Two power moves to read more books each year.
A quick intro and/or refresher on me. I haven’t always been a reader, a book worm, or whatever you want to call it. I’ve only been tracking my reading (each book) since August of 2019. I need proof that I’m accomplishing things in life, that I’m moving forward. It’s just how I am – I like to see progress – and I like to look back and see what I’ve read and when. It’s crazy how my reading life seemingly has a different timeline than reality – but that’s for another time/post.
I’ve come to love and enjoy reading much later in life than most people who consider themselves “readers.” While I do have an English degree, after I graduated college, I didn’t feel like I was well-read, especially not in my family. I am definitely the dumbest one of my tribe and the least educated. I’m also the youngest by six years, so I try to use those extra years to catch up.
I do that daily.
I read between 55 and 87 books per year (currently at 87 as of 12/28/24). Some of those are on Audible, most are on Kindle, and some are traditional books, so when I say “read,” I mean finish a book somehow. Movies and videos, of course, don’t count. Not that I do much of those – I had to give up most TV watching when I started focusing on my writing.
It doesn’t really matter why you want to read more. You might be trying to improve yourself, like I am, or maybe you’re just trying to fill the time with something more meaningful than the boob tube, or maybe you’re trying to learn something. The fact is, reading is good for you. It’s great for your brain, and even if you’re reading complete fluff, it gives you a sense of accomplishment that binge-watching Netflix doesn’t.
Reading More is All About Consistency
It’s easy to read more. Crazy easy. Simply make yourself read at least ten pages every single day. Don’t take time off – read on the weekends, on your days off, on vacation, etc. Ten pages every single day is a minimum of 3650 pages per year. That’s nine 400-page books per year.
I’ll be honest, a lot of times, my “ten pages” are Kindle pages, which are not the same as ten pages of a hard-back or paperback book. But that’s OK.
The first year I did this, I read more than all previous years combined. That’s because I didn’t stop at ten pages most days.
That’s it. That’s the secret. Harness the power of time for good. The key here is the “every single day” part. That’s where the power lies. You’ll find days where you read more than ten pages, but don’t let yourself read less. If you have to skip a day for some reason, try to make up for it that same week.
You can power through the most tedious parts of Les Miserables (my favorite book) in just a few days this way (that Napoleonic War 100-page history lesson is rough).
So that’s your bare minimum. What I do is have one book that’s a “classic,” or on some “you really should read this, or else society will make fun of you and think, you’re stupid” list. I read that book first. Then, I read whatever I want.
I know, I know, you want to read more but don’t have the time. The kids! The… the… the… thing! That you have to do! You want to but just don’t have the time. So let me ask you, “How long does it take you to read ten pages?” Do you even know?
I’m a very slow reader. My lips probably still move most days. Some authors take twice as long as others to read the same number of pages (I’m looking at you, Will Shakespeare!).
That’s OK. Tell yourself, “It’s just ten pages. I can do that.” Read on the toilet. Read before you go to bed. Read when you get up. Break up your ten pages one page at a time. It doesn’t matter how you get it done. You’re building a habit, and it will pay off.
If You Really Want It, It Will Happen
If you really want something, you have to work for it. I’m not sure if people understand this today, but nothing comes easy, even to those who claim it does. You have to work for what you want. If you want to read more, then find the time. Reduce something else. Just start doing it.
Stop watching or reading any news. This has other benefits that will amaze you, especially in an election year. Limit social media to make room for your reading.
Watch less TV – I initially just limited myself to a show per day. Then I read.
But because of my literature degree, I’ve always spotted the plot and the good and bad guys within the first few minutes of a show. Yeah, I’m that guy. “The ruiner of things,” I’ve been called. Don’t watch a show with me if you can help it.
So it was easy for me to reduce, then eliminate my TV watching.
I’ll admit, it was tough at first to be the only person (seemingly) in the office who hasn’t seen the latest big show going around. But that’s nothing new. I’ve never been one to enjoy what the masses enjoy (turns out I’m a very rare personality type – maybe that’s why?).
I’ve still never seen an entire episode of “The Sopranos.” I spent a lot of time in the Chicago suburbs when I was young. I saw it up close, thanks. I’ve still never seen Yellowstone, even though most people who know me tell me how much I would love that show.
That’s like telling me how much I’d like cocaine.
I’m sure I would. That doesn’t mean I’m gonna run out and try it. I already know I’m addictive. I don’t need more distractions in my life.
So, in the first year, as you “miss out” on all the new cool things, you feel a little isolated. But, if you’re honest with people and just say, “I haven’t seen it yet,” a funny thing happens. You start to find others who have sheepishly remained silent and start to come forward and agree with you.
TV shows are designed for the masses. If you feel like you don’t completely fit in the world, that things don’t make sense to you, why they’re so popular, that the masses are completely stupid, this is the universe telling you to move on.
If you’re the office gossip and have to be the first one to tell everyone about the newest episode of this or that hot show – you can stop reading now. This is not for you. You are not my target demographic, sorry.
Reading is an intellectual pursuit. It’s proving to be one of the best ways to stave off dementia. And since both of my parents suffered from dementia at the end of their lives, I pay great attention to anything that can lessen my chances.
If you’ve ever lost an entire day sitting on the couch watching a show – binge-watching – and having the feeling that you really did something bad to yourself that day – again, this is the universe trying to warn you. We’re not meant to sit mindlessly all day.
But somehow, sitting all day reading is OK. Not only is it OK, it’s fun (with the right book, of course).
More Benefits to Reading
Reading also helps relieve stress and increases your focus and concentration ability. And supposedly, reading fiction makes you more empathetic. I’ll be honest, I hope that’s not true. I have enough empathy. I’d prefer to have a lot less.
So there you have it – it’s easy to read more – it’s just about harnessing time and doing a little every day – not looking at that 1000-page Steven King novel and really wondering why his editor didn’t stop him at 500 pages – you just read 10 pages per day. Yeah, it will take 100 days to get through that book, but you will get through it.
But I’ll let you in on another reading secret – you do not have to finish what you start. This isn’t school. There are no tests. When you find a book, or even an author, that’s just painful to get through, even at ten pages a day, you have permission to move on.
I’ll usually move to the audio version of a book at that point. But sometimes, I just mark that author down as a “no” in my reading log and move on. In all my years, there have only been two authors that I refuse to read anything more by and a few more that I’m very leery of.
But you decided you wanted to read more. That does not have to be self-inflicted punishment.
Read more, and let me know in the comments about books you’ve read, want to read, or authors you like! And I use Airtable to track my reading – it’s just a simple list – but it’s done marvels for my psyche.
The Naive Romantic 