As a child, I was an avid reader. I read everything I could. In high school, though, reading became synonymous with busy work and headaches, and I gradually fell out of it. It was two years before I read my first book, but when I did, it felt like a switch had been flipped. Using these five tricks, I managed to get back into reading, and so can you.
1. Connection and Community
Reading is often thought of as a solitary pursuit. You, yourself, sit down. You, yourself, open the book and read it, and you, yourself, close it. Stories, though, have always been communal. From the earliest days of mankind, humans have always loved to share a good story. Reading is just a way to transport a story, and compared to a TV show, a movie, or a short on your phone, it takes a bit more effort to get invested. One way I’ve managed to stay invested is to make reading communal. That can be through social media, watching book content, and talking with people online about books, either by reviewing books on Goodreads or in the comments of YouTube videos. For a more old-school approach, join a book club at your college or through your local library. Really, the world is your oyster in this age of constant communication.
2. Finding What To (And What To Not) Read
When choosing your first book to read, it can feel like a good idea to gravitate straight to the genre you used to enjoy—fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, etc. Safe choices. But consider: if you’re reading this article, it’s safe to assume you haven’t read a book in years. Or if you have, it was not for pleasure but out of obligation. You are not the same person you were when you last picked up a book—we are all constantly changing, and our likes and dislikes change with us.
Your tastes might have changed. If they haven’t, great. Instead of immediately picking up the first book you see in a subgenre you remember liking, take time to seriously consider which book you’ll naturally gravitate toward as the person you are now. What plot interests you? What page count are you aiming for? What page count do you know you’ll finish? Instead of looking by genre, read the synopsis, check the reviews, and look at the page count. Read a sample—this might seem overtly thorough, but it’s worth doing.
3. Maybe Don’t Read A Novel
Books consist of many things: novels, obviously, but also graphic novels, comics, manga, poem chapbooks, and novellas. Take this time to explore formats you may not have seriously read before. When I was getting back into reading, manga was my lifeline. I especially enjoyed Aku no Hana (The Flowers of Evil) by Shuzo Oshimi, and Emanon by Shinji Kajio and Kenji Tsuruta. (If you read this, first check the trigger warnings. Please.) Don’t think of these formats as training wheels for the ‘real thing’- explore them, get to know the stylistic choices and the specific visual languages.
4. Keep Track of What You Read
Gamify reading. It doesn’t need to be elaborate—use Google Docs, a journal, or the Notes app. After you’re done, keep track of what you read and your thoughts on the book, whatever comes to mind. You can organize it by genre, format, enjoyment, page count, or author. Track how many books you read for the serotonin of looking at the number halfway through the year and feeling yourself smile in satisfaction. I read that many. It’ll drive you to read more, explore more, and branch out into different genres, all for the serotonin boost.
5. Take Breaks
Once you reach a flow state with reading, it’s easy to think it’s smooth sailing from here. You read every day, sometimes finishing whole books in one sitting. But remember, your brain needs a break—reading takes a lot out of it, however enjoyable it might be. It’s all right to read and then take a few days off. Take a break, let your brain rest, and then come back. The book doesn’t have legs. It’ll still be there. (If it’s a library book, though, you might want to renew it first. Unless your library doesn’t have fines for overdue books. Then don’t sweat it.)
Reading is like a muscle. If you don’t train it, it won’t grow. While the strain and growing pains can be painful and humiliating at times, the reward of finally finishing your first book in years is well worth it.
Featured image via cottonbro studio on Pexels
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For a more old-school approach, join a book club at your college or through your local library. Really, the world is your oyster in this age of constant communication.
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