Reader 101—Tips, Tricks, and Flat out Live Savers for the Book Lover in all of us

Do you have an overwhelming TBR (To Be Read) list? If the answer is yes, than this is the post for you, and if the answer is no than 1. You're either a god, or 2. You're satin because you don't have a TBR list at all and probably despise all things literary!

Anyways forgive me for my rant (I do that a lot) and let's continue with 8 ways to save you time and get more books read! Yeah!

1. Make Time to Read

"But Lexi, I'm super busy with school and sports and work I can barely find time to sleep let alone read!" Okay, sweetie calm down. We are all busy as we go through our chaotic lives, but we all have the same amount of time—24/7, 365 which means that's not an excuse. Time flies, and while most of you who read my posts are quite young, we should still use our time wisely. I'm not saying you can't watch Netflix or Youtube, but you should keep in mind what's most important to you, and prioritize reading if you want to reach your book goal and make a dent in your TBR list.

2. Always Have a Book Buddy

Going to be sitting in the waiting room at the doctor? Bring a book! Going on a five hour car ride? Bring a book! Don't like to read in the car? Bring a book so you can read when you get where you're going! If you always have a book with you, it will be easier and more accessible for you to pick it up and get a few pages read when you're bored or have time to kill.

3. Pick Books You Actually Like

This might just be me, but I underestimate my ability to read sometimes, and what's even more frustrating is when I don't even like the book I'm reading. Sometimes I read books because the general public enjoys them or because it's a classic and everyone should read it, but that's not making the most of your time. It's a sad reality for book lovers and readers, but you will never be able to read every book on the face of the earth, so go through your TBR list and read a short overview for some of the books. Pick your top ten and focus on reading those is a specific period of time. Reading is supposed to bring you joy, so don't overwhelm yourself. If you're half way through a book and aren't really enjoying it, don't waste anymore time and move on to a book you actually like. I know, I hate abandoning books as much as the next person, but sometimes, it's best. You can always go back to it later, and who knows, you might change your mind in the future.

4. Speed...Ready, Set, Read!

Some people are fast readers, and some are slow. Don't pressure yourself to read five hundred words per minute when you can only comprehend two hundred. Anyone can glimpse a page and get lost in a jumble of letters and punctuation, but reading is supposed to be relaxing and you're supposed to get something out of it, not just a mess of words. If you are a slower reader and you want to improve your reading speed, good new because you can learn! When I first started reading, I read about two hundred words per minute, which is pretty average. Now I can read three-fifty to four hundred words per minute without thinking much about it at all! I recommend looking at an app called Spreeder to help you improve your reading speed and crush that TBR goal.

5. Find a Genre or Subject

What are your interests? What gets your blood pumping and your heart pounding? If you have a hobby or interest that you'd like to explore (cough...cough...writing) then pick up a book on it. If you loved Harry Potter try another fantasy book. If you obsessed over Wonder try middle-grade contemporary. I promise you, you will read books faster if they interest you. Apart from books on writing, non-fiction books were never really my thing, but this year I've read a couple really good ones, and you know why I liked them, because they were things that interested me! One of them was The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and I greatly, even if you're an adult, greatly advise you to read it. It definitely helped me with my writing and my personal life, and it has amazing tips on helping teens, not only to survive the hectic teenage years, but to succeed and be happier.

6. Browse Your Library

When I first started reading, the library was my holy grail and it still is. I know a lot of people like to own their books, but libraries are great if you're still figuring out what you like to read. They're also great because you can get pretty much any book for free!

7. Set the Mood

Now that you have your book, you need to find a place to read. "Why does it matter where you read?" You ask. Well as hard as we may try, multi-tasking and reading don't mix. I like to find a place that's fairly quiet and comfy, maybe play some calming music and curl up with a hot cup of tea. Even though that's what I prefer, that's like my perfect set up and it doesn't go that way every time. It's different for everyone, but if you want to make the most of your reading hours, find a semi-quiet place where there's no TV, loud noises, or major distractions.

8. Enjoy the Journey

Reading is supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing. It's supposed to be an escape into a mystic world where you can follow the protagonist as they go off to defeat their demons. Stop forcing yourself to read one hundred books in a month because it's not going to happen. Push yourself to read, but remember that you still have a life, and as much as you'd like to sit on the couch all day reading, that's not realistic. Cherish those quiet moments with your tales. Reading won't only bring you joy, but it will help you improve your writing skills too! It's a win-win. So enjoy those stories. Happy reading y’all!

What are some of your tips for reading more books? Leave a comment below.

It's been a pleasure writing for you, and until next time--stay weird and stay writing. - Lexi

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