You guys know by now that I am a voracious reader. I love it, and I can’t get enough. The majority of my days consist of reading and writing to begin with, whether it’s The Drudge Report or The Last Lecture. I’ve found that when I get into the groove of reading, it makes my writing better and my conversations more interesting – not to mention, it takes some of the monotony out of the elliptical and longer flights.

Here are some tips that I’ve found help make me a better reader:

Make time for it. I try to read for half an hour every night before bed. This usually helps with a warm cup of peppermint tea. It’s a part of my bedtime routine and it always gets me into a relaxed state. I have this book light that I found on Amazon and use all the time.

Build a good list of books you love. I am constantly building mine. I house my list on Amazon, though I’ve heard great things about Goodreads, too. My list is a healthy combination of the classics, trending books, and those I hear about from friends, find on someone’s Instagram stories, and read in articles. I share almost all of the current books I’m reading on Instagram Stories. You can find them in my Instagram Stories highlights under “My Book List”. I recently went through several “100 books to read in your life” lists and added a bunch from the Harvard Book Store’s Top 100.

Here are a few links to my most recent reading lists:

Wine Lover’s Reading List

Summer Reading List

Reading List for Hosting and Design Enthusiasts

Winter Reading List

Spring Reading List

Consider audiobooks. I write this with the caveat that I don’t listen to audiobooks, BUT it really works for a lot of people. I just love the feel of turning actual paper pages, have a soft spot for the publishing world, and adore my podcasts so much that I’ll listen to those given the opportunity to put my ear buds in.

Join a book club. I guarantee that there are tons where you live. You just have to start asking around to find one that sounds interesting to you. You can also start one of your own! Check out my tips for starting your own book club.

Keep books nearby. It’s true that if you have a book with you, you read it more. It’s not always easy, but I try to turn towards the book in my purse or bag instead of opening up Instagram when I have some downtime.

Read more than one at a time. This might sound counter-intuitive, but stay with me. I started to do this a few weeks ago and it’s made a huge difference. I try to keep a devotional book (I’m currently reading this one), a “how to” book (currently reading Reese Witherspoon’s thanks to my sweetest friend, Tristin), and a book I can really dive into (in this case, I’m finishing this one).

Set a goal. I recently heard about a challenge that a lot of folks do: read 100 books in a year. I love that idea! Since I’m a little late to the game, I probably won’t make it through 100, but I’m anxious to cross off as many as I can and attempt the challenge next year.

Happy reading, bookworms!

This post contains affiliate links, but all are tried and true Magnolia Stripes favorites.