7 Bookish Tips On How To Read More In The School Year

The school year is upon all of us unlucky enough to be doing school and that usually* means way less time to do stuff we want. I.e. reading. I know that I’m usually ahead like … ten books in my reading challenge by the end of summer and am struggling to complete it in December … so I’m blaming school.

But! There’s an assortment of things you can do to squeeze time into your schedule to read, along with plenty of healthy sleep (ha … ha …) all schoolwork done and 8 cups of water a day** even if it all ends up … a little unconventional. Reasons why I’m here to feed this nonsense into your brain??

*Except for all y’all super busy in the summer … idk
**Which is actually … not that good for you … like drinking water is good but I forced myself to drink 8 cups of water a day for a week for a summer reading program and it was extremely uncomfortable … just make sure you always have water on you and drink when you’re thirsty, folks #hydrationmatters #idkwhyI’mgivinghydrationtips

1. Take A Book Wherever You Go

Like literally, my dudes. Lug that huge 900 page hardcover 25 pound monster with you because if you don’t your never going to finish it so???

I mean it’s probably common sense that you need books to read and you can’t read if you don’t have books with you so if you want to read you should have books but … just to remind you, if you didn’t already carry 2-3 books anyway. 😉

These books can fit in: a bag (if you’re at school you should already have this), giant pockets (like in a hoodie. Find smol books or Time Lord technology), your phone (cause if you have one, unlike me, cause pHoNeS wHy ArE YoU sO cOstLY, what else are you using it for besides books?? Like?? Fix your priorities  mate???)

2. Read everywhere

This can include: At lunch, while driving*, while taking a shower (just remember to protect the book), while waiting in line, while sleeping … The time just all adds up and then viola! you read more!

*or while riding in a car … possibly while driving …

3. Maximize use of other formats of books

If you’re not already, you can use audiobooks to max out reading time. You can plug them in and listen to them anywhere* pllllus you can use them to read while doing those useless things like … folding laundry … and eating and using the bathroom (though that definitely get weird at all …)

Pro Tip! Sometimes audiobooks readers fail and ruin books so to fix that go track them down and tell them so, hire someone to follow you around and read the book out loud, or just see if you can find that same book with as different narrator or get a different book.

*Like … the shower … and driving ..

4. Create a time machine

Probably the most useful (and hardest to achieve) ways to get more time. All you have to do once you of the machine, is sneak off sometime with a large stack of books and a nice pile of snacks and read for a week before returning to normal life. There’s literally no more effective way to find time to read more than to create the time.

5. Learn to read incredibly fast

Only have a couple of minutes per day to read something? Learning to read 600 page books in the span of 15 minutes will help with that!

Some downsides to this: 1) It might take more time to learn how to read incredibly fast than the actual reading gives back to you in a while.
2) You’ll probably outpace anybody you buddy read with which can cause some problems
3) Depending on how well you take stuff in you might forget everything that happened immediately

But y’know, it still might pay off?

6. Find books you know you want to read

It’s kind of a pain to force yourself to read through a book that you don’t really want to read. In my experience, it takes me ages to get through a smol book that I really don’t like verses like … a 500+ page book that’s fast-paced that I love.

It’s okay to dnf books! And it’s okay to not read every book! If you know it won’t work for you or it’s really not working for you and you don’t have a lot of time just … don’t read it??

I’m not very good at this tbh and it’s a book you have to read (like a review copy or school …) read it but if it’s pleasure reading … it’s supposed to be pleasing so y’know?

7. Definitely don’t avoid doing school to read

*laughs guiltily* Seriously. Don’t do it.

Hey guys! Guess what! I accidentally took a hiatus basically all September. xD I didn’t really mean to and it just sort of happened but I think it was very needed so I could get back into the swing of doing school-related things, and frankly I just didn’t have time. But I’m back now! And made a blogging notebook (loosely based on the lovely Charis‘! :D) so I have an actual schedule! *mild cheering*

Other important news: It was Penumbra’s 1st birthday in September! I meant to celebrate then but … y’know … accidental hiatus. I would like to do a Q and A in celebration though (I was considering a giveaway but I’m broke and don’t know what to give away?? So maybe next year? xD) so either comment your questions below or submit them hhhheeerrree. 

Literally ask anything and I’ll just answer the ones I’m comfortable answering. 😉

I think that’s around everything so … see you later! Don’t forget to spam me with random questions xD

Do you have any questions for me? What do you do to keep up with reading during the school year? Do you have a time machine that I borrow? It’s been a while so how are all y’all just doing in life?