Want to Read More? Set Reading Goals

Reading has been a huge part of my life since I was about 8 or 9. The problem back then however was that I had been diagnosed with dyslexia and found it really difficult to sit down and read a book.

My foster parents send me to a program to help me overcome the dyslexia and I soon found myself reading 5-10 books a week to escape the world I had found my in and tap into my imagination.

I continued reading until I spend about 8 years in college, and with all the study materials and text books, became tired and bored of reading even for pleasure. I couldn’t make it through a single page.

It wasn’t until about 6 years ago when my passion for reading re-emerged. And now I read on average 3-6 books a week, and maybe you’re finding yourself wanting to read more as well. Here are some tips to get started.

Create a Daily Page Reading Goals

The first way to begin reading more is to set a daily page goal. In the beginning of your journey, start small. It’s good to aim for five to ten pages if you don’t regularly read as this will get you into the habit of picking up a book daily.

As time goes on, you may find that you want to challenge yourself even more. You might set a new goal to read twenty, thirty, or even fifty pages a day. A good reading goal should stretch you but not overwhelm you.

Choose a Reading Routine

Besides knowing how much you’ll read, it can be helpful to know when in the day you’ll get your reading in. Part of your reading goals, is to decide that instead of checking your email on your phone in the mornings, you’d rather take those 20 minutes and reading a few pages.

I like reading after all my work is done for the day, which happens often before bed. But be mindful of what you read because it could impact your sleep.

Take Advantage of Wait Times

Thanks to the rise of electronic readers, it’s easier than ever to carry a book (or five) with you. Pay attention to wait times during your day and use those to get a few pages in rather than mindlessly scrolling social media.

Keep a TBR Stack

If you’re not familiar with the expression, a “TBR” stack or pile is a “to be read” catalogue of books you plan to read. You can create a special category for TBR books on your bookshelf or add a few books you can’t wait to read onto your tablet in a special folder. 

By keeping material around that you’re excited to read, you’ll look forward to snatching a few minutes here and there. In fact, you may find yourself reading more often and for longer periods of time.

Reading is a wonderful hobby but do not fall into the trap of thinking you need to spend hours on it every day. Even reading for as little as 15 minutes can be a fun and relaxing escape from everyday life.

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