10 Habits That Help Me Read 40+ Books Per Year
By: Kolina Cicero
Tags: Literature, Productivity, Book, Reading, Habits

10 Habits That Help Me Read 40+ Books Per Year

Simple ways you can make more time for reading

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash

I am one of those people who posts pictures of the books I’m reading on my Instagram stories. I do this not to show off how many books I read, but because I like talking about books almost as much as I like reading them, and this opens up a space for the kind of dialogue I desperately crave. You’d be surprised how much of my meager following likes to engage with these posts.

One message I get over and over is, how do you find time to read so much? They especially want to know now that I have two children. It turns out a lot of people say they want to read more, but they just don’t have the time. I know life is busy, but we have the time; we just need to prioritize it.

I’m no Ryan Holiday, who reads and writes more books than most people on the planet, but I have found ways to make the time to do one of my favorite things.

Here are 10 habits that help me read 40 or more books per year:

I read in bed every night. I prop myself up with several pillows so I don’t get too sleepy and typically spend between 30 minutes and an hour reading. This has just become part of my going-to-bed routine.

I prop myself up with several pillows so I don’t get too sleepy and typically spend between 30 minutes and an hour reading. This has just become part of my going-to-bed routine. I don’t watch TV. This is probably the biggest reason I am able to read so much. How much time would you have on your hands if you didn’t watch TV? If I ever have a moment of stillness, I will grab a book instead of turning the TV on. And when the television is on, it’s because I’m letting my daughter watch something, and I’m almost always right next to her — reading.

This is probably the biggest reason I am able to read so much. How much time would you have on your hands if you didn’t watch TV? If I ever have a moment of stillness, I will grab a book instead of turning the TV on. And when the television is on, it’s because I’m letting my daughter watch something, and I’m almost always right next to her — reading. I read while waiting for the doctor / in line at the post office / etc. Always carry a book with you and you’ll never be upset about the amount of time you have to wait for someone to show up. Sometimes I even arrive at places a little bit early so I can have a few minutes to read. This includes coffee shops, restaurants, meetings, and anywhere I’ll need to stand in a line.

Always carry a book with you and you’ll never be upset about the amount of time you have to wait for someone to show up. Sometimes I even arrive at places a little bit early so I can have a few minutes to read. This includes coffee shops, restaurants, meetings, and anywhere I’ll need to stand in a line. I have a book in rooms all over the house. Easy access to a book is fundamental to being able to read often. I always have a few books floating around the house so something to read is never out of reach.

Easy access to a book is fundamental to being able to read often. I always have a few books floating around the house so something to read is never out of reach. I keep a book in my car. This is nice for the few occasions I forget to bring a book with me. If I get to a store before it opens or find myself in an unexpected situation where I’m sitting around waiting, I grab the book I have tucked in the passenger’s seat pocket.

This is nice for the few occasions I forget to bring a book with me. If I get to a store before it opens or find myself in an unexpected situation where I’m sitting around waiting, I grab the book I have tucked in the passenger’s seat pocket. I track the books I read on Goodreads . This motivates me to read more. As soon as I begin or finish a book, I open up the Goodreads app and track it. This is also nice because I can look back at when I last read a book, as there are certain books I like to read over and over — like Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott or other craft books.

This motivates me to read more. As soon as I begin or finish a book, I open up the Goodreads app and track it. This is also nice because I can look back at when I last read a book, as there are certain books I like to read over and over — like Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott or other craft books. I read my Kindle while up feeding my infant at night. I don’t like reading on my Kindle but it’s worth it for me when I’m up in the middle of the night feeding my son. I turn the night settings on so I won’t be blasting blue light into my eyes.

I don’t like reading on my Kindle but it’s worth it for me when I’m up in the middle of the night feeding my son. I turn the night settings on so I won’t be blasting blue light into my eyes. I read in the car on long drives . Fortunately, I don’t get carsick, and my husband is always the driver. So if we’re going somewhere further than about 30 minutes, I’ll typically pull out a book.

. Fortunately, I don’t get carsick, and my husband is always the driver. So if we’re going somewhere further than about 30 minutes, I’ll typically pull out a book. When I travel, I bring both my Kindle and a physical book. I read the Kindle at night before bed, as I usually share a room with my small children and don’t want to keep them up with a light on. Also, if I finish a book, I can always order a new one on my Kindle instead of being left without something to read until I can get to a bookstore.

I read the Kindle at night before bed, as I usually share a room with my small children and don’t want to keep them up with a light on. Also, if I finish a book, I can always order a new one on my Kindle instead of being left without something to read until I can get to a bookstore. I always have a to-be-read stack. This way I never waste time trying to figure out which book to read next. Instead, I grab something from my healthy TBR pile and dig in. Knowing the books I get to choose from next also inspires me to read more because I’m always looking forward to the next book.

Reading five minutes here and 10 there certainly isn’t as nice as an hour of uninterrupted reading time, but it adds up and equates to the ability to read more books, which is something I value.

If you want to read 40+ books in a year, sign yourself up for Goodreads, keep books all over the place, make a commitment to read more, and grab a book. You might be surprised how much you can actually read when you look for and embrace the opportunities.