11 Ways to (Re)Discover a Love of Reading

By Emilie Martin, NPU Center for Parent Voice

If you read my last blog post, you know that I love to read. I often joke that real life gets in the way of my reading time, but the truth is that reading is one of the best ways I’ve found to quiet my brain and relax after a long day. Plus, there are health benefits, with research showing that reading books helps lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality, and reading fiction helps people develop empathy. But, a recent survey showed that almost a quarter of adults in the U.S. didn’t read at all in the previous 12 months.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about digital distractions, and how cell phones and social media run our lives. It’s too easy to get lost in a doomscroll when you only intended to look at one thing. All of us are so busy nowadays that finding time to even relax can be a challenge, so how do you find the time to read a book? And, what if you’ve never really been a reader but you want to start reading more? Well, the truth is, you don’t find the time, you have to make it, and becoming an active reader can be as simple as picking up a book.

But it’s not always that simple, so here are some tips for getting started:

Give Yourself Some Grace

If it’s been a long time since you’ve read a book, you’re not alone. The last decade has been draining for a lot of people. With so much to worry about in the world, finding the energy to concentrate on reading is harder than it used to be. So, be gentle with yourself and give yourself some grace if it takes you a few tries to get started reading regularly.

Try An Audiobook

If the thought of picking up a book and finding time to read seems too daunting, trying listening to one instead. In the car or on public transportation, on your way to work or school, or while working out, cleaning, cooking, etc. Audiobooks give you the freedom to multi-task.

Join Your Local Library

More than just a place to borrow book, libraries offer social events such as book clubs, mystery nights, gaming clubs, and more.

Widen Your Search

What books have you liked in the past? Do an internet search for “books like…” or “books written like…” Searches by interest are also helpful (“books about women forensic scientists”), and you can always scroll through BookTok.

Create a Positive Reading Routine

I make it a habit to read every night. I commit to one chapter before bed, though I usually read more. If you’re too tired to focus before bed, grab an audiobook and listen while walking the dog or working out.

Read What You Love

You don’t have to read the classics. Reading is reading. Whether it’s Dickens or a romance novel, a magazine or a graphic novel, an audiobook, eBook, or traditionally published book – it’s all reading and it all counts.

Become a Quitter

Lose the mindset that you have to finish a book if you start it, even if you aren’t enjoying it. The single best thing you can do to keep an interest in reading is to stop reading something you don’t like. Life is too short to read books that aren’t for you.

Read Aloud

Why do we stop reading to kids when they learn to read? Keep doing it – read to your kids, your spouse or partner, even your pet. Set aside some time each week to hold a tech-free family read, with everyone together without the distractions of social media or phones.

Document Your Reading

Keep a reading journal – on paper or online. Document what you read, who wrote it, and what you thought of it. It doesn’t have to be long or in depth, but it will provide record you can look back on to remember what you liked and what you didn’t.

Challenge Yourself

Do you thrive on competition? Do you like setting goals for yourself? Do an online search for reading challenges or set a yearly reading goal for yourself. (I use Goodreads, and for 2024, I set a goal to read 250 books. Right now, I’m at 224 books for the year – 38 ahead of schedule. Apparently, I’m competitive even against myself…)

Consider Non-Fiction

If you’ve been struggling to get into fictional stories, head to the non-fiction section. If you like watching crime shows, check out books based on true crimes and mysteries. Is there an athlete or historical figure you idolize? See if there are any biographies about them.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you read, just that you do. 📚