Shel on cohost

Audiobooks are valid reading and you can listen while you crochet or play mindless video games
Read on your transit commute instead of listening to podcasts or diddling on your phone. Nothing like sitting on a bus to get you opening up that paperback
Replace social media apps on your phone with Libby or other ebook apps and set the margins and line spacing wide so there isn't toooooo much text per page. Now you can read a book on your phone any time you get the urge to scroll and you're constantly turning to the next page which is kinda like scrolling through a buncha small posts in a thread
Set up a really good reading nook at home that does not face the TV, has good lighting, and is super comfy but supports good posture so you don't lay down.
Listen to music while you read. Choose music without lyrics ideally. Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians is always good. Electronica stuff is great for sci-fi vibes.
Track your reading on StoryGraph or some other method and read lots of novellas. This creates a sense of accomplishment very quickly and motivates you to read longer stuff next
Indulge in the ones that absorb you the most. When you're just getting back into the habit is not the time to challenge yourself or to insist on finishing something when you're more excited about reading another book. Reading should be pleasurable not a chore you feel guilty about.
Short story collections and anthologies help expose you to many authors and get you through lots of small stuff to build your stamina. Clarkesworld is an excellent choice if you like sci-fi.
DO NOT CHECK YOUR DANG PHONE that thing is gonna buzz between every page you read and if you check your phone between every page you will never make significant progress in a book at a speed that doesn't feel sluggish and a chore.
Read things your friends are reading and get excited about them together
Read graphic novels!! Libby has so many Probably and you can do it on any device.
Use an ereader and try a dyslexia-friendly font. Even if you don't THINK you're dyslexic it still might help you read because it's designed to be easy to read in general
Try reading paperbacks instead of hardbacks so it's less heavy on your wrists
If you wear glasses for distance vision because of astigmatism, you might have separate needs for close up. I have reading glasses I use for reading which don't have the distance component and instead have a small amount of magnification with the astigmatism adjustment. It's soooooo nice for reading
Don't be afraid to read YA novels. They can actually be really good. Ignore the haters. They're designed to encourage you to keep reading because they're meant for teenagers who are often reluctant readers with short attention spans. They're exactly meant to bridge that gap.
If you're really struggling, consider "high-low" novels. They're super short books meant for older people (adults, teens) who struggle with reading. They're usually very good high interest stories formatted with wide line spacing, small page count, and no super complicated words.
Novels in verse and poetry are also great for getting back into reading.
Did I mention how much I love audiobooks???

funbil

@funbil

『𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫』

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