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Image courtesy of Dzianis Vasilyeu via Vecteezy
The year was 2020 and I looked up from my phone, realizing I had been scrolling mindlessly on Instagram for over an hour.
It was my first experience working from home and I found that I had more time on my hands than ever before.
Why was I wasting it on social media? Why not read a book?
I started reading in the morning and during breaks at work. I rented audiobooks from the library. I went from barely reading any books to reading over 80 a year, and I’ve only increased my annual book consumption since then!
You, too, can expand your reading habit with just a few tweaks to your life.
What Should You Read?
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If you’re not sure what to read, start with genres you like and go from there.
What did you read as a kid? Re-read your childhood favorites! 🐲
Do you love a particular movie or TV show? See if it's based on a book. 🎬
Do you like biographies? Try historical fiction. 📜
Do you like comics? Read a graphic novel. 💥
Do you like reading books with a female protagonist? Check out Reese's Book Club. 🕵️♀️
Do you idolize a celebrity? See if they’ve written a memoir. 🎭
Is a book you like part of a series? Read the rest of the series. 📚
For recommendations, check out:
Social media (follow a favorite author)
Recommendations from a friend, family member, or coworker
Virtual book groups (search by book or author)
Did you know?
You might think you only like certain genres, but if you read a book from a different genre, you might find you enjoy it! I have always loved fantasy and didn't think I would like romance until I read some fantasy romances. It turns out that I dolike romance!
Where Should You Read?
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Where you read depends on how you read.
Physical books: read at home, at a café, at a park, or in the waiting room at the dentist's office. If you have kids or take care of kids, read at their games and events!
Kindle or other eReader: same as physical books. Check if you need Wi-Fi to access your book list. If you don't have access to a library, search for eBooks at Project Gutenberg.
Audiobooks: Listen while you commute, go for a walk, run errands, do chores, or do crafts. Purchase through sites like Audible and Scribd or rent through Libby.
Did you know?
In addition to books of all types, libraries offer free access to sites like Kanopy where you can watch movies or TV shows,or take online courses,like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or Udemy. Ask your librarian what free resources you can access with your library card! Every library has different offerings, but you may find something you can use in your life.
When Should You Read?
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Read anytime!
Read before work or school. I've found that this is a calming way to start the day and a good way to continue my reading habit. Get up a few minutes earlier than normal or just read while you eat breakfast or drink your coffee/tea.
Read before bed. Make reading part of your bedtime routine! As an easy visual reminder, keep a book on your bedside table.
Be ready to read! Bring a book or Kindle in your bag or car. Personally, I always keep my Bluetooth headphones with me so I can listen to an audiobook when I have time to spare.
Quiz
Patrick is a student who catches an early bus to school. When could he find time to read? Select all that apply:
Patrick could use the bus ride or his lunch break to read, but he probably doesn't have time to read at home in the mornings. It would be inappropriate for him to read during his classes.
How Should You Read?
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It doesn’t matter how you read. It all counts.
Read a physical book or a digital book, or listen to an audiobook.
Read a book a day or a book a month.
Skim, speed read, or take notes while you read.
Read to a child, read to your dog, read to your plants, read with a book club, or read silently to yourself.
No one is keeping score.
To make reading a special activity, designate a cozy place, gather soft pillows and blankets, and prepare a mug of tea or coffee. Turn on a bright lamp. Light a candle.
You're the hero on this journey, so you decide what the path looks like!
Why Should You Read?
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If you're reading to learn a skill or enhance your career, set a goal of how much time you'll read each day.
If you’re reading for fun, try to avoid putting too much structure or pressure on yourself.You can make goals to read a certain number of minutes each day or a certain number of books each year. If it starts to feel like work, then change your goals.
Either way, it's fun to track the books you read in Goodreads or in a notebook and then look back at what you read in previous years!
I read for fun, so I intentionally underestimate my reading goal.
Quiz
Noelle babysits a toddler 2 nights a week and has to study the other 3 nights of the week. She also works at a café on weekends and visits the gym several times a week. How can Noelle find time to read for fun? Select all that apply:
Noelle can squeeze in extra time to read in the morning and while she is babysitting, once she has put the toddler to bed. She can also put earbuds in at the gym and listen to an audiobook. However, it would not be wise to read while she is at work.
Did you know?
If you want to avoid feeling pressure to meet a specific annual reading goal, choose a goal that is lower than what you think you'll actually read. That way the focus stays on reading for pleasure, and meeting the goal is just a nice bonus.
Budget-Friendly Reading Tips
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Develop a reading habit whether you buy books or not. Think about your resources (money and space).
If you want a personal library but have a limited budget, buy second-hand at thrift stores, yard sales, used book stores, library book sales, and sites like Thrift Books and Abe Books.
If you have the money for a personal library, go for it! Invest in sturdy shelves and start collecting.
Looking for free resources?
To save money, check out books from the library!
Pick up physical books, magazines, newspapers, or movies at your library.
Check out eBooks and audiobooks through Libby, Hoopla, and Overdrive without leaving the house.
If you don't have access to a library, search the following free online libraries:
Alternatively, arrange a book swap with friends. 
Take Action
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There’s no right or wrong way to be a reader.
You decide how you cultivate your love of reading.Before long, your TBR (to-be-read) list will grow and you will forget that you ever thought you had no time for reading.
May your TBR list be long and your heart be full of stories!
Check out more Bytes about reading:
This Byte has been authored by
Mira Lapres
eLearning Developer