How To Become a Reader
When I told friends and family that I was expecting a baby one of the first things I was told (usually with a scoff and a laugh) that as a mother “you do not have time to read”. I could not get my head around loosing such an important part of me. Sitting and reading brings me so much joy the thought of this disappearing possibly for the next few years filled me with dread.
What I came to realise, like anything it is about managing expectations. Yes you have a little creature to look after who takes up a lot of time, but you are also house bound (especially in the evenings) if reading is important to you then you will continue to do this if you chose to have children.
I think for me, before having a child I was a very established reader. Over the last few years I’ve been able to really find a flow that suits me and reach reading goals that I set for myself. It is also about being flexible in these goals and if there are a few days or possibly weeks that I’m not able to pick up a book I know that it will be short lived.
So I thought I would write a little on “how to become a reader” for anyone wanting to get into the habit or wanting tips on making the most out of any time you have to read.
Below are my top tips on an introduction to becoming a reader:
Find what suits you…
Finding a book or a genre that appeals to you can really ignite a passion to read. If you are constantly reading the wrong thing it won’t inspire you to read more. Ways to find books you might like could be selecting your favourite movie or tv show and see if this was originally based on a book.
Going to your local library or book shop and reading the first page of a book again is a great way to see if you like the style of writing, on Kindle you can download a sample to help you decide before you buy.
Talk to friends who can lend you some of their favourite books, this way you’ll try a variety of books and have someone to talk to once you’ve finished.
If you already have a couple of favourite books maybe read more by this author, or look to see if there are any links in genre or subject. Places like Goodreads tend to have recommendations of what other readers enjoyed at the bottom of the page.
It doesn’t have to be critically acclaimed or be prestigious, shake any notion that you should be reading a specific book and find what actually appeals to you. It does not matter if it is young fiction trash it just needs to bring you happiness!
I’ve said this before and I think it is also really important to stop reading if you’re not enjoying it. There is nothing that will kill your reading vibe quicker than a book you don’t like.
Carve out a time to read..
I think this is where a lot of people fall down, finding the time to read is what I hear can be the biggest obstacle. If you start small then I think you can find 15-30mins almost every day. Try and remove your phone or any distractions from sight or put a timer on so you know you’re dedicating X amount of time before stopping. I think you might be surprised how much you can read in such a short amount of time.
When I actively wanted to read more I cut down the time I watched TV and found myself reading 2 hours extra everyday. I do enjoy reading when relaxing in the bath or climbing into bed an hour early.
I also read on my commute which is over an hour, if you drive then maybe an audio book could be good here? Especially if like me you are not a morning person and find it hard to concentrate.
Always have a book with you…
I’ve always been a massive advocate for my kindle, not only is the perfect travel companion with multiple books and lightweight but if you ever find that you’ve forgotten it you can easily link with your phone and pick up where you left off.
I do find myself waiting around, whether thats in the car nap trapped or waiting for a train and using this small amount of time to read a chapter or two is a nice way of being able to step away from doom scrolling on my phone.
Explore other mediums like audio books…
If it is hard to find the time to sit and read then maybe an audiobook is what you need? Whether it is when you are in the car or if you’re on a walk having an audio book to listen to can really make it more enjoyable.
I have found that choosing a book a bit harder as you want to ensure the narrator doesn’t grate on you. Especially if it is over 10 hours worth of listening. Maybe google a favourite actor, Emma Roberts, Tom Hanks, Stephen Fry all have read many books.
I also find playing with the speed really changes the reading experience. I tend to sit at 1.5 at a minimum otherwise the pace feels very slow.
Book clubs and Read alongs…
Sometimes having someone to talk to about the book can inspire you to read it faster. Having set read along dates to finish x chapters by x date can be helpful. If book clubs aren’t your thing then always search the author in the podcast search bar. You can see podcasts interviewing the author or talk about their experience of the book. I find this great when I’ve read a book that I’ve struggled with or not fully understood.
Hopefully there are a range of tips to help you find your flow and read more!
Let me know if you have any tips to share….