Sometimes we end up struggling with what to read next due to what topics are trending at the moment or even with the typical "everyone's-talking-about-this-book-so-I-should-read-it-too" sort of feeling, all of this is acceptable but also it can cause us anxiety about our reading choices.
Today's post is just a reminder that sometimes it´s okay not to like a certain book and it´s just fine if you decide to set it aside and choose another one to read.
I, for one, have done this a lot of times, and the other way around too, I find myself reading something I don't like because I don't want to disappoint myself for not trying hard enough to like a story...but this, my dear readers, this leads us to the dreadful reading procrastination monster! Yeah, this is a real thing and if you're reading this, you probably relate with this situation as well.
Here are some tips to avoid and fight reading procastination:
- Never buy a book JUST by its cover! And why? Because sometimes, the story doesn't match the cover and you´ll end up with a book stuffed on your bookshelf or laying around your bedside table for months that didn't corresponded to your expectations.
- Use the Goodreads app...a lot! This app is an amazing tool not only to fight procrastination because you are able to set a reading goal for the year, but also because you can keep track of your progress on reading a book. Also it´s great to look for reviews and ratings on a certain book. This is amazing when it comes to choosing a book on your regular bookstore based by others' opinions; you may or may not be inclined to read a book and, consequently, buy it or not.
- Forget about others opinions! Alright, now I know I´m confusing you, because I just said you should consider the opinions of others... However, you shouldn't buy a book just because it is mainstream or because everyone´s talking about it. You should evaluate the situation: "is this a topic I´m interested in? Is this genre for me? Should I blindly spend my money?". NO, NO, NO! Try to find a few but solid opinions and, then yes, go for it! Otherwise it will be just another book biting the dust...
- Buy ebooks instead of hard copies. Calm down, you tiny little bundles of page sniffing readers. All I'm saying is if you're not sure if you will actually like the book and read it in a blink, you should consider buying a digital copy, which is usually cheaper than hard copies, and you take it from there. Think about it! At least, if you feel like it´s not your thing, you didn't spend a lot of money on it! Be mindful that sometimes the cost of a e-book is not significantly lower than that of a physical copy.
- Create a reading schedule; this is the best tip I had in mind for you. Choose a time to do your reading, for example, one hour in the morning or 30 minutes at night. It's important to be organized and to create a peaceful environment around you while you dedicate time to your book. If you remain focused for one hour or even 30 minutes, without scrolling through instagram or listening to music while you´re at it, you'll feel more productive and that your time was well spent.
And this is it! Tell me about your procrastination problems when reading; what leads you to get lazy to finish a book?
Join the conversation!