A Chapter A Day: Tips to get started with reading
This World Book Night we want to get people across the country involved in celebrating and sharing the joy of reading – whether you read a lot or infrequently.
We know that finding time in a busy schedule for reading can be hard – we’re all working, studying, caring for others or just rushing around trying to get everything done. So here are some tips to help you get into the habit. Before you know it, you won’t be able to stop reading!
Talk to a librarian
Your local library is a treasure trove of all kinds of books, from classic fiction to the latest releases, cookbooks and titles to help you understand and manage your health. But the greatest resource of all is the librarian. These are the people who can advise you where to start- they have a wealth of knowledge, because after all they have spent their lives around books!
Try short stories, poems or Quick Reads
Short stories are great ways of making progress, without feeling intimidated by hundreds of pages in front of you. Some of the best are less than ten pages long, so you can dip in and out when you have five minutes spare. Poems are often quick to read, too, but phrases and rhymes will stay in your head for a lot longer. And why not try one of our Quick Reads? You may find, like Monica, that these can be finished in a few trips to and from work.
Find a quiet corner
This is important! It’s hard to concentrate on taking in the words on a page when there’s noise all around you, so try to make time – perhaps in the evenings or at weekends – to find a quiet corner in which to read. A comfy chair will help, or you could find a spot in your local library. If you’re reading on your way to or from work, listen to some relaxing music to block out the outside world and help you focus. You could also try an audiobook.
Establish your routine
If you can get into a pattern with your reading – for example ten minutes before bed or a few pages at lunch – you should find it easier to stick to. Plus, you will feel encouraged as day by day you see yourself making progress through your book.
Keep a reading diary
Hopefully you’ve come to the end of your poem or short story and found you enjoyed it so much that you would like to remember it in the months and years to come. You could write down your thoughts about reading, as participants in Reading Ahead do. It’s always interesting to look back in time and see what you were reading at the same point last month or year – and you’ll see just how far you have come in a short space of time.
