How To *Actually* Get Back Into Reading This Year

How To Actually Get Back Into Reading This Year

A person with long hair sits at a desk in a cozy room, reading A Court of Mist and Fury. The desk holds books, icons, and decorations; the wall behind features vinyl records, framed art, and string lights.

With the new year comes a new wave of motivation to pursue your goals—and, in many cases, one of those goals is to read more books. While it’s easy to dive into your TBR in the early days of January, maintaining a streak becomes a *lot* harder when school, sports, extracurriculars and friend hangouts start piling up.

However, with a few new habits (which we rounded up here—you’re welcome), you’ll find yourself soaring through the pages for the whole year…and developing a few literary obsessions along the way.

Track Your Reading Habits

Keeping tabs on your reading habits not only motivates you but also allows you to look back at the books you’ve enjoyed throughout the year. There are endless options out there for bookworms to keep track of their habits, from Notion spreadsheets to physical journals to apps like Goodreads.

Whether you love getting crafty with paper and self-made trackers or you prefer to log your methods quickly and simply online, making a reading tracker and setting a goal for the year is an immediate motivator to power you through your TBR.

Make A Daily Reading Goal

POV: You had the longest day. Like, ever. First, you flunked the precalc test, then you got in a fight with your bestie, then you spilled matcha on your fave top. As soon as your head hits the pillow, you’re most inclined to reach for your phone and check Insta. But before you turn to mindless scrolling, consider this: Reading before bed has been proven to decrease stress levels and improve sleep (while browsing social media does the opposite).

Make it a goal to read a certain number of pages before bed each day. The number is up to you, and depends on how many books you plan on reading each week, month and by the end of the year. But whether you choose 10 or 50 pages a night, reading every evening will help you build a solid habit *and* give you better long-term effects than any scrolling sesh can. Win-win, right?

Listen To Audiobooks

Audiobooks have been getting more hype lately—and for good reason. They’re easy to find for free on Spotify, Audible and digital library apps, they can be integrated with your daily activities *and* they give a totally unique (but equally amazing) lit girl vibe.

Instead of listening to the same playlist on repeat the next time you walk the dog, do the dishes or make the commute from school to soccer practice, dive into an audiobook story. Not only will your reading stats skyrocket, but you’ll discover a whole new side of reading.

Start A Book Club

Book clubs are a tried-and-true pastime for booklovers and an amaze way to stay accountable for your reading habits. Rally up your squad for a monthly meetup to discuss your newest group read, and turn it into a fun experience with themed decor, snacks and activities.

Do an online Hunger Games simulator after reading Sunrise On The Reaping, have a Pride & Prejudice themed tea party or compare and contrast the Wicked novel and movies. This will give you and your pals a bonus bonding experience *and* give you extra motivation to turn those pages.

And, psst, you can always join our very own Besite Book Club if you want to connect virtually with other lit gals like you!

Romanticize It

Any activity becomes 100 times more appealing when you take the time to make it feel special—be it chores, showers or, dare we say, studying. Reading becomes instantly elevated when you put an aesthetic twist on it.

Take yourself out on a solo coffee shop date to devour a coming-of-age novel, bake your famous Mexican hot chocolate cookies to enjoy with a fun rom-com or listen to an exciting thriller while you jog on the treadmill. By adding intention, you’re building reading into something that feels less like a chore and more like an exciting escape that lasts all year long.