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Are you one of those people who want to read more but struggle to find the time? You’re not alone. In fact, you’re part of a large cohort of Australians feeling the exact same way.
The latest Australia Reads report is here, and one of the key takeaways is that Aussies aren’t reading as much as they want to.
According to Understanding Australian Readers by Australia Reads and Monash University’s BehaviourWorks, reading is the fourth most common leisure activity among Australians. (The top three are watching TV and movies, browsing social media and the internet, and going out to eat and drink.)
However, even with the activity so popular, 54.9% of readers and 49.8% of non-readers — people who haven’t picked up a book in the past 12 months — say they read less than they intend to.
So how can we change this? Luckily for us, Australia Reads has come up with six tips to help. And even if you’re a regular reader like me, I think these tips are still useful. If you find yourself in a reading slump, they could be the solution you need to pull yourself out of it.
Why reading is important
Before we get to those six tips, it may help to understand why reading is important.
Firstly, there’s the escapist factor. Losing yourself in a book can distract from stress and worries during the day – something I’ve certainly found from my years of being a daily reader. Reading lowers stress faster than other relaxation methods. Plus, if it’s an activity that you find fun, it could help boost your happiness. (We’ve all sat there with a smile on our face as we read a fun book, right? Rom-coms are my go-to for this.)
Secondly, reading helps develop empathy and compassion, as it allows us to walk in the shoes of others and see the world through different perspectives from our own.
Thirdly, there are many health benefits. Reading has been linked to improved memory skills and decreased dementia risk. It stimulates the brain and increases brain connectivity. Studies have found that readers live about two years longer than non-readers.
So, with these health benefits in mind, let’s discover how to read more.
How to read more
1. Take the pressure off
The first action Australia Reads recommends is to go easy on yourself if you haven’t read lately. Similarly, reach for books that bring you joy rather than books you feel you “should” pick up. If a book isn’t bringing you joy, then you can put it down and move on to something else. And, importantly, try not to judge yourself harshly for putting a book away.
It took me a long time to learn that trick, but now I have no troubles putting away books that I’m not enjoying. With so many books out there, it makes sense to search for one you’ll enjoy. You’re certain to find one (or one hundred).
2. Explore different formats
Physical books are not the only book format out there, and branching out into audiobooks and eBooks could be a more convenient or accessible way to fit reading into your day.
Audiobooks are ideal for when you’re on the go, plus allow you to multitask while fitting in some reading time. You can easily listen while you do the housework or on a long commute, and I personally love them for when I’m exercising. Similarly, eBooks are a convenient travel option and allow for customisation that may help with accessibility. Font size, colours and screen brightness can be adjusted with ease.
Do you struggle with large blocks of text? Try comics, manga and graphic novels.
3. Schedule in time
Practically blocking out time in your week for reading can help develop or reignite the habit. Think about what time will be a good fit for you. In the morning over breakfast? On your daily commute? At night before bed? Once chosen, setting up a phone alarm or similar will help you stick to your chosen time.
4. Join a book club
The social commitment of a regular book club can help encourage you to prioritise reading. Community groups and libraries often run book clubs, or you can start your own with friends.
I started a book club with friends last year, and it’s been a fabulous way to read outside my ordinary genre, as we take turns selecting which book to read. We run ours every second month.
5. Seek out book recommendations
Sometimes, simply choosing a book can be the hurdle that many would-be readers stumble over. So put yourself in locations that will help you clear that hurdle. Visit bookstores and libraries and ask the staff for recommendations. Alternatively, borrowing several books at once from the library is a free way to trial a range of titles to find one that grabs you, and something I do often.
More ways I seek out recommendations include asking friends and family, and reading through book recommendation lists online. The Weekly has plenty such lists, including several curated by myself. You can find them in our books hub.
6. Share the experience with others
Turn reading into a way to spend quality time with loved ones. Some examples are reading with kids before bedtime, listening to audiobooks together in the car, and reading aloud to older relatives.
Other learnings from the report
Curious to know what else was in the Understanding Australian Readers report? Here are some more fascinating facts that stood out to me.
Reading isn’t what you think it is
When we think about reading, most of us picture sitting with a book and, well, reading. But the report breaks it down into six distinct stages, and physically reading (or listening) to a book is only one of them.
The six stages are: Finding books; choosing books; getting books; starting to read; continuing to read; reflecting and sharing.
There are six different types of readers
The Understanding Australian Readers report identifies six unique types of readers. The good news is that most Australians are active readers. They fall into either the Avid Reader (22.4%) or Engaged Reader (30.6%) category. The remaining people can be segmented into increasingly less-interested readers: Aspirational (14.7%), Ambivalent (14.8%), Lapsed (7.1%) or Uninterested Non-Readers (10.4%).
See the full Understanding Australian Readers report here.
