I have given a lot of bookish tips and suggestions throughout the course of 2021. And most of these posts have been tips for relatively specific bookish topics and habits. I never got around to giving tips and suggestions for helping out one's reading life, which is a suggestion I saw while looking around for inspiration for this blog.
Making your life more reading-centered, and improving your reading life, can be tough. There's no one way to go about doing this, but there are lots of tools to help you out in the long run. Hopefully, this post will help you do that. Here are 12 tools to help improve your reading life.
I've talked quite a bit about Goodreads a lot here, so I won't discuss it too much. But having a Goodreads account - and possibly even accounts for Litsy and LibraryThing - can help you keep track of your reading. It can also help you connect with other readers in the bookish community.
Tool 2: Use any and all book formats.
Using all book formats - physical book, audiobook, and ebook - can help you read more in the long run. It can also help you read at any point in the day, no matter what you're doing.
Tool 3: Actively set aside time for reading.
Whether you actively write in a planner "read today" or whether you carry a book around everywhere you go, actively setting time for reading is a great tool to implement in your daily or weekly life. (Remember: you don't have to read every day. It can every other day, or even weekly.)
Tool 4: Buy a book sleeve for your physical books.
This can really help you out. Book sleeves can help protect your books when you head out with a physical book. (You can also use a bok sleeve to protect your iPad or e-reader.)
Tool 5: Utilize your local library to its fullest extent.
Using your local library can help you save a pretty penny. Borrowing books from your library can help you not spend as much money on books you don't end up enjoying or even disliking/hating. Additionally, you're only spending money on the books you actually like and enjoy.
This tool does factor in Tool 5. Libby and Overdrive are both apps where you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks by selecting your closest library. This can also help you save money, and you're not having to borrow physical books from your library.
Tool 7: If possible, sign up for any benefits of your local bookstore.
If your local bookstore has a benefits/savings program (like Barnes & Noble does), then it's a good idea to sign up for it. This way, you're saving a bit of money, and you're staying up-to-date with any new releases, events, or anything else.
Tool 8: Follow bookish accounts on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.
This can really help you out in finding more books to read and enjoy. This will also help you connect with other readers to talk to about books. Book blogs are also a good place to connect with other readers.
Tool 9: If you use audible and/or kindle, have those apps on all of your mobile devices.
You may not use the audible and kindle apps on each of your mobile devices, but having them easily accessible to you can also help. This way, if you want to read, then you'll be able to do that on any device you have available.
Tool 10: Stay tuned for any sales or giveaways that a bookstore or bookish account is hosting.
Giveaways and sales are a great way to save a bit of money. Sales and giveaways can help you gain access to books while spending little to no money. And if you don't like the book, you're not spending too much on it.
Tool 11: Set up a space in your room where you stick any physical books you're currently reading.
Whether it's a miniature shelf, a section on your bookshelf, or a simple stack on your desk, having a place for any currently reading books can help you keep track of what you're reading. It doesn't have to be a special place, but as long as it's easily accessible, it'll really help you out.
Tool 12: Always check there if your local bookstore has a sale section (like Barnes & Noble does).
Not all bookstores have a sale section, but it's still a good idea to double-check. Bigger, chain bookstores are more likely to have sale sections, but smaller bookstores and/or indie bookstores sometimes have a sale section.
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