Disclaimer: this is not a bragging post to declare how much my life is more organized than yours. Nor am I (too much) of a reclusive book geek. But when I discuss my reading goals with my classes, I instantly see these accusations in their eyes, especially when I mention that I set a goal to read at least 50 books this year.
This number dumbfounds most of them, and inevitably, it prompts my self-declared "non-readers" to call out that they haven't read 5 books since elementary school. The other vocal cynics in the class then demand to know my sleeping and socializing habits: "Do you stay up all night reading? Do you ever go out and do anything other than reading books?" And, "How on Earth do you read 50 books a year?"
I fear they're still skeptical when I say I usually get eight hours of sleep a night, and that I'm able to s pend plenty of time with family & friends and still find time to enjoy a few books. Heck, I even make plenty of time to enjoy with my toddler and baby, which is a demanding (and exhausting) feat. Furthermore, I'm not a speed reader, nor do I possess any other superhuman qualities, other than knowing a few tricks that have helped me discover and devour a substantial number of books this year.
That's it. Believe me, when I adapted these habits into my busy schedule, I was amazed how easily reading a book a week became.
What will work for you this year as you try to reach your reading goals?
This number dumbfounds most of them, and inevitably, it prompts my self-declared "non-readers" to call out that they haven't read 5 books since elementary school. The other vocal cynics in the class then demand to know my sleeping and socializing habits: "Do you stay up all night reading? Do you ever go out and do anything other than reading books?" And, "How on Earth do you read 50 books a year?"
I fear they're still skeptical when I say I usually get eight hours of sleep a night, and that I'm able to s pend plenty of time with family & friends and still find time to enjoy a few books. Heck, I even make plenty of time to enjoy with my toddler and baby, which is a demanding (and exhausting) feat. Furthermore, I'm not a speed reader, nor do I possess any other superhuman qualities, other than knowing a few tricks that have helped me discover and devour a substantial number of books this year.
- I set weekly, monthly and yearly reading goals. If I don't have a set number of pages or books to aim for, I am doomed to wander fruitlessly in the wishful thinking of "I'd love to read a lot this year when I get some time." You and I both know that will rarely happen, so a tangible, manageable goal helps me make that time concrete.
- I set a purpose for each book. Just as each book is unique, my intentions for what I want out of every book I dive into vary. My book choices depend on what I want to experience that week, whether it's a light, enjoyable read, a non-fiction exploration of something that caught my interest, a determined resolution to see why a book is so popular, or even a preview of a book I could recommend to my students.
- I abandon books that don't deliver. If I'm struggling to determine or progress towards my purpose after the first chapter of a book, it gets tossed. There are too many other fascinating books to enjoy than to slog through one that doesn't float my boat.
- I have a continual queue of books I want to read next. If I continually seek out and have a list of books I'm excited to get to, my reading momentum keeps chugging ahead, avoiding the wallowing wasteland of "I don't know what to read now". The "Best Books" end of year lists from Goodreads, YALSA's Teens' Top Ten, and Teenreads.com's Ultimate Reading List keep my to-read list current and exciting.
- I borrow books on my to-read list from the library. I'm a cash-strapped teacher, so I rarely get the luxury of buying a book, unless I serendipitously find it at a thrift store. Most of the books I enjoy come from Utah's online library system (Pioneer), which city library card holders can access for free. The Overdrive app that connects to the system is great and offers a plethora (yes, a plethora) of ebooks and audiobooks that I want to read.
- I create a fixed daily reading time, but also keep an eye out for tiny reading opportunities. Like you, I'm continually busy, but I set aside at least 20 minutes each day for reading--usually ten minutes in the morning before school, and ten minutes at night before bed. However, if I find myself with a few minutes of down time during the day, I pull my phone out and read a few pages since seeing the percentage status in my Kindle app go up is pretty satisfying. I still make talking and hanging out with humans a priority, but if I'm standing in line or commuting to work, I always have an ebook or audiobook ready to go. In fact, 20 of the 50 books I finished this year were audiobooks I listened to driving to and from work, borrowed from the Pioneer library. (I actually looked forward to this 12-minute trip each day.)
- I read with my students in class. If I want my students to know how life-changing reading is, I need to devote some time in class to encourage them to explore novels of their own free will and choice. By setting aside everything else--even for only ten minutes--they (and I) get hooked by tantalizing tales, which usually prompts more reading outside of the classroom.
- I actually use my Goodreads account. I love sharing and hearing insights about books, and Goodreads is the easiest way for me to do this. Updating my status and jotting down a quick review when I finish a book keeps me accountable and part of the continuous conversations about great literature, especially when I see ratings and reviews my friends have written. Those that never login, though, miss out on this vibrant reading community.
That's it. Believe me, when I adapted these habits into my busy schedule, I was amazed how easily reading a book a week became.
What will work for you this year as you try to reach your reading goals?