8 Ways to Combat the Quantity Over Quality Mentality in Your Reading

Given yesterday's post, I thought I'd make one more post on the topic for now. I know I made a post about how to deal with pressures you can face as a reader back in July (linked in yesterday's post). However, I wanted to make another, similar post on ways to deal with the quantity over quality mentality in your reading.

Since I already made yesterday's post, I won't give my thoughts on the topic here. As a result, here are 8 ways to combat the quantity over quality mentality in your reading.

Tip 1: Start off by setting small numbers for your monthly TBRs and yearly reading goals.

You can always increase the number of books you set for your monthly TBRs and yearly reading goals. However, start off small, especially if you're a new reader. If you're a veteran reader, you can always go back to setting smaller numbers of books you read per month/year and then start increasing from there. It can help you figure out how long it takes you to read books, what books you did or didn't enjoy, and how the rest of your schedule is at any given time.

Tip 2: Understand that you don't have to match another person's monthly TBR or yearly reading goal.

I feel like this is the biggest pressure that many readers feel. "Other readers are reading 5+ books in one month, and 50+ books in one year. I should be doing the same." Know that this isn't the case. While others may be 5+ books in one month and 50+ books in one year, you do not have to force yourself to meet these goals as well. Read what you can read each month and year.

Tip 3: Even if you increase your monthly TBRs or yearly reading goals, it's okay to not meet or finish them.

Let's say that you decide you're now comfortable reading 4-5+ books per month, and 50+ books per year. As a result, you increase the number of books you're reading per month and year. However, it is okay to not meet these monthly or yearly reading goals. As I've mentioned in recent posts, things happen. Life happens. So, no matter the reason, it's okay to not meet these goals.

Tip 4: It is okay to set down books you aren't enjoying and not finish them.

This is another factor in the "quality over quantity" mentality in the reading community. "I can't DNF any books because I have to read a certain number of books." However, let's start up the "quality over quantity" mentality: if you're not enjoying a book, set it down and don't finish it. This allows you to move onto another book that you may actually enjoy instead.

Tip 5: You only have a "not-so-good" or "bad" reading month/year if you didn't enjoy most of the books you read.

As I mentioned yesterday, a lot of people think that they've had a "not-so-good" or "bad" reading month/year if they don't meet a certain number of books within that month or year. However, as I mentioned in Tip 4, let's promote the "quality over quantity" mentality: if you've enjoyed most of the books you read in a particular month or year, you had a good reading month/year.

Tip 6: Write down your thoughts on the book once you're done reading it.

This helps you figure out how you felt about a book. It also allows you to better transition from one book to another. What did you like, what did you not like, etc. - get these thoughts out in one way or another.

Tip 7: If you DNF a book, write down why you DNF-ed it.

This is similar to Tip 7. If you DNF-ed a book, write down why you DNF-ed it. It doesn't matter where you write it or if you keep these thoughts. It can help you figure out your feelings, and allows for a better transition from that book to your next book.

Tip 8: Initially borrow books instead of buying them.

I've suggested this quite a few times on this blog at this point. As a result, I won't go into too much detail about this tip. However, if you initially borrow books instead of buying books, this can help out quite a bit: (1) you have access to way more books than you own at a given moment, and (2) if you don't like a book, you didn't have to spend money on it to figure this out. 

Quantity Over Quality in the Reading/Bookish Community

This is an idea I got while binge-watching a bunch of YouTube videos (some BookTube videos, some other YT videos). I can't quite place what the video was exactly about, but it essentially talked about the idea of "quantity over quality," which is something I wanted to apply to the bookish community.

Back in July, I made a couple of posts on pressures readers can face. You can quickly reach those posts here: 6 Pressures I've Faced as a Reader and 8 Phrases for Combatting any Reader Pressures You May Feel. These posts, along with the whole idea of "quantity over quality," got me thinking about how the bookish community approaches reading and reading goals.

How does this idea of "quantity over quality" apply to the bookish community? Here are a few ways:

1. Reading less than 5 books in a month is a "bad reading month" (or, at least, it's not a good one)
2. Reading 5+ books in a month is a "good reading month"
3. Reading less than 50 books in a year is a "bad reading year"
4. Reading 50+ books in a year is a "good reading year"

Yes, you can read as many books that you feel comfortable reading in one month or one year. However, do not have to do this just because other readers are reading that many books or more. You should read what you can, and try to enjoy as many books as you are able to.

In many cases, you're not reading books to actually read them, and possibly even enjoy them. You're trying to hit a specific number of books to have a "good reading month" or a "good reading year." And, in my opinion, a "good reading month" or a "good reading year" should be based on how many books you enjoyed rather than how many books you read overall.

I want to start really promoting the idea of "quality over quantity." As long as you enjoyed most of the books you read in a particular month or year, then that's good. Even if you only read 5 books in one reading year, as long as you enjoyed all 5 of those books, then your reading year was a good one.