Erica Ezeifedi, Associate Editor, is a transplant from Nashville, TN that has settled in the North East. In addition to being a writer, she has worked as a victim advocate and in public libraries, where she has focused on creating safe spaces for queer teens, mentorship, and providing test prep instruction free to students. Outside of work, much of her free time is spent looking for her next great read and planning her next snack.
Find her on Twitter at @Erica_Eze_.
If you’ve been a part of the bookish interest for the last few years, you’ve probably seen a few iterations of the “reading more” discussion. There was a time when reading as much as possible was in vogue—but it left some people feeling badly when they couldn’t read as much as their favorite book influencers. Then, the sentiment of not stressing yourself out or comparing yourself to others seemed to permeate. The latter is mostly where we’re at now, though there is recent data that shows that Americans would still like to read more than they currently do.
But what if you’re kind of in between the two feelings? Comparing yourself to others and making what should be a leisurely and enjoyable activity into something competitive that eventually makes you feel like a failure is counterproductive, but a lot of us would still like to read more for various reasons. Like replacing doomscrolling with something more fulfilling for instance.
For those of you who, like me, lie in this in-between area, I have a few items that can gently nudge you towards spending less time soaking up blue light and more time reaching personal reading goals, whatever they may be. To guide my selection, I’ve followed the advice from a couple Book Riot articles, like this one by Clare Barnett, and this one by Danika Ellis.
Image courtesy of NovaRockHandmade on EtsyOne of the best habit-forming tricks to make yourself do anything more is to make sure that thin4 is consistently within reach, and this waterproof book sleeve will protect your books wherever you take them. $25
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Image courtesy of HandmadeFeeSK on EtsyWhile a”reading bone” is a new phrase to me, its concept—which is comfort while reading—is not. These funky-shaped things have good reviews and come in a variety of colors. $31+
Image courtesy of KADAMSProducts on EtsyIf you’re the kind of person who A) would like a cute, nerdy timer to give your reading habit some gentle temporal confines, or B) you want to get that relaxing six minutes of reading before bed (as Danika mentioned here), this timer, and its silent mode are, is perfect. $25
Image courtesy of PabaDesignCrafts on EtsyHere’s another timer, this time a pomodoro instrumental music box. $98 (but on sale for $40 at the time this was written).
Image courtesy of SewingCreationsByLiz on EtsyThis ereader stand is another way to achieve comfort and consistency. It’s soft and is perfect for reading in bed, or even keeping on your desk so you can read from your book in between tasks, if that suits you. $17
Image courtesy of MadisonEmiliaDesigns on EtsyThis custom book club tote bag is perfect for your book club, should you choose to join one, but it’s also kind of cool if you remain solo-dolo. $20
Image courtesy of MagicMerchEmporium on EtsyWe’re about to attack that TBR by always keeping books on us with this TBR pile tote bag. $40 ($20 sale at the time this was written)
Image courtesy of TheHeartFilledHome on EtsyMore TBR tings! With this TBR Jar, you always know what to read next. Just write the names of books on the tokens, and pick one at random the next time you’re ready for your next read. $15+
Image courtesy of HaberCraftsStore on EtsyThese overlays reading rulers are great for neurodivergent readers—especially people who are dyslexic or have ADHD. They are meant to help with focus and reduce glare, making it all the more easy to read more.
Image courtesy of AmazonHere’s another tool to help with dyslexia. This Pen scanner translates speech to text, records, and allows you to scan text to your computer or phone. $60
Image courtesy of AmazonMany of us already have a standard pair of headphones, which is why I wanted to proffer this rather unique set that can be worn while exercising, walking around, or even lying down in bed—which makes it perfect for audiobook listening. $20
Image courtesy of SmutandBravo on EtsyAnnotating while reading is a way many become more engaged with what they’re reading, which, of course, leads to more reading. This annotation kit has the added bonus of having a quirky-cute design (it also comes in different colors). $22
Image courtesy of DuncanandStone on EtsyA reading journal is another way to engage with what you’re reading. With a reading journal like this one, you can record your favorite quotes and what you’re reading. $20
Image courtesy of ArtsByBooksnmae on EtsyHere’s one last way to record and more deeply engage with your reading. Between the three options listed here, there should be something that works best for you. $8
I’ve already incorporated a few of these items into my reading habit, and they’ve enriched my reading life. Hopefully there’s something here to likewise help you achieve your personal reading goals.
English (US) · 