While books are no stranger to anyone, truly enjoying one, for many, often is. In school, we perceive reading only as something we're forced to do, and thus, we see it as a burden and a chore rather than something we can genuinely take pleasure in. In addition, the proliferation of various forms of social media and online entertainment has led to people wondering why they'd choose to sit and flip through pages and pages of words for hours rather than watching a movie that they could see and hear unfold before them.
However, may it be because of the fact that reading increases your general intelligence, because of a desire to improve your memory, or because you just watched Emma Chamberlain's "Reading Makes You Hot" video, people still find themselves wishing they enjoyed reading. On this list, you'll find, in no particular order, ten great tips on how to get into recreational reading as a non-reader!
“I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.” - Emma Thompson
1. Find BookTok
The fact that TikTok has taken the world by storm is unquestionable. Most teens have found themselves scrolling through the app at some point in the past two years. Since TikTok often shows you videos that align with your own likes and dislikes, people who share the same interests often form small communities.
Well, BookTok is TikTok’s resident committee that centres around a love for books. On it, you’ll find authors and long-time readers who will provide you with book recommendations, ratings, and opinions, often in unique and intriguing ways. By searching for its hashtag, you’re sure to find a friendly community that can’t wait to help you find a great read!
@madisons.books booktok recs are amazing haha🍄 ##booktok ##bookrecommendations ##bookish ##bookworm ##yabooks ##fyp ##foryou ##booklover ##romancebooks ##redqueen
♬ mrs magic - 海
2. Read reviews on Goodreads
Goodreads is the #1 app in which you can receive book recommendations, read the synopsis of any story you choose, and create a list of books you’ve read and wish to read. Most importantly, however, are the ratings. People just like yourself who have read the work you’re interested in are given the chance to rate it on a five-star basis and type down their personal thoughts. It’s a great way to get thousands of opinions on the same book all in one place.
3. Find a genre you’re interested in
Of course, not every type of plot is universally appealing. Some people love fantasy, while others despise it. The same goes for coming-of-age, science fiction, romance, horror, mystery, and more.
Try reading through this list of 35 popular genres and see if anything catches your eye. While it’s possible to enjoy genres you were initially sure you would hate, it’s a safe bet for new readers to stay within their favourite genre or genres at first. While the results aren’t guaranteed to be 100% accurate, you should definitely try out this Buzzfeed quiz or this Playbuzz quiz to find the genre that’s right for you!
4. Try finding an “aesthetic” to fit into
I know it may sound odd, but placing yourself in the world of your favourite aesthetic could very likely make reading a much more interesting and appealing pursuit. Whether it be cottagecore, dark academia, indie, or something entirely different, integrate reading into it and live it out! It’s a perfect way to use books as an escape and make you feel like the main character of any story you’d like.
5. Find a light and easy read
We can’t deny that some texts are much heavier than others. Oftentimes, a book being too difficult to digest may bore readers and turn them away from books for a long period of time. If you’re just getting into reading, try to find books with plots and writing styles that aren’t too complex. Reading should be natural and welcoming to you, not frustrating and indecipherable!
6. Designate a time for reading, and take breaks
When reading, it’s important to manage your time wisely. We can’t always rely on our daily motivations to get up and read. Sometimes, we have to push ourselves a little.
Set a specific time in the day or the week to make an effort to sit down and relax with a good read. Doing so will definitely help you build up a habit of reading and maintain it in the long run. Even if you’re very interested in the story, don’t forget to take quick breaks! Reading for long periods of time can wear out your eyes and make you feel a little lightheaded, so try to spend a few minutes resting at regular intervals.
7. Try out adaptations
Do you have a favourite movie that you found out was actually based on a book? Reading something with a plot you know you enjoyed can definitely help increase your interest and engagement. If you’re not sure about which movies you could’ve watched and enjoyed that were actually based off of the plot of a book, this Buzzfeed list or this BookBub list could possibly lend a hand. Who knows-- maybe you’ll even find that the book was better than the movie (as it often is)!
8. Read for passion
Sometimes, we may be so determined to read that we may not realise we’re doing it for the wrong things. Definitely avoid reading for any pretentious reasons or because you’re being pressured to by parents or friends. Instead, read because you want to enjoy yourself, learn something new, or simply escape for a few moments. Only then can you truly appreciate the value of a good story.
9. Take your time
Avoid trying to finish a book so fast that you can barely understand and appreciate the plot and the writing! Oftentimes, the desire to finish a book arises from impatience to see what happens, a desire to simply check the title off your reading list, or pressure to keep up with a peer who is reading the same piece. Be patient with yourself and read at your own pace.
10. Turn your phone off
Eliminating distractions while reading is definitely important. Of course, the No.1 distraction is almost surely your phone. When a notification pops up, we often can’t help but give it a glance.
Even just the knowledge that your phone is lying right next to you, ready to accommodate hours of mindless scrolling through social media, may lead to you putting your book down and forgetting about it. Switch the phone off and give the story your undivided attention, even if it’s just for a short amount of time.
In Conclusion...
Reading has more benefits than you realise and is an incredibly productive way to spend your time. Hopefully, these tips were helpful and at least slightly renewed your motivation to read. After all, you've scrolled this far into the article for a reason!
If you haven't gotten into reading yet, that's perfectly fine! There's a book out there for everyone, and you just need to find yours. Once you do, it's sure to be life-changing.
