On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m walking you through a simple self-reflection tool to find out EXACTLY what your reading life needs next and the simple strategies to get there.

Come listen as I talk about the quick and easy assessment tool to help you decide exactly what your reading life needs and offer nine recommendations to help you get there. We’ll go deep into your reading habits, explore what your reading heart is after and decide if you need to broaden your reading community, too.

Here is the link to the self-assessment tool: no email needed!

Here are the nine recommendations for your reading HABITS:

  1. Build a To-Be-Read Stack: What better reminder to read than a beautiful stack of books waiting patiently for you? Here’s step-by-step guidance to create a book stack sure to spark new reading habits. 
  2. Fill your social media feeds with books: Let’s face it. We spend a lot of time on social media. So, why not curate a feed that’s sure to spark book love, too? Follow publishers, authors, illustrators and book bloggers. You’ll find me at @AffinitoLit on most social channels. 
  3. Surround yourself with books: Keep one in your purse, next to the coffee-maker and even on the seat of your car. They’ll act as reminders to make time to read. 
  4. Try habit-stacking: Add reading to an existing habit. Read while you drink your morning coffee or listen to a book while you walk the dog. You might be surprised how easy it is to add reading to your daily activities this way.
  5. Create a reading trip wire: Leave reminders for yourself to read. Add a sticky note to your coffee-maker, leave a bookmark next to the television remote or even use a bookish screensaver. You’ll find mine here. 
  6. Use a habit tracker: It can be highly motivating to tick off a box or color in a  square every time you make time to read. Print my personal habit tracker and get started today!
  7. Learn to love audiobooks: Listening to audiobooks can open up another world of reading to us. Listen while you clean, walk the dog or on your commute!
  8. Push play on podcasts and playlists: There’s bookish inspiration everywhere! Search your favorite podcast platform for bookish shows and episodes to pique your reading interest. If you’re looking forward to a title, you’re better apt to make time to read. 
  9. Rely on bots for what to read next: This is fun! Head to Goodreads, StoryGraph or What Should I Read Next and let a bot recommend a book. You never know, it might just be the one to spark a more robust reading habit!

Here are the nine recommendations for your reading HEART:

  1. Honor your reading heart: Take stock of what you love about reading and how you like to read best. And then do that. And only that. For a while. And see what happens. 
  2. Read to explore your sense of self: What identities do you hold close? Significant other? Parent? Teacher? Baker? Runner? Read a book that embodies one of these identities to better connect and reunite yourself with your reading heart.
  3. Set reading goals: Yes, this helps our reading hearts. Why? Because we choose a goal that MEANS SOMETHING to us, not something we think we should do. Try setting goals based on the number of books to read, the kinds of genres and formats or the themes you’d like to explore. Find mine here.
  4. Read with an open heart: Lift powerful lines from the books you’re reading and save these quotes to return to often to inspire your actual life. Find some of my favorites here.
  5. Make room to react: Take brief notes on your reading so you can savor the lessons for later. Write brief ideas on bookmarks, sticky notes or start a reading journal. 
  6. Live curiously through books: Bring the book to life through Google. Find the location on Google Maps, search for images based on the objects in the book and browse YouTube to bring concepts and ideas to life. 
  7. Imagine a bigger version of your reading self: Remember those reading preferences? After you indulge them….stretch them. Read a new genre, format, author or topic and see where it takes you. 
  8. Create a reading staircase: Choose your next book based on something you liked about the last one. Take small steps based on what your reading heart loved and see how far you go. 
  9. Crowdsource your collections: Ask friends, family and co-workers for a book recommendation. Head online to browse book lists that can fuel your reading heart.

Here are the nine recommendations for your reading COMMUNITY:

  1. Go public with your book stacks: Snap pictures of your TBR stack and post to your social media profile. Start conversations about the books you’re getting ready to read next. Here are step-by-step directions to create a book stack you love and then share it widely. 
  2. Connect with readers online: Create a Goodreads or StoryGraph account and start connecting with other readers online in these community spaces. 
  3. Analyze your reading life: You can’t connect with others around your reading life unless you track it first. Here are 5 ways to track your reading life (you’ll find my bookish spreadsheet there, too!) so you can better share it with others. 
  4. Ask others what they’re reading: This one is simple. Ask everyone around you: What are you reading lately? Ask family, friends, colleges, even strangers in line at the grocery store. You’re sure to get some good titles for your TBR stack and will have great conversations, too. 
  5. Connect with reading partners: Two readers are always better than one. =) Find a reading buddy to connect regularly with to talk books, either in person or online. Hold each other accountable for your goals and go deeper in your reading life, together. 
  6. Start a book relay: Oh, this is fun. Gather a small group of friends and each choose a book. Set a timeframe to read it in and then switch books. Then do it again and again and again until the entire group has read all the books. Come together for a book club conversation and celebrate your expanding reading lives. 
  7. Get inspired by author backstories: Google your favorite author and learn more about them. Browse their backlist and get a sense of who they are. And if you’re brave, reach out on social media to let them know you’re reading their books!
  8. Seek out author events: What better way to broaden your reading community than attending bookish events? Browse the in-person and online events happening in your area and make a plan to attend.
  9. Connect on social media: Seek out publishers, authors, illustrators and book bloggers online. Fill your feed with bookish goodness and start connecting with others. You’ll find me on most social media platforms at @AffinitoLit.

Once you’ve listened, I’d love to know what you think of this episode. Leave your thoughts in the comments!