If you want to live like Rory Gilmore, then you must read. But it is easier said than done sometimes. Some people just cannot sit and read for even 20 minutes. If you one of them, I am here to give you some tips and tricks to gamify your reading and also to read more books.
Tip # 1: Have a reading list.
You can not do something unless you have a purpose. You need to know what you are going to read before you start reading. I believe that not everyone can enjoy the same reading list. Everyone has their likes and dislikes. Keep them in your thoughts while picking a book to read or a reading list. To me, a reading list is a must-have. I can always pick a book and start reading but the process of picking a book is troublesome. There are just so many books to read and the decision fatigue that comes with it is hard to endure for me. Therefore, a reading list is important. I suggest you to pick a reading list first. I personally use the Gilmore Girls Reading list that you can find online and go down the list chronologically episode by episode. You can use that or you can pick one from Goodreads. Or you can get a reading list of a famous person like Stephen King’s or Bill Gates’s or Oprah’s reading list. Pick the one that you that you will enjoy. I personally love the Gilmore Girls reading list because of its variety. It ranges from all time periods and from all genres. If you are particular interested in one subject or genre, pick a reading list based on that. Again, pick one that you know that you will enjoy the most. Or you can just join a book club (several on Goodreads)
Tip # 2: Have a goal
Now that you know what you are going to read, it is the time to pick a reading goal. You can go towards a more rigid goal such as read 100 pages a day or 60 mins a day to a more flexible one such as read one book per week. I like to be flexible with my reading goals because I do not like to restrict myself with pages and time (it won’t be enjoyable if you would restrict yourself; it would feel like a chore). Try to be flexible. Have a goal like finish book x and y by the end of this week and construct your day according to that and give some flexibility as well because not all days are the same. I suggest you to get Goodreads and have a yearly plan (start with 100 books a year). If you are new to reading book, then I would suggest you to take baby steps first like read 30 pages everyday or read 30 mins each day.
Tip # 3: Set a time
It would sound contradictory with tip # 2, but it is not. Set a time for reading, but do not restrict yourself with time and length. Read as much as you can, but keep time in mind as well because you have other things to do. I set 2 hours in the morning and an hour at night.( I do not restrict myself for these two set time frames, but really strives to form a habit by setting these two mandatory time frame. Restricting yourself means that you are doing something for the sake of doing something and not find any sort of enjoyment in it.) I give myself flexibility throughout the day. I read whenever I have free time throughout the day. that way you will not bore yourself out or drain your energy. I like to use pomodoro technique with my reading as well because it just gives me some breaks. I would also suggest you to read first thing in the morning and before going to bed.
Tip # 4: Carry a book with you always.
Please do this because we have a lot of waiting to do in a day. You can use this time to read for sure.
Tip # 5: If you do not like the book, then stop reading it.
Because if you force yourself to read then you are just wasting your time. You are not going to take anything from it because you will zone out while reading it. Distractions are common when you do not enjoy something. If you think the book is very beneficial and still you do not seem to enjoy it, then try to read it in intervals or try to make a list of benefits that you can get by reading the book.
Tip# 6: Limit other sort of entertainment and substitute them with reading.
I am not telling you to read and only read. I am just telling you to limit other entrainment like TV, movie, etc. I watch tv and movies as well, but for limited amount of time, I limit myself for only an hour a day. I suggest you to do the same in order to read more.
Tip # 7: Do not read multiple books
Rory does read multiple books at the same time, but I just think it is distracting. I would suggest you to stick to one book at a time and have a particular goal towards that book.
Tip # 8: Have a convenient system
– By system, I mean your means of reading. Ask yourself this: do you prefer printed books or e-books?
– My approach: I personally think e-books are far more superior than printed media. They are not only more environmental friendly, but also more potable and less space-consuming. You can have 100 or more books in one tiny Kindle, but I doubt that you can carry that many books with you in printed media. I like to keep the current book that I am reading in my google drive for potability purposes. I used to own a Kindle, but then I stopped using it because I wanted a way for me to access my books on various media and therefore, I switched to google drive.
– For Beginners: I would not suggest you to use google drive or to read on various devices at this level because you might be prone to distractions. I would suggest you to get a Kindle or Nook – they are also distraction free unlike other electronic device.
Tip # 9: Disconnect
I would suggest you to disconnect completely when you are reading- no phones, no tvs, nothing other than you book and your presence of mind. Like I have already said, limit your virtual media.
Tip # 10: Realize that you have time to read, but choose not to
If everything fails, you still think that you do not have time then YOU need to realize that you are wasting your precious time. You have time to read, period. You can read while you are waiting for your turn to check out from a grocery store, or while you waiting for brother to get in the car from school and many other hidden mins that can be easily conserved.
Now I am going to let you peak into my reading routine:
– General Approach: I like to select a reading list first and then pick a book (like to go in the same sequence the list is presented to avoid decision fatigue). Then, I set a goal for that particular book by judging the book by it’s length, reading level, and genre. I give myself a deadline to finish that particular book (eg. a week, or 2 days). After that, I try to mentally calculate how many pages I have to read on average to finish that book by that particular deadline (remember, do not restrict yourself. Be flexible).
– My daily approach: I read for around 2 hours using pomodoro technique in the morning. I try to fill the gaps of time with reading throughout the day, but do not wear yourself out (remember that reading requires thought process as well. So, give yourself some breaks as well). I also read at night for around an hour.
I know you enjoy this post and found some helpful tips from it. I hope these tips would help you to read more and more everyday because reading is so important and enjoyable. It can take you on adventures that you have never been before and you just have to let your imagination fly when to read.
Love,
Priya