if we don’t give the exposition the attention it needs? Tip Number One comes into play here. I found that it is very important to give whatever book you are reading at least 100 pages (or about three chapters or set your timer to about 45 minutes) of your undivided attention. This means no phone checks, no talking to whoever is in the living room, and no falling asleep for those precious first few pages. By doing this, I found that I was able to invest in the story. After I read the first 100 pages of a book and go on with whatever the day has in store for me I almost always find myself wondering what is going to happen to Theo next or if Eleanor would be internally mocking the girl waxing my eyebrows. See? Once you give characters and setting a chance you give yourself a chance to be into a book.

Psst! White Noise machines, Youtube White Noise, and headphones are crucial for making it work in a noisy area

2. Set up Downtime limits on your phone

On the iPhone settings you are able to set up “Downtime”. “Downtime” limits your app use to only selected apps during a certain timeframe. Personally, I have my downtime set from 9pm-12pm the next day. During those hours I am unable to be on any social media. This feature on my phone helped my ability to focus on the book that I am reading as well as be more present and mindful of my time. When I first started getting into reading I would look at my phone and check snapchat to see what a friend was up to and then found myself, 40 minutes later, watching some absurd video about a man in Philadelphia who is walking around with a squirrel on a leash as a “pet”. You can see how that did not lead me to reading and practicing mindfulness. Not only this, but have a book on hand at all times! In the car, in your bag, under your desk at work! You’ll never know when you can squeeze in some precious Downtime so always be ready.

3. Set Goals

Setting small and large goals helps my reading journey greatly. Depending on the book I am reading I like to set a page number goal where I read 30-100 pages per day at least. Depending on my schedule and the time of year I like to, ideally, read about a book a week. In addition I set a yearly goal of at least 20 books a year. These goals are not set in stone as reading should be a sense of enjoyment and I do not need to disappoint myself in any way. Instead these goals that I set allow me keep track of something that I know is beneficial to me. Thus, I have found that setting goals along the way keeps me on track.

Psst! For help keeping track of reading goals I suggest creating a Goodreads account for free! No idea what that is? Check mine out here!

4. Self Care

Over the years I have realized that reading is my top form of self care. I find that by diving into a book I am easily distracted from the stresses or worries in my day. Not to say that reading makes me a procrastinator, but it actually allows me to get out of my own head and into someone else’s for a few minutes each day. Tip Number 4 is to recognize if reading makes you feel relaxed, accomplished, and thoughtful. If you feel that way then set aside an hour when you wake up and before sleep for some much needed self care. I have found that it is one of the best habits I have gotten into by far.

5. If you don’t like the book…

DON’T READ IT! For a long, long time I didn’t enjoy reading because I would begin books that I didn’t love or feel a connection to and dreaded continuing on. I think it’s because I have always grown up with the mentality of “finish what you started”, but I stumbled on a meme once that had a girl flinging a book across a room for “closure” because she apparently wasn’t into it haha. For some reason that picture stuck with me and I realized that there are a billion books out there! I have so much to read and learn so why waste my precious reading time on something I am not enjoying.

On a final note…

In order to be interesting we must become interested. I began my reading journey because I love learning about people and the different things that make us all human. Find out what you are interested in and start there. You never know where a few pages will take you…

“When you read about the lives of other people…you are part of their lives for that moment. You inhabit their lives and you feel what they’re feeling and that is compassion.”              -Amy Tan