From Guest Blogger Christopher Austin: Love Reading About Environmental Science? Or Anything Else? Tips on How You Can Read More

Reading has long been established as one of the best ways of improving vocabulary and of lowering levels of stress in your body. The time spent reading removes you completely from the world around you and allows your mind time to become creative. It has even been shown to improve your intellect. Here are some tips on how you can read more, despite a busy lifestyle.

Borrow books

If you are not already a member, then sign up to your local library and borrow some books. Always borrow more than you think you have time to read. A stack of books in your house will encourage you to read more than normal. The same principle applies if you read with an electronic device; simply ensure you always have plenty of unread books on your device.

Time

The biggest excuse is a lack of time but in fact you need to make time. Turn off both your TV and your phone for a set amount of time each day. Even if this is just half an hour you will be surprised at how many more books you read. Equally it can be very easy to pick up a magazine or newspaper and spend half an hour reading fairly irrelevant information. Stop scanning all these articles and use the time to read one of your books.

Book ready

There are many opportunities to read bestselling books such as on your commute or waiting to be served in a restaurant. If you ensure you always have a book or e-reader with you then you will be able to make the most of any free time you have.

Read more than one book

Many people will read one book at a time but in fact it can be a good idea to have several books on the go. A fiction novel may not be easy to read on your way to work but a non-fiction book relevant to your work could hold more appeal. The more books you have on the go at any one time the more likely it will be that you have something you want to read.

Goals

Wherever possible it can be useful to set a goal. If you tell yourself you will read forty or fifty pages then you will find yourself reading much more than you might otherwise have done.

Books you will enjoy

People may make recommendations or there are many books on the best seller lists. It does not matter what others think you should be reading. You are far more likely to read the whole book if it is something you want to read and will enjoy.

Speed reading

You can read more books if you can read faster! Surprisingly, it is possible to teach yourself to speed read. Speed reading is when you group words together instead of reading word for word. The best technique for reading faster is to force your eyes to move quicker across a page. This can be achieved by using a ruler or pen to guide your words. You may prefer to challenge yourself to read a paragraph while holding your breath.

Bedtime reading

Reading a book before bed is relaxing and helps you to unwind from a stressful day. It can also be a good way to start the day. A few moments spent reading a dozen pages will help you feel good and sleep better. It can also ensure you are relaxed at the start of the day ready to face new challenges.

Online communities

The internet is a wonderful resource for those who love to read. Whatever book you are reading there will be others reading the same one. Look for them online and join reading clubs. Sharing the book will ensure you read faster and keep reading.

There are many resources online and locally who advocate the reading challenge. You can do this by yourself or as part of a community. Work out how many books you can realistically read in one year then add some extras to that number. All you have to do then is to complete the challenge and red at least that many before the year is up. You can increase your motivation by awarding yourself a prize if you complete the challenge successfully.