As the new year quickly approaches and we see resolutions and goal-setting galore, one item I always notice that seems to be on quite a few lists is: read more books.

But how does someone go about doing that if they aren’t already a reader?

I haven’t always been the reader I am today. There were a few years in my early twenties when I was busy with work and socializing, and my reading life was extremely inconsistent. In 2015, I picked it up as a hobby when I was traveling quite a bit for work. Now, after 10+ years of consistently reading for fun, here are some of my tips for developing the reading habit:

Find low-cost options. If you don’t already have one, sign-up for a library card. You can check-out physical books and read audiobooks and e-books for FREE! There are also plenty of great deals at local used bookstores, library book sales, Bookshop.org, and Libro.fm.

Explore different genres. When you have a library card, the barrier to entry is low. You can explore all different types of genres – fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, mysteries, romances, contemporary, the list goes on. Some libraries allow you to check out 30+ items at a time!

DNF (Did Not Finish). Don’t be afraid to put down a book and not pick it up again. Maybe it’s not the right book for you now, and maybe it will never be the right book. Personally, I’m a mood reader!

Read books you love. Once you find a genre or author you love, there is nothing wrong with sticking with it. Read the entire backlist! You will be pressured to read other types of books, especially if you are on social media, but this isn’t English class. You don’t have to.

Follow a schedule. I know that I can only reasonably read about 30 pages per day, so I can get through a 300 page book in about 10 days. Figure out how much you can comfortably read in a day and stick to that! I’m currently following a reading schedule for a long-for-me book.

Pair it with an activity. My husband listens to audiobooks on his commute and I listen to them while folding laundry and cleaning the house. I’ve tried listening to audiobooks on my morning walks, but I’ve found that my mind wanders. Figuring this out takes some trial and error. Be patient!

Utilize small pockets and longer stretches of time. I bring a book or e-reader with me everywhere I go. You can usually find me reading during my son’s swim or tennis lessons. I also love doing reading sprints on the train and plane.

Listen to audiobooks. I have a confession to make: I don’t think I would be reading nearly as many books if it weren’t for audiobooks. If I am reading a physical book or e-book, I immediately see if the audiobook is available on Libby or Hoopla via the library. Yes, it’s for convenience but I also love hearing the narration because it can completely change the vibe of the book! I even have a few favorite narrators now. Figure out which reading format works best for you.

Track your progress. Track your reading on StoryGraph, Goodreads, a word doc, or in a reading journal. It’s fun to look back on your reading journey over the years!

Join a bookish community virtually or in-person (or both!) I started building a bookish community in 2023. First, I volunteered for a traveling library and then I started joining book clubs. I created a bookstagram (Instagram for books!). Then I joined Modern Mrs. Darcy. My friends and family know that if they ever want to talk books, they can call me!

Remember that reading is a skill. If you haven’t read for fun in years, it is going to take a few books to build the skill again. There will be words you don’t know and characters you don’t remember and plots that you completely miss. That’s ok, just keep reading!

Questions for you:

• Have you tried any of the methods above?
• What tips do you have for someone who is trying to build a reading habit?