Kathy Hamilton Reading is fun or, at least, it should be. But even the most avid readers can get stuck in a reading rut now and again. These tips will help you get the most out of your reading in 2020 by giving you ways to keep fresh and interesting.
Organise Your Books
I think for many of us, part of being a reader is being a book owner. Book owners come in many different forms. Some of us have meticulously organised bookshelves. Others have piles of books haphazardly gracing every spare surface in their homes. For lack of bookshelf space, I fall into the second category; I had books all over the place! So, I decided to organise my books into a rainbow shelf effect instead. What a difference it’s made; I love looking at this area in my living room now!
But the most important thing for the purpose of our topic: how to get the most out of your reading in 2020? Learning just how many books I have that are unread. Taking time to organise my books refreshed my memory on the books I have and made me remember why I wanted to read them in the first place. It’s so easy to take the books on your shelves for granted and get distracted by the newest book out there. But at the end of the day, you probably bought them for a reason!
Try a Book Subscription Service
If you’re looking to get the most out of your reading in 2020 with new genres or authors, why not try a Book Box? There are an abundance of book subscription services available online that cater to any taste. Some cover broad themes, others are more niche. But one thing they’re excellent for? Encouraging you to read a book you might otherwise have missed. I know personally, this is my experience.
When my friend signed me up for Books That Matter (not sponsored), I was delighted. The feminist-leaning suited my tastes. The first book I got (Circe) was one I had meant to read. In short, it encouraged me to look outside my comfort zone with the added bonus of requiring no energy on my part at all! Plus, who doesn’t love getting a parcel in the post?
Use the Library
The library is the original book box! When you want to get the most out of your reading you’re almost always guaranteed to find a new book to interest you here. In the past, I’ve been guilty of ignoring the library because I love getting new books. The idea of giving them back? not so much! However, one of my Goals for 2020 is to use the Library more. Not only is it a huge money saver; it’s also a cornucopia of bookish delights.
For our purpose here, libraries are particularly useful. Like book boxes, Librarians offer curated options for readers in the form of specialist displays. My most recent visit offered up a display of Irish Authors, another on Crime Fiction and a New Releases display. I found books here that I would never have discovered otherwise.
Read in Spare Moments
One of the continued frustrations of being an adult with responsibilities is that the days of sitting in a favourite chair and reading for hours on end are long gone. In fact, I don’t even think I could enjoy doing that even if I had the chance. My mind would be constantly reminding me about other priorities. Sigh.
But, a trick that I’ve learned that can help you get the most out of your reading is to read in spare moments. Whenever you have 15 minutes spare, you can fit one or two chapters in! Sure, you won’t race through a book like you used to but you’ll be surprised how much more reading you get done. Plus, the boring morning commute is sure to fly by, which is a bonus!
Start a Commonplace Book
I have a feeling this one will apply to fans of lists and documenting. I’d never heard of a commonplace book before a few months ago but I loved the idea. Basically, it’s a notebook dedicated to jotting down inspiring passages, interesting tidbits and any general thoughts you might have that you want to remember. In my commonplace book, I have also started keeping a list of the books I have read. The possibilities are endless.
Now, how does this help you get the most out of your reading? Well, if you’re like me, the idea of writing in your books makes you feel uncomfortable. But maybe you still like the idea of marginalia. A commonplace book fits that purpose. I think taking time to analyse and write about books helps us understand them on a different level. Plus, don’t assume you’ll remember a beautiful passage just because you’ve read and been moved by it. Having a place to store and track.
How will you get the most out of your reading in 2020?
Those are my tips and tricks for getting more out of your reading this year. How about you? I’d love to hear what you do to get the best out of the books you read.
