10 Tips on Reading Better in 2022

As you can probably see, I adore reading. I adore the entire experience whether a book takes me a day or a week, I enjoy the experience of reeling in something new and exciting, going on an adventure and starting a brand new story of some kind with entirely new people and entirely new judegements and morals. But I can see also that others are struggling to read, they tell me things like 'I can't find a book I like' or 'I don't have the time to read'. Both of these are perfectly valid excuses for not reading, but they are also problems which have solutions that we can work towards.

You see, the goal is never to read 'more', it is to read 'better'. If the book is two hundred pages, take as long as you need to even if it means a page a day. If you have understood more and taken in the experience more than if you would reading the whole book in a day, then that is what is most important.

If your New Years' Resolution is to read more in 2022, I have some tips for you to try - and hopefully, some of these tips won't be all that familiar to you either, but can help you get back into the swing of reading and how to read better in the coming twelve months ahead.

10 Tips on Reading Better in 2022

1. If you don't like it, put it down.

There have been various studies to show readers how long it generally takes us to decide on whether we like a book or not. Ranging from a good 20 pages all the way down to just 7 pages, there is a lot of disparity to say the least. I say, don't listen to these general studies. Listen to yourself instead and you will find that you know who you are best. If after a page or two you are finding you don't like the book, then put it down. One way that helps with this is physically going to the bookshop and standing around reading it before you buy. If it isn't grabbing you in then you can put that book straight back and continue browsing.

2. Download a 'word of the day' application on your phone/computer or smart device.

One thing that people like to do when they read is build their vocabulary and it is true that people who read books tend to have a better and larger vocabulary. If you are one of those people like others who is stuck on 'I just can't tackle this book yet', downloading a 'word of the day' application and practicing learning just one word here and there and using it in conversation can help you build the confidence to tackle those harder novels you desperately want to read. This is an especially good idea if you are looking to read more classic novels in the coming year.

3. iBooks, Kindle Applications, Wattpad and more...

Many people who like to read advocate against these devices and applications of e-reading but, I think they are a great way to remind yourself that you need to read your book too. If you are one of those people always attached to your phone or smart device of some kind, then having the application of reading near the social media applications could be a great way of reminding yourself to read. Having a book or two on your phone just in case you forget your paperback or hardback is always a great idea, even if it is short stories written by developing teenage writers.

4. Audiobooks

I have to admit, I cannot personally listen to an audiobook of a book I haven't already read because I can't concentrate like that - I am not blessed with that gift. But, for people struggling to get back into reading, it is a great thing to utilise. Listening to a book for just a few hours a week on your commute to work, on your errands or even when at home alone can be super beneficial to help your get back into reading. Why? It isn't the act of reading you are avoiding, it is the slow development of the story. With an audiobook, it is a slow process and thus, it can help concentration a lot. You can thank me later.

5. Poetry

Poetry is always a great way to get back into reading and it's not just because it's short. Poetry can get you thinking about more abstract concepts such as love, life and death. Poetry is also great at getting you to read aloud in your mind because of the way it is written. The very abstract and vocal nature of poetry itself always helps the reading process and if you are struggling to read 'between the lines' when it comes to full novels, something shorter but just as abstract may help with that.

6. According to interest

If you are seriously struggling to choose a book that you think you will like, then I would suggest writing down five things that you are interested in. This could be anything from history to baking and everything in between. Then, search for short books about those things, one per interest. Read each book and see what kind of book you took the most from and took the most interest in. This will definitely help find the book for you. This is something I have told students to do countless times and it has pretty much always helped.

7. Join an online book club

Online book clubs, in comparison to real life book clubs, are a lot better I think because there is far less of the 'finger pointing' going on. There is less 'you must read this chapter by this date' and there is more 'where are you in the book, how do you feel about x, y and z where you are?' I feel this is because online book clubs have more people and, there is pretty much a book club online for every single kind of book you can imagine. I would highly suggest joining one if your main struggle is motivation. Personally, I am a part of 'Reese Witherspoon's Book Club', 'Belletrist' and the 'BBC Worldwide Book Club'.

8. Grab yourself a subscription box

Again, if you are struggling to find the motivation, maybe atmosphere is the thing you need. Various subscription boxes for books give you more than just the book itself. They can also provide some teas, biscuits and other luxury items which are great for your new founded 'me time'. Personally, I think this is a great idea since it will come every month at the same time and give you a great book and some great unwinding techniques. The other good thing about subscription boxes is sometimes, you answer a questionaire and then they send you a book based on your answers, so very little scrolling time required for you to be on your way to your next big read.

9. Engage with other readers online

Engagement and socialising is necessary for our species but now it isn't just about real life - but for you, it isn't just about book clubs either. Engaging with readers on various platforms could be your ticket to your next read. I know that I have gone through the #bookstagram ideas and often read things that other people are reading. I can honestly say that I have found some beautiful books on there. But, I have also then made friends that also read. Supporting people who support you is very important and, if you have that support system there, you are more likely to associate reading with 'I'm going to read this and then tell my friends online about it.' And for the record, I will be more than happy to hear about anything you have been reading.

10. Write about it on Vocal

This isn't a plug for vocal but it is a plug for discussion. Vocal is a great place for ideas and if you have recently started your reading journey, a great way to get it out there is to write about it, write something about what you have read and watch others read it. Write something about what you have learnt from a book - for example: if you read a book about baking, make something from the book and show it to people on Vocal. I have personally found that when it comes to reviewing and writing, Vocal is possibly the best place online to do that because of its ease of use.

Conclusion

If you are struggling to get into reading and you have made it your resolution to do so, I highly recommend following some of these tips to get you into the process of reading a book for enjoyment. The key word here will always be 'enjoyment'. Have a great new year and good luck with your reading endeavours - and remember, any book you like is always a good book to you. It doesn't matter what others think, it only matters about whether you like what you experience within the book.