Start small. I got back into reading this year by reading a lot of novellas and short story collections. No more than 200 pages long. It really felt like I was having to rewire my brain because Iād been out of practice with reading. Find a book that intrigues you (if you want to read graphic novels read graphic novels! youāll get to your friendās recs in time) and carry it with you everywhere you go. Then (and I know this sounds ridiculous) you just have to actively choose to read the book. I have to be like āok weāre putting the phone away now and we are going to read 10 pagesā sometimes I read more and sometimes I hit my quota and ditch the book for the day. I made a goodreads and you can set a reading goal challenge (which Iām now behind on) and thatās kinda fun.
Oct 20, 2024
Related Recs
ā
re read your favorite book from when you were a kid
read true crime or celebrity biographies or romance novels
as the other rec said, read short books! I did this for a year and it helped me so much to get back into the practice of reading
go to the library and check out three or four booksā donāt buy them so you donāt feel guilty if you cant get through one
go outside with a book when itās sunny, itās harder to see your phone screen in the sun, and reading outside is both a big flex and a great joy
I have a personal rule about screens in bed outside of specific times which helps me read instead of scrolling if I want to lie down for a bit
It does take a little bit of practice to get it reincorporated back into your routine but itās easier if you love it !
Apr 24, 2024
š
As someone who just got back into reading in the last couple of years, I totally understand the frustration of having free time, a shelf full of good books and yet somehow youāre never finishing them or even picking those sweeties up! Here are some tips that helped me be a better reader:
1. Get a Goodreads account and add your friends! While the app itself is pretty clunky, i still love it for getting back into reading because it lets you set goals for yourself, find new reads and more importantly see what your friends are reading (This last one helps me stay accountable, I donāt want my book nerd friends to catch me slacking). I also love being able to write reviews of the books Iāve read.
2. Instead of watching tv or scrolling before bed, read for at least 15 minutes every night. Iāve found this goal to be helpful because itās attainable, plus reading before bed helps me unplug and sleep better.
3. Start small with shorter or simpler books before building your way back up to longer ones. This was crucial for me coming off of a heavy scrolling/tik tok era when my attention span was especially shot.
Jun 2, 2025
š
- Start with the books that interest you the most (maybe you should actually start with something that is not a recommendation from someone else because that's a lot of pressure! You could go to a bookstore and find a book that makes you excited to read to get you into the habit of reading again.)
- Take it one book at a time. The pile is daunting, so just find the next book that you are excited to read and read that one. We will never be able to read all of the books we want to, but that shouldn't stop us from reading some of them.
- If you hate the book, stop reading it. Again, we will never be able to read all of the books we want to, so don't waste time on books you don't like.
- While you're reading, have a pen or a notebook and look for things that make you feel or think something new, or things you want to share or talk about with your friend. Take notes or underline them. This sounds like it would be more work, but I find that it actually gets my brain into a more active state which makes it easier to focus and makes me feel excited and curious about what I'm reading.
- You can also try making it into a ritual. Light a candle when you read, or play some soothing music in the background or make yourself a little pillow fort or a specific cozy beverage to drink while you read. Or you could read in a bubble bath or something else that makes you happy. Then you will be reading with intention. And it's fun and cute! If possible, put your phone in a drawer or on do not disturb, for obvious reasons.
Oct 18, 2024
Top Recs from @bashfulchicken
1d ago
Feb 28, 2025
I wish I could re-rec with an image but this is in reply to @MARIAMARIAās rec. I had to dig way back in my photos to 2022 and find the clay cow tools I made. Unfortunately, I abandoned them so they never got fired but maybe Iāll re-visit the project once I can afford pottery classes again.
Jun 20, 2025