“Reading more” is a common goal among book lovers, but making it happen is another story. If you have a “to be read” pile that keeps growing or just want to find more time to escape into a great book, a six-month reading challenge can work wonders. The structure of a challenge keeps you on track with your reading goals while making it fun to check completed books off your list. Here’s an easy-to-follow process for solving the “so many books, so little time” dilemma.
Step One – Read for Yourself, Not Others
The first step in a reading challenge is identifying your own reading goals. While there are online communities, social media challenges, and in-person book clubs that lay out suggested goals, if they aren’t aligned with your preferences, you won’t enjoy the process. For example, if you love savoring a book for a few weeks at a time, don’t worry if the online community has a two-book-per-week speed reading challenge. Enjoy defining and reaching your own reading goals.
Step Two – Set Yourself Up for Success
Once you’ve set your goals, consider specifically how you can set yourself up for success. If possible, set aside a “reading zone” in your home with everything you need (i.e., your book, glasses, reading lamp, throw, and coaster for a cup of tea!). An inviting space will make it easier to sit down and read, helping you reach your page count or time goals. You can also vary the format of your books, such as adding audiobooks into the mix for times you’re on the go.
Step Three – Intentionally Create a Habit
Building a reading habit is one of the most effective ways to increase your reading. Close to half of the decisions we make on a given day are driven by habits, according to findings from a psychologist at the University of Southern California. Creating a habit will allow reading to fit more naturally and easily into your day.
To build a habit, start small. If your goal is to read for 15-20 minutes before starting your workday every morning, start by reading for 1-2 minutes and gradually build up to 15 minutes from there. Before you know it, reading in the morning will become an automatic part of your routine.
Step Four – Invite Others
Declaring your six-month challenge will increase your likelihood of sticking to it. Invite others into the challenge (with the freedom for them to set their own goals) and keep each other accountable with weekly or monthly check-ins on progress. You don’t need to be reading the same book or at the same pace to share a challenge.
Step Five – Have Fun!
The risk of challenges is that they can turn once pleasurable activities into chores. Keep the challenge light and have fun with the books you choose, whether you’re trying out an entirely new genre or reading the latest from your favorite author.
Reading allows us to explore other time periods, countries, and experiences, opening our minds to new perspectives and ideas, providing escape and release from the minutiae of our daily lives, and much more.
Bonus: Start your challenge with page-turning historical fiction! The Other Side of the Wire by best-selling author H.W. Coyle explores the story of an orphaned Jewish child in 1935 who disguises their identity to escape religious persecution and eventually is adopted by a high-ranking Nazi family. In honor of the fifth anniversary of its publication, use code 5YEAR to enjoy 50% off the eBook and physical copy through July 29th.
