5 Reading Goal-Achieving Strategies

So many books to read, so little time? Not any longer. Although we are more than halfway through the year, you still have time to complete your reading goals.

It doesn't matter if you're a few books behind your initial target or if you never set one in the first place. With these quick and easy recommendations, you'll be back on track and on schedule to meet your goal before the end of the year. 

1. Establish a Realistic Goal

We all want to read a lot of books, and while that is admirable, it is critical to set realistic goals. If 2023 has taught us anything, it is that events and situations may alter without warning. It's fine to change your reading goal depending on what's going on in your life. It's not a sign of weakness or dishonesty; it's being realistic and positioning yourself for success. So make the necessary adjustments!

2. On-the-Go Reading

Some of us have now established work-from-home routines. This means no more long bus or rail rides to work, which are normally fantastic opportunities to read. We now use that time to catch up on sleep before logging on for the day. So, how can you make up for a missed time? 

If you know you want to read at some point during the day but aren't sure how long, start by assigning the number of minutes or hours you would typically have spent commuting. This does not imply that you must get up at 7 a.m. to read, but rather that you should schedule what would typically be your leisure time. Incorporate a "35-minute commute" into your daily schedule and utilize that time to immerse yourself in a new book. 

3. Experiment with Different Reading Mediums 

This is where alternative reading media come in helpful. If you're a die-hard physical book lover like me, it may be difficult to realize that diversifying your reading mediums may help you achieve your goals. Audiobooks are ideal for listening to while cooking, cleaning, or going for a walk. Reading on a Kindle is also quite useful when traveling because it fits neatly into most small suitcases. Diversifying your reading medium helps you to read at times when you wouldn't typically be able to.

4. Experiment with Different Book Genres 

If your reading goal isn't genre-specific, then take advantage of the huge range of books available in the literary world. Reading novels of the same type back-to-back can quickly become exhausting and lead to a reading slump. Change it up! 

I like to keep things fresh by mixing fiction and nonfiction. I also think about the lengths of the books I'm reading. If you've recently finished a large book, choose a shorter book to read next. Poetry and anthologies of short essays are my go-to "quick reads!"

5. Integrate It Into Your Routine 

You can include reading into your daily routine in the same way that you would shower or eat. Set a timer on your phone, set it to 'do not disturb,' or turn off notifications, and read until the timer goes off. This allows you to read without being distracted. 

While this may be incorporated into any portion of your day, I feel that reading is a nice way to settle down for the night, and I usually try to fit in 30 minutes of reading before bed. Of course, there's always the risk of being so engrossed in a book that you stay up all night reading it — but hey, at least you're not alone. book closer to achieving your reading goal!