With the start of a new year, many people create new goals they would like to accomplish for the next twelve months. Some of them are fitness or health related while others are as simple as writing or reading more often. Reading more for leisure is one of the most common things to appear in new year’s resolutions. But if you are new to reading or have been away from it for quite awhile, it can be hard trying to jump into it. So, here are five tips that I hope will help you on your 2019 reading journey:

1. Figure Out Your Interests.

The most important thing about reading is always finding what genres you enjoy. While there’s a variety of books that are greatly popular, sometimes they just aren’t for everyone. If you’re a fan of horror video games, look for books in that genre. If you’re a fan of Sci-Fi movies, browsing for books within that section might suit you best. Often, your taste in one medium will translate to another, and it also helps to narrow down your search. Once you have one or a couple of genres in mind, take time to go to your local bookstore or library and browse the shelves. In choosing which book to select, try to read at least the first chapter of a book that piques your interest. Doing so will give you a feel of what it is about and if the writing style is something you might enjoy.

2. Patience Is A Virtue.

Like most things, reading is also trial and error. It might take a while to find books you like reading, especially if you are trying to get into a specific genre or writing style for the first time. There is nothing wrong with not finishing a book if it fails to keep your interest with the story. However, do make sure to read at least half of it before deciding to drop it or continuing with it. Patience is key. Once you can pass this small hurdle of honing your likes and dislikes, later, it will be much easier to select what books you like to read. Don’t feel discouraged if you are having a hard time in finding what you enjoy because once you do, the victory will be even sweeter.

3. Reading Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint.

Everyone reads at a different pace. Often, comparing yourself to others will only make you feel that you aren’t good enough. There are people capable of reading three books in one week, and there are other individuals who can read maybe one book a month. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time with each book. As long as you are reading at a pace that is comfortable for you and works with your personal schedule, then it doesn’t matter how long you take to finish. Nonetheless, giving yourself the challenge of reading a certain amount of books per month can also be quite fun! It allows you to push yourself just a bit more to read.

4. Read Daily.

At first, it might sound like quite a lot if you aren’t accustomed to reading regularly, but it’s quite simple. Reading doesn’t have to take much of your time. It can be only 20, 10, or even just 5 minutes out of your day. This can be done before bed, during train rides, between classes, or during lunch break. If you plan your reading into your daily schedule, it will slowly become a habit. If you keep up with it, reading will become part of your daily life like any other thing.

And last, but not least…

5. Enjoy Yourself!

Any new hobby you seek out should be one you enjoy. Never try to force yourself to like something that seems more like a chore. If reading is just not for you, then that’s okay! There is no need to feel like reading is something that you should be doing. And just like I mentioned before, it’s just a hobby! There will be times when you don’t want to read for days or even weeks, and there will be times when you devour a book in one sitting. At the end of the day, each time you sit down with a book in your lap, it should excite you quite a bit.

Even if you may only accomplish reading one or two books this year, you should still be proud of that accomplishment. Sometimes, we forget to celebrate the small victories which are as important as the big ones. Reading is wonderful when you can fully immerse yourself in the story. Push yourself to strive to reach your personal reading goals, but don’t over do it either. One page at a time will take you a long way.