Cultivating a daily reading habit is a powerful commitment that can elevate your life through the joy of books. Whether you're aiming to read for pleasure, self-improvement, or knowledge, incorporating daily reading into your routine is a refreshing practice. After the year I had, I wanted to build back my relationship with books. My goal is to fall in love with reading and branch out of my comfort zone. So if you want to build a strategy to read more in 2024, let's explore tips and tricks that can help you read every day and reach your desired reading goals.
Establishing a Daily Reading Routine
1. Set a Dedicated Reading Time:
Identify pockets of time in your schedule—a few minutes during breakfast, your lunch break, before bedtime, or any pockets of moments you can utilize for reading. For me, I utilize Audible for days when I am on the move. Since I live in Southern California, I am normally stuck in traffic for up to two to three hours (depending on my destination). So of course I can’t just pick up my book when I’m behind a wheel, I just play an audiobook and let the narrators take me into the story.
This is just an example of times I believe work great for immersing myself in a book. You can have a totally different lifestyle. Find the time in the day when you can explore the story.
2. Create a Happy Reading Space:
Designate a cozy and distraction-free reading nook. Having a comfortable and inviting space encourages regular reading sessions. Try surrounding yourself with books. Or go into a quiet place. Whatever your happy reading place may be, make it as comfortable as possible.
What I like to do is read in a cold room, throw on tons of blankets, and wear an oversized sweater. I’ll be balancing a water bottle on my lap, flipping through pages as I enjoy the aroma of my essential oils or newest candle. That’s my happy reading space.
3. Start Small and Build Consistency:
Begin with a manageable reading duration each day, even if it's just 10-15 minutes. Consistency is key in forming a habit so you can achieve your reading goals in 2024. This could be first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Maybe even when you are waiting for your food during lunch. Those little pockets are perfect times to squeeze in some reading.
I confess to having read while working. Sometimes the computer takes too long to load, so I just have an open book in my area and read while I wait for the document to open after five minutes.
Determining Your Daily Page Goal
1. Assess Your Reading Speed:
This is for the bookish peeps who appreciate numbers. Calculate your average reading speed in pages per minute (ppm). This can vary based on the complexity of the material and your familiarity with the subject. And voila! You have yourself your reading speed.
To be honest, I am not the best speed reader. I take my time and let the scenes and words simmer a bit longer. And take into account my various reactions and pauses to process what I just read, my reading speed is definitely more than just reading.
2. Setting Realistic Page Targets:
Consider setting a daily page goal rather than a time-based goal. This aligns with varying reading speeds and book lengths. This is usually what I choose.
Start with a modest target, maybe 10-20 pages per day, and adjust based on your comfort and schedule. And if the book is that good, you might end up reading 100 pages that day…just warning you now.
Strategies to Achieve Your Daily Reading Goal
1. Block Out Your Reading Sessions:
Break your reading time into smaller sessions throughout the day. For example, aim for two 15-minute sessions a day; like reading once in the morning and again in the afternoon. There is no rule that says you have to read it all at once. Go for the block times. It might give you something to look forward throughout the day.
2. Utilize Reading Sprints:
Experiment with focused reading sprints—dedicated periods like 20-30 minutes of uninterrupted reading. Use timers to stay on track and maintain concentration. This may seem a bit extreme for the average reader, but if this is a strategy that you think will work in your favor, go for it!
Use the timer on your phone, or if you’re trying to stay away from technology during your reading sessions, grab a fun kitchen timer and set it for the desired amount of time. Or do what I do and ask someone in the house to come get me when it is time to stop reading.
3. Prioritize Reading Material:
Opt for books that captivate your interest and align with your reading goals. Engaging content encourages longer reading sessions. If it is a book that you are interested in, it is more likely that you will stick with that reading. Just imagine how hard it was during school, reading the books that gave you no interest. It sucked, huh! I remember reading the assigned books and some of them were just not fun and made reading them feel like I was dragging my heels.
So stay with the books that make you happy. And just to put it out there, it is okay to DNF a book (did not finish). If it doesn’t pique your interest, then move on to one that does. We all have our own tastes, no need to compare ourselves to other reader’s preferences.
4. Eliminate Distractions:
Minimize distractions during your reading time. Silence notifications, find a quiet space, and consider using noise-canceling headphones if necessary. This may be a bit tricky for some of us. If you’re a millennial who still lives with your family, hi, I’m in the same boat too. On my end, my extended family loves to show up announced and UNannounced. So having those quiet moments can be changed in seconds.
The best advice I can share for eliminating distractions is to find a place outside the house to read. Reading at the library. Picnic at the park. Audiobooks while at the gym. Wherever you are comfortable, get into the story you’ve been wanting to read.
If you are having trouble with reading while living at home, follow me on Instagram for my daily reading tips and tricks to reading more.
5. Track and Review Progress:
Use a reading journal or apps like Goodreads to track your daily progress. Reviewing your achievements can boost motivation and reinforce the habit. That is where I created a reading tracker to keep a collection of the books you read that follow the read challenge.
The key to reading every day lies in consistency, determination, and setting achievable goals. Whether your target is to read a specific number of pages or chapters, focusing on a daily page goal tailored to your reading speed and schedule can propel you toward achieving your larger reading aspirations. Embrace the journey of daily reading as a source of joy, knowledge, and personal growth, and witness the transformative power of a daily encounter with the written word. Start small, stay committed, and revel in the wonders that await within the pages of books.
Happy reading!
Pin for later!
Comments