I was telling my friends some time back that if given a choice, I would go back to a flip phone, with no internet, no WhatsApp or social media and only calls. The small screen adds almost nothing to my life and I would happily let go of it. They laughed and cheered me for not being addicted to the phone.
The truth is, I may not be addicted to my phone but I am heavily addicted to my Kindle. I haven’t taken a break from it in the past 99 weeks. When I have to put my Kindle for charging, you can usually see me hovering around it like a ghost, unable to leave a loved one behind. It’s crazy.
But the craziness means I can give you some tips on how to find time for reading. And no, reading while on the pot is not one of them.
- Begin your day with a book. I wake up earlier than everyone in the house and use the quiet to read a few pages of my book. (This is also my favourite time to read because it provides the best start to my day.)
- Stop reading halfway through an interesting part so you’re compelled to come back to it as soon as possible. (This will never work for me because I have zero impulse control and will just keep reading.)
- Give yourself a treat every time you finish reading 50 pages. For it to really work, put something you desperately want (like maybe a new purse) as the treat.
- Try different kinds of formats. Switch between books, ebooks, audiobooks or graphic books. If you want to make it more interesting, try reading a book that already has a movie or a show based on it. (I sometimes find reading easier if I already know where the book is headed.)
- Give yourself a finite amount of scroll time so you can get back to the book on your nightstand. (I would recommend 5 minutes as scroll time.)
- If you like to be organized, drop a calendar invite for a book reading session or add it to your to-do list so you can cross it off at the end of the day. (You can also join @the.bookchatter every Thursday for an hour of reading between 9 and 10 PM.)
- Think of all the amazing bragging rights you’ll get once you finish a book. Think of all the ways you’ll be able to show off once you read a book. Think of all the conversations you could start by saying, “This book I read.” And now, go back to your book.
- If you’re the competitive type, give yourself a reading goal. I will read 2 pages before I sleep. I will read 2 books this year. For every 500 steps I walk, I will read 1 page.
- Read whatever genre takes your fancy. If its picture books or erotica, if its crime or nonfiction. Pick up what you know will bring you joy. Don’t fall into the trap of reading something to impress someone else.
- Find a friend who reads and ask them to give you a monologue on why you should read a particular book. If you’re brave, tell them you will try it. Now you have a persistent reminder that you better read that book if you want to save your friendship. (A friend has been after my life to read The Fourth Wing. I have told her once she sends me a 1-hour voice note on the book will I pick it up. So far, no voice notes. Suchita for the win!)
- And if all else fails, read because you’re trying to reduce your screen time and wanting to turn over a new leaf. New you will read, unlike old you.
If you try any of the above and it works, congratulations and kudos. If it doesn’t work, try again because reading is the only thing that takes nothing and gives everything.
Happy reading!
This post is part of Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile and Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024
Hello, I’m also running an initiative called Listen to your Heart Song where I’m sending out handwritten letters. You can read more about it here.
tales of Suchita 
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