We are nearing the start of the 11th month of the year, meaning we have just about 61 days left to read before 2020. Luckily, I have surpassed my Goodreads reading challenge this year. I wasn’t always so successful, though, and I know how hard it can be to get that last stretch of reading in.

As a busy college student, I’m always trying to find time in my schedule to fit in reading. I thought I would compile a small list of tips that help me read more and maybe they’ll help if you need to finish your reading goals for the year!

🖊Audiobooks are lifesavers

First up, before anyone feels the need to comment: audiobooks count as reading.

I used to never listen to audiobooks. I never really knew where to get them, and I found myself zoning out while it was playing. That all changed my junior year of high school. I started driving to school, which was a long time of me not doing anything. I decided to try out Audible, and I got two free credits. Soon, audiobooks became a necessity for me.

I can still vividly remember listening to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. Hearing the emotion from the voice actors made the story so much more powerful for me. I fell in love.

Now, I usually read one physical book, one e-book, and one audiobook. That way, I can basically be reading at all times. Audiobooks are great because you can listen to a book while cooking, cleaning, driving, etc. which is something you obviously can’t do with a physical book. You can also increase the speed (I usually listen at 2-2.5x’s) which makes the read feel shorter, too (even though 2-2.5 is typically the normal speed I would read the book if I were reading physically).

🖊Put it into your schedule

I started dedicating 15-30 minutes of reading at night. I made it part of my reading routine. I shower, put on my PJs, watch a bit of Netflix or Youtube while drinking a glass of water, and then I read until I’m tired.

This has helped increase the amount I read a lot. Now that it’s a habit of mine to read at night, I don’t get tempted to keep watching Netflix instead. I enjoy this time I have to just read. It’s super relaxing.

You don’t have to dedicate a specific time to read, though. Not everyone has a consistent schedule every day, so that might not work for you. You can tell yourself that you will read for 10 minutes every day instead. It doesn’t matter what time it is. Or you can make it part of your morning routine rather than night!

🖊Never leave without a book

As I mentioned before, I read one physical book, one audiobook, and one e-book at once. This is just my preferred method, but obviously, that’s not necessary. It helps a lot to always have a book on my phone, though. When I’m in class and have some free time, I can pull out my phone to read. On my way to class, I listen to an audiobook. On a bus or long car ride, I bring a book with me.

When it’s accessible, you’ll always find some time to squeeze in a few pages. If you don’t bring a book with you everywhere you go, you might find yourself having free time that you just spend on social media or doing something else that’s not very productive.

🖊If you’re not enjoying it, DNF it

Reading a really painfully slow book that you’re just not into isn’t going to help. It might actually end up putting you in a reading slump because you won’t be motivated to finish. When you normally read one book a week, this one might take you months to finish. It’s not worth it sometimes.

Don’t be afraid to just DNF the book. DNF’ing doesn’t mean that you’ll never pick up the book again and that it’s automatically a bad book. It just means that it’s not working for you right now. Put it down. Pick up something different that will keep you excited about a story.

Those are all of my tips today! They may seem a bit obvious, but a reminder is always helpful. What other ways do you get yourself to read more? Leave a comment letting me know!