With every passing month’s new releases, and with every new author you’ve discovered, your TBR (to-be-read) Pile never seems to lessen, when even more books are added on top of it.
I’ve been participating in Goodreads Annual Reading Challenge for 2 years now, (2016 & 2017). Both years (hopefully 2017 included) I’ve surpassed the number of books I thought I’d read for that year.
To start of with, I don’t go for the outrageous number of pledging 120 books for that year. I know its a “challenge”, but I like my goals to be S.M.A.R.T. (Just Google it)
I have an estimate of how many books I’ll be buying – well, planning to buy, in the year. Meanwhile, all my past hauls have lead to my bookshelf having 50% TBR books. [My Kindle Library is more of 90% TBR]. I make a point to finish at least one book per month. Adding the books I’m planning to buy, plus the books that are top of my TBR. Then rounding it – I end up with around +/- 20 books as my personal ‘challenge’ for that year.
So how to exceed that and get more reading done:
- Read more than one book. On average I read 3-4 books during the same time.
- Have books on various platforms. I have my paperbacks, Kindle, and epub reader app on my phone.
- Carry your book every where. During commute, or while eating lunch, or
even at your work. These little breaks can give you a lead in your challenge, and having it various platforms will help as well. Heck, you can even get comfy and all tucked in your bed, and get your Kindle out, read until it falls over your sleeping face.(Been there, Done that)
The next two suggestions are from EpicReads via their Youtube Channel. I’ve yet to try it out myself.
- I’m not a fan of Audible Books, but it can seriously get some ‘reading’ done, by just how convenient it is. And if you increase the speed of narration, Bam! you are getting through that TBR-pile at the speed-of-sound!
(ok bad joke) - Commit a certain time for reading. We all are busy people, but one has to make time for reading. As a way to relax yourself after a hectic day, carve out little time – 20 minutes – to just get a mug of coffee/tea and a good book.
However, there comes that time when you hit a reading slump and nothing really catches your attention.
I prefer to give a short break, and let is run its course. but when it stretches over, I pick out a book that I’ve already read and thoroughly enjoyed. Re-reading books reminds me of the love I have for reading and the relaxation I get from it. By the time I finish re-reading, I’m luckily out of my slump and can get back to picking a new book. (Yay!)
Lemme know how you get more reading done, and don’t let the slump get you in a dump. (ok seriously no more jokes)
Happy Reading!
🙂 FTK
