It’s the start of a brand new year, and you’ve already hit a reading slump. We know the feeling. It’s easy to hit a wall and enter a serious reading rut when a new year begins. As other aspects of life take over, we pick up a book less and less often.

To help you keep up with your New Year’s resolutions and reading goals, we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you read more books. From getting more enjoyment out of your reading to simply reading more over the year, discover this list of 11 handy ideas on how to read more books.

Set yourself a reading goal or challenge
Make use of spare time
Create focused reading time
Use your ears
Join a book club
Try reading poetry
Sign up for a book subscription
Ditch it
Replace scrolling with reading
Read short books under 250 pages
Get into the classics

1. Set yourself a reading goal or challenge

When considering how to read more books, setting yourself a reading challenge can be a great place to start. Maybe you could set a goal to read at least one book a month, or you could write out a list of classics that you’ve always wanted to read (see our blog for inspiration: Essential Classic Books).

Making sure your challenge is achievable is key. Actively deciding on the titles or the number of books you want to read can be a really useful way to stick to your reading goal. By keeping your #tbr (to-be-read) pile short and stocked with great books, you’ll be more inspired to get through it.

2. Make use of spare time

We know that life can get busy, but think about utilising those small moments of free time that crop up in the day. Why not try reading on the train or bus or while waiting for an appointment? You could squeeze in 30 minutes before you fall asleep at night or even while you’re having a soak in the bath. If you carry your book with you wherever you go, you’ll be surprised at the reading opportunities everyday life can offer. Sneaking in some quality time with a book is a great way to read more.

3. Create focused reading time

Although this can be tricky, reading with minimal distractions increases your concentration and understanding, meaning you’ll read faster and are more likely to hit your reading goal. If you can, carve out some time in the day to put your phone on do-not-disturb mode and read with no distractions. If you’re looking at how to read more books, resolving to read a certain number of pages a day (even as little as 15) will help you race towards achieving those goals.

4. Use your ears

The popularity of audiobooks has increased massively over the last few years, and it’s no surprise as to why. Perfect for busy people, audiobooks can make mundane activities, like washing up or ironing, much more enjoyable. You could even listen to an audiobook while at the gym or while on a jog. Listening to your book hands-free is a great way to tick titles off your reading list.

5. Join a book club

Another brilliant approach to reading more books is to join a book club. Book clubs have been around for years, and they’re a great way to keep reading motivation up throughout the year. There’s a book club for everyone and every taste. If you can’t find one in your local area, many run online (check out this list of virtual book clubs), and you can always start your own club with a group of your book-loving friends.

6. Try reading poetry

The books on your reading list don’t have to be set to one genre. Mixing it up can be a smart way to keep you on your toes and keep you out of a reading rut. Poetry books come in all shapes and sizes, and with such a wide variety of poetry out there, you’re sure to find something that suits you. If you’re new to poetry, starting small can be a lovely way to dip your toe in the genre. Why not explore our collection of pocket poetry books, perfect for reading on the go.

I Thought My Spirit & My Heart Were Tamed

7. Sign-up for a book subscription

Book subscriptions are a surefire way to make certain your reading list is constantly topped up with great new titles. Many book subscriptions work on a monthly basis, but there are so many out there that you can easily find one that suits your schedule and style of reading. A lot of independent bookshops host their own, and they’re a great way to support small businesses. Our favourite local recommendation is Storysmith in Bristol. Their book subscription for curious readers comes with delicious, locally-roasted coffee. What more could you want? Check it out here.

8. Ditch it

This one is pretty simple. If you’re reading a book and it feels slower than wading through sand, then ditch it. Put it firmly in the DNF (did-not-finish) pile and move on to the next. There’s nothing worse than the guilt you feel about abandoning a book halfway through, but it can really slow down your reading momentum. There are so many wonderful titles out there that you’re sure to find another that’s much quicker to read in no time.

9. Replace scrolling with reading

Thinking about how to read more books usually involves adding things to your already extremely busy schedule. Instead of making that to-do list longer, you could consider actively swapping the time you spend on your phone with time spent reading. Take a look at your average daily screen time and see if you can replace some of those hours with reading time instead. By swapping time spent scrolling through social media with time spent reading a good book, you’ll not only stick to your reading goals, but you’ll also improve your overall mindset. With social media playing such a huge role in our daily lives, it can seem almost impossible to reduce your time online, but while scrolling is much less effort than reading, we promise making the swap will be worth it.

10. Read short books under 250 pages

One of the most effective methods of reading more books is to swap out those thick novels for something shorter. Keeping your page count low is a smart way to explore a wider range of literature. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in a variety of different genres in much less time if you select books with fewer than 250 pages. Shorter novels are also a brilliant way to get yourself out of a reading rut and reignite your love of books. Check out our blog, 20 Short Classics to Help You Read More Books, to assist you in meeting your reading goals.

11. Get into the classics

Our final tip on how to read more books is to get into the classics. Once you start reading classic books, it becomes extremely hard to stop. There are so many incredible novels out there by long-forgotten voices as well as world-famous names. Whether you start by reading books that have fantastic on-screen adaptations you know and love, or you begin with the books originally published for children, the classics are the perfect thing to get you reading more books. Discover our guide on where to start with classic books to find helpful reading tips.