There is a general consensus across my social media platforms of people wanting to read more in 2024. I think it’s amazing that people want to get back to reading. Which is why I want to talk about how to become a bookworm in 2024.
I’ve always been a booklover, but I can honestly say that 2022 is when everything changed for me. The bookworm inside me from childhood came back strong this time. I managed to read a whopping 50 books in 2023, this was a first for me and won’t be the last.
If you want to get back into reading or pick it up as a new hobby you are in the right place. Alternatively, if you are reading this and thinking what’s so important about reading anyway, well do I have the post for you.
How to become a bookworm in 2024
1. To be a Reader you have to Read
I know this may sound pretty self-explanatory. But if you want to start reading more books in 2024, you actually have to pick up a book to read. There’s no other way to go around this. If you find that you haven’t been reading it’s because you don’t pick up books and start reading. Let’s start picking up those books that we say we want to read. A chapter a day is more than enough.
Whether you read physical books, listen to audio books or prefer E-books is totally up to you. My main preference when it comes to reading is physical copies and E-books.
I also love love E-books as they tend to be cheaper for me to get. I do occasionally listen to audio books if I am driving or doing house chores. The choice is yours, and don’t be deterred from any reading method, go for what works for you or try them all.
2. Prioritise Your Favourite Book Genres
Listen, I’m a big advocate for varying your reading. I vehemently believe in reading different genres as this widens your reading scope. But in saying that, I’ll be the first to tell you that I am very faithful to my favourite genres. I love reading sci-Fi, romance novels, and classics.
You will find me reading my favourite genre of book because that’s what keeps me motivated to reading more and more. But of course, like I said don’t neglect other genres. There are so many great books out there, please don’t limit yourself. This year my goal is to read more non-fiction and autobiographical books.
3. Read Short Books.
Short books are a good way to help you become a bookworm. Most of the time, it’s the length of a book that shys us away from reading books. So, another top tip is reading a short book. An added advantage of this, is the euphoric feeling you get when you read and finish a book. So, start short and work your way up. A great place to start is by reading short classics.
4. Join Goodreads
Create a Goodreads account if you don’t already have one and begin your reading journey. Goodreads is an amazing platform that will help you discover more books and book communities.
You can also track the progress of your books like how many books you’ve read. You can do this by creating reading lists or setting reading goals for the year.
My favourite use of the Goodreads is following my favourite book accounts and seeing updates on what they are reading and the rating of those books. Trust me when I say there are people whose reviews are regard highly. Well, that’s unless you give The Great Gatsby a low rating, then I will start questioning my trust in your ratings.
Honestly cannot vouch for Goodreads enough.
5. Set Reading Goals
So, I’ve mentioned this point already. But, to become a bookworm in 2024 start by setting reading goals for yourself. This is what I did for myself in 2023, which motivated me to read even with a full-time job.
I want to mention that you don’t need to set a high reading goal. You just need to set a realistic reading goal for yourself by picking a number that works for you. Don’t feel pressure to set a number you cannot reach nor feel bad about how much you can read. We are all different, do what works for you. Remember the goal is to get you reading again!
6. Carry a Book with you.
If there’s one thing that I have always done, is carry a book with me everywhere I go. You will always find a book covered in plastic ( I don’t like damaging my books) in my bag. This is what enables me to read a lot of books.
So, if you want to become a bookworm start to carry a book with you when you travel.
7. Join bookworm groups on Social Media
If you love social media then you’ll be happy to know that there are many groups for you to join that to help you become a bookworm.
You will very soon become accustomed to Booktok, Bookstagram or Booktwt. All these platforms and including many others have online book clubs you can join to help you with your reading. I’ve discovered many books through these communities which has been great for my reading but not so good for my bank account!
8. Track Your Reading
This will perhaps be the most exciting part of your reading journey. To keep you motivated and accountable to your reading; make sure to track how much you’re reading by writing it down.
You can do this in different formats, from book journals to using digital tools like phone notes or google docs. You can also find printables online. I love book tracking because it’s a creative tool to making reading more engaging.
Where to get books?
9. Get a Library Card
You are probably thinking about the expense of buying books right about now. Yes, It can be very expensive to buy books which is why the alternative is joining a library. Your local library will most definitely suffice for your reading journey. There are countless options available in the library, all you need is to sign up for a libary. Please don’t neglect this option, it’s super helpful.
10. Borrow Box App
Once you get your library card, another thing you can do is download the Borrow Box App. The BorrowBox is a fantastic app that allows you to get a wide selection of books, including audiobooks from your local library. All you need to do is select your local library from the app and log in, then start choosing books and reading.
11. Wob
I recently found this gem of a website called World of Books (Wob). On the website, you can buy second hand books for a very good price depending on the book condition you want. I recently ordered 8 books from the website which cost me less than £30. If I had bought these books in brand new condition it would’ve been more than £80. It was such a good bargain, considering that most of the books came in good condition.
12. Make Time For Reading
One of the best ways to become a bookworm is by setting aside time for you to read. This you will find especially necessary if you have a busy lifestyle.
You can make time for reading, by doing it first thing in the morning. Alternatively, reading right before you go to bed can also help you to read more. I have found that reading before bed relaxes my mind and knocks me right out.
13. DNF books you do not like
The honest truth is that I struggle to DNF (Did not Finish) books. I always feel like a book can better, so the pressure to give it a chance gets to me. But this year, I determined within myself that I will DNF books that I don’t enjoy.
If you force yourself to read books that you are not enjoying, this can cause you to lose the motivation to read. Let me tell you, getting out of a book slump can be unnecessarily hard.
O’L Final Thoughts
The books that helped me to become a Bookworm:
1. 1984 by George Orwell
2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
This is your year to start reading more books. Reading is one of the best hobbies to pick up, not only is it enjoyable but it is also beneficial for you.
On that note
Happy Reading
