The Introverted Detective: Making A Reading Routine

Reading routines will get you through more books than just the open pile by your shelf. It'll get you into a habit of reading, something that will get you more into reading, provided you like the books you pick up. Let's start with how to get those habits going.

Courtesy of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls

I have so many books I couldn't possibly read them all in my lifetime. I keep buying them like a book dragon. I impulsively picked up book 2 of Eragon (Eldest) and realized how thick that series is. It'll be a while before I even reach for Eldest. This is why a reading routine may aid me in my quest. We'll start with practical, easy ways to create habits and move forward from there.

Practical Tips

Keep a planner, if you haven't already done so, and add your reading to it. Because no one likes leftover tasks, you should add your book to your list (even if 15 minutes is all you can spare). Any time in a book is good. Some have created book journals, if you want to take this further. Reading trackers and planners can help you create a reading habit over time.

Doing your reading first thing in the morning or right before bed is one tip you can try. Maybe you are a mid-day reader, though, so I totally understand if this isn't your jam. I do know that reading before bed helps you sleep. I also know falling asleep while reading is possible. Do you. This is just one tip.

Set a goal for reading time. If you can set a number of books, hours of reading, or pages of reading that will keep you going. It can be weekly, monthly, or you can set a whole year ahead. Keep in mind that this can be changed as the year goes on, as you find what works and doesn't work. Do what is practical for you. Set an achievable goal. Change it as you need to.

Read what you want to read. Assuming this is leisure reading, you can pick your book. If you don't like it, put it down and pick up another. Reading what you don't like will put you in a "reading slump", which is when you stop reading for a while or don't enjoy reading for a short time. Read books you like and you will avoid this. You'll also want to sit down with your books more often.

Do you have an existing routine, one already firmly in place? Make reading a part of that. Attach it to something else you always do all the time. This works for nearly anything. Established routines with added features are easier to maintain.

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Be reasonable. A busy human being cannot maintain the writing routine of someone who has all the time in the world. Unless you can somehow pause time to read your book, I'd suggest starting with a goal that can be achieved on the busiest of weeks. Your busiest week might give you fifteen minutes of reading or half an hour of reading, but it is achievable. You make the rules. If you want to exceed that time, you go do that. If you want to make it shorter on a chaotic week, you do that. Any reading is good.

Reading challenges can give a boost to your routine when you need to spice it up. Try the Read-it-or-unhaul-it (read it or get rid of it) or the one-shelf challenge (pick one bookshelf, one shelf, and as many books from that one shelf as possible in a set time). Readathons for a set amount of hours can be fun, too. You set the time on all readathons you attempt. There are so many, you can try a new one each year or month. Just plan for the time you'll need ahead because reality won't pause.

Design your space around this habit. If you set the book on your nightstand (say you want to read before bed) and see it at the end of your nighttime routine, you'll pick it up more often. Put reminders around you. Be intentional and plan for it. Make the book an attractive option and join a community of readers. Make the form of a book convenient, because it is easier to pick up a book on your nightstand than have to walk across a room to find it. After all this is set up, then track your reading and reward yourself when you hit goals (realistic goals).

Speaking of designing your space, find a quiet, less distracted zone you can read in. If this means finding a local park, go for it. If you have a space you can design for your reading that's fantastic. Whatever you need to do to cozy up your reading nook/corner, you are welcome to do so. Put your phone in another room for best results. TV and internet should be a distance away from your zone, unless you are reading or listening from the internet.

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Carry a book everywhere you go. Whether you are reading on a phone, a physical copy, or an e-reader is not important. Use what you like best. Reading when you find time is a great way to get into a habit of doing so. MP3 players are also great, for audiobooks particularly. Be prepared to wait for anything in the world or spend all the extra time you have reading.

Making a list of books you like or want to read is great. You can use excel, word document, digital list devices, or anything you want. Pen and notebook will work if you dislike technology and apps. The sky is the limit for tracking reading and making a list of "want to read" books. This is known as a TBR (To Be Read). Go about it however you like and track anything you want.

Read to your kids. It teaches them a love of reading and keeps you accountable. If they like the book, they'll ask to be read to. You get quality time, accountability, and you cultivate a child's reading habit along with yours. Three wins in one tip.

Depending on what you own, libraries and bookstores are great. Secondhand bookstores are even better and cheaper than a trip to a huge one. Make it a treat to get a new book. Libraries are the cheapest of all - free!

Finding More Reading Time

Reading (audio) while going on a run or exercising in a gym is a great way to get more reading time. If you are looking to make more time for your reading, I'd suggest trying it. Maybe you'll get lost in the story and exercise more often (in healthy spurts, please).

Another great tip for finding more time is reading while on the go. On a train, on a plane, in a car...You have options. Audio is best for driving. Maybe you can even use your phone to read ebooks on the train. Time spent traveling can be expanded into a reading adventure.

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Replace your social media time with reading and you'll find how much time you wasted doom-scrolling. That's right, put the phone or device away for a set amount of time. It'll help you curb any social media addiction you have, as well as freeing time to do other things. Social media isn't evil, but it does steal time from us on a daily basis.

Waiting on a class to start, a time clock, a friend, or an oil change? Whatever you wait for, take a book. You'll read at least a few chapters waiting for your child to finish play practice or your family to be ready for an outing. It's nifty to have an ebook on your phone in this scenario, in case you don't have room for a physical book. People who want to do this often arrive early for more reading time.

Audiobooks while you work, bathe (with common sense - not in the shower unless you have a shower speaker), or do household chores will gain you more time for reading. It's great to have your book in multiple forms for this purpose. I find myself doing this more and more. It focuses me on my task. I like to crochet or sew to my audiobooks, especially when I have Christmas gifts to make and the season is flying by.

You can blog your reading experiences if you like, but you don't have to. I came upon that tip. I know some of us do that (me), but if you don't like the idea of posting on the internet for all to see, don't. I'm mentioning it for any who want to freely share their views on books and authors. Do you on this one. Not everyone wants to post stuff online.

Why Do This?

Reading has many mental health benefits, including stress relief after only 6 minutes of reading (genres of any kind). You can gain new understanding and go into a state of "deep reading", allowing yourself to grow in empathy and critical thinking skills, which creates a better human connection. Read before bed for better sleep, according to Psychology Today. Older adults are less likely to cognitively decline if they read once a week. It is even possible (not sure on this one) that readers live longer.

If you have a library overflowing off of shelves you probably want to read them. I am currently working through a second chance pile that remains from my shelf cleanup. It technically won't be cleaned up until I try them all. I need to get moving before Christmas comes and the holidays eat my reading time. I also started a thick fantasy (Eragon) and need to get moving on it. No more open books until I finish it, or I'll go into a reading slump.

Maybe you have a long TBR and you set a lofty goal for yourself. I'm giving one word of warning on this. Your TBR should not rule you; you rule your TBR. Just because you set your TBR in January doesn't mean you have to achieve it or you'll die. You will live if you don't finish it this year. Don't be hard on yourself when you miss the goal. The point is to read, not to stress yourself out with your own goals. Roll over the leftover TBR to the next year. It's not the end of the world to miss the goal. You can adjust next year's goal based on what you did this year.

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page.