Every year, I say: I will read more. And each Spring, I wonder why I don’t. I’m not alone. Reading is the world's most popular New Year’s Resolution (and going to the gym, but you know which resolution I prefer). And the thing is, life gets busy and hours spent reading end up being hours spent elsewhere.
“When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness.” — Jules Renard.
This year I read (now I have to guess here because I don’t keep a reading diary) about 50+ books, compared to the 20 or so the year before. Most of these were nonfiction, as I work in the nonfiction sector, and a couple were audiobooks (thank you, Audible).
Based on my experience, and that of many book lovers who inspired my approach, here’s a guide on how to actually read more books in 2022.
This blog post is part of my Year in Books. Achieve your 2023 goals in the new year with this accompanying step-by-step Todoist template to help you read more. This template can help with other aims like cooking at home, walking, organisation, and stopping the dreaded doomscroll (at least sometimes).
To find motivation
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,” said Jojen. “The man who never reads lives only one.” George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons
I read because I find stories exciting and more profound than my own experiences. This is called intrinsic motivation. Once I realised what I wanted was internal, I found my motivation. Just like students must have intrinsic reasons to study, they remain motivated and able to comprehend what they read.
Reading is pretty personal. Your motivation for even wanting to read more will likely be personal. But sometimes you need a little extra help — to figure out yourself and what you want.
Enhance my knowledge
“Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still, it is never complete.” Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air
When you read, you become more intelligent — in that you become more knowledgeable of society, politics, the human condition, yourself, etc. You build a body of knowledge that you can draw on. Reading makes you more proficient, curious, analytical, inquisitive, and adept.
To assist in self-care
“Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.”Vera Nazarian
Reading is the easiest exercise you can master. It strengthens language processing, heals mental strain, builds cognitive function, and slows memory decline.
The scholarly studies conducted on the brain alongside reading is so profound. But it was Annie Murphy Paul’s article Your Brain on Fiction which really described how important creative reading is to us:
Fiction, Dr. Oatley notes, “is a particularly useful simulation because negotiating the social world effectively is extremely tricky, requiring us to weigh up myriad interacting instances of cause and effect. Just as computer simulations can help us get to grips with complex problems such as flying a plane or forecasting the weather, so novels, stories and dramas can help us understand the complexities of social life
For a sense of comfort
Reading has really helped me cope these last few years. The global pandemic caused psychological warfare with ourselves — isolated, alone, and overwhelmed. Books were like a shield, shadowing me in another person’s life — a life of adventure and friendship.
“Reading takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.”Hazel Rochman
Reading connects you with others. I’ve made so many friends on Goodreads and Twitter sharing book reviews and recommendations. People get to know you; what entertains or bores you. Book groups are some of the sweetest, most comforting groups around.
To be creative
I’m quite creative — I write a lot, but that’s because I read a lot. By reading, especially fiction, you become more empathetic as you step into another’s mind and soul. Empathy and creativity are linked. Stories inspire us to see the world and ourselves in new ways, which can really help us step out of the shadows of self-doubt or uncertainty.
Tip: listen to a book with a little ambience. Here’s my current favourite.
To help me sleep
“True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.”William Penn
If you have trouble sleeping, reading is one of the most effective ways to nod off. It relaxes your body and mind. Stick the phone away, and turn to a paperback. According to Jan Van den Bulck, screens and films cause sleep dysfunction, disturbing our natural circadian rhythm and subsequently all other aspects of our lives.
Taking it one book at a time
Don’t start reading with the aim to read a dozen by the end of the month. This will automatically switch off that part of your brain that concentrates on the task at hand.
Also, if you’re a newbie, don’t read multiple books at once. You can switch genres with each book, don’t be discouraged. This week a fantasy fiction, next week a war memoir.
I do this, and it helps a lot. I don’t overlap stories. Although, some may be able to. You’ve got to figure this out for yourself.
Schedule my reading
Reading is a habit you’ve got to start first. After getting used to your phone or the television, it’ll be hard to just sit quietly with a book. Allocate a time to read.
Start off with 5 minutes a day, then 10 minutes, and then an hour. If you schedule it in you’re more likely to stick to it.
Most people read before they go to bed. This is a good place to start — read for five minutes there.
Making small books my best friend
Less is more — when it comes to hitting a reading goal.
Not everyone can read 800-page books in a week! Some of the greatest pieces of literature are less than 200 pages: Of Mice and Men, We Have Always Lived in a Castle, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and A Room of One’s Own (name a few to get you started!)
By being able to access books
This is known as the friction principle. You spend less time on reading by spending time on other habits like doom scrolling, shopping, playing video games, etc. These cause friction. To overcome this, you must make it easy to access books as you can on your phone, apps, and games.
When I’m hard up for cash, but I want to read and support writers, I check out: – Amazon Kindle (it’s free on your phone and there are free books!)– Audible (free credits every month!)– OpenLibrary.org– A physical library (free library card!) – Charity shops (these are always cheap with special deals like 3 for £2)
Additionally, the Medium books page is a great place to get reading inspiration and find new books.
Reading has always been a source of comfort for me. There are piles of books in my room, waiting to be shelved. Until I have a library of my own, they won’t see justice.
I think we’re entering a technology age where a lot of people are sick of technology. It’s everywhere – screens, lights, blaring colours. I don’t know if you’ve seen Everything, Everywhere All At Once, but that was an allegory for the internet (amongst other things). I think the softness of a book is what a lot of people want to escape into.
But you cannot read more if you don’t truly want to. People always know what they’re going to do. If you want to do something, you already know you’ll do it.
I know I want to read more every year. I read over 55 last year, and I’ve got a list for next year because I know I want to read.
This is how I do it.
But you might say — isn’t it a bit of a luxury to be able to set aside time for reading? I’m sorry to say it’s not.
The classic literary genius, George Orwell, wrote an essay titled Books vs Cigarettes (1946) where he disputed this idea. He argued that a society which indulges in alcohol, cigarettes, and food can easily justify those pleasures while turning its nose up at the idea of reading.
It is, arguably, one of the cheapest forms of entertainment and recreation. It heals your mind, soul, and body.
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