In my opinion, fall is the perfect season to cozy up with a good book. The moment it gets colder, I start reading more. The chilly weather, cozy blankets, and warm drinks practically beg for reading time. But with busy schedules and endless distractions (hello, Netflix!), it can be tough to make time for it. If you’re looking to dive into more books this fall, here are some easy and realistic tips to help you turn those pages!

How to Read More Books This Fall

1. Set a Reading Goal
First things first, set a goal! It doesn’t have to be huge—maybe it’s one book a month or even a few pages a day. Having a specific target keeps you motivated, and it feels so good when you accomplish it. Plus, you can adjust your goal based on how much time you have. Whether it’s one book or five, a goal helps give you direction. Also, be realistic. Some people have enough time that they can read 10 books or more every single month. But maybe you have kids, so reading one book per month might be more realistic.

2. Create a Cozy Reading Nook
Nothing says fall reading like a cozy nook. Find a spot in your house where you can set up a comfortable space with a blanket, soft lighting, and maybe a candle or two. When you have a designated reading space that feels warm and inviting, you’re more likely to want to curl up with a book and stay there for a while. Or maybe you just want to read in bed, which I can totally understand because it is my favorite reading place too.

3. Keep a Book with You Everywhere
You’d be surprised how much reading you can fit into your day by always having a book with you. Waiting in line, sitting at a coffee shop, or even those few minutes before bed can add up. Plus, it’s a great alternative to scrolling through your phone! I can imagine a book of 700 pages is not going to fit in your bag, so bring an e-reader instead. They are super light and don’t take up a lot of space in your bag.

4. Join a Fall-Themed Reading Challenge
Get into the seasonal spirit by joining a fall reading challenge! There are tons of challenges out there—some focus on specific genres, others on reading a certain number of books. They add a fun twist to your reading goals and give you a sense of accomplishment as you check off books from your list. Plus, who doesn’t love a little challenge? I sort of do this all the time. Right now, it is fall and I am looking for books that fall into this category. I love reading romance but right now I am more reading books about love stories that take place in the fall. So far I’ve read a Roman with Gilmore Girls vibes, and a book about falling in love with a vampire.

5. Mix It Up with Audiobooks
If you struggle to find time to physically sit down with a book, audiobooks are your new best friend. You can listen while you’re driving, cleaning, or even going for a walk. It’s a super easy way to “read” more without having to carve out extra time. There’s something oddly comforting about listening to a good audiobook while surrounded by the fall atmosphere.

6. Set Aside “Screen-Free” Time
We’re all guilty of losing hours to social media or binge-watching TV, but you can reclaim some of that time for reading. Try setting a specific time in the evening when you switch off the screens and pick up a book instead. Even if it’s just 15-30 minutes, you’ll find yourself making steady progress without even realizing it. It was not easy, but a while ago I decided for myself that I can’t use any screens after 8-9 PM and now I am using that time to read a book. Before I read 3/4 books a month and now I am reading so much more. It is a win-win situation, because I am not wasting my time anymore on social media and I am reading more books.

7. Find Books That Excite You
This one might sound obvious, but sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking we should be reading certain books (you know, those classics that everyone raves about). Instead, focus on reading books that genuinely excite you! Whether it’s a fantasy novel, thriller, or feel-good romance, reading something you want to read will keep you coming back for more. After trying different genres, I realized I prefer romance most of the time. So most of the time I am looking for new cute love stories I could read. You just have to find the genre/authors you like.

8. Join a Book Club
Fall is a great time to join (or start!) a book club. Whether it’s in-person or online, being part of a book club adds a social element to reading and gives you a reason to keep up with your reading. Plus, discussing books with others can help you see things from new perspectives and make the experience even more enjoyable. I’ve never joined a book club. It sounds fun though. Everyone is reading the same book as you and you get together and discuss the book but also have a lot of fun. Personally, I would like to join a book club in the future but I want to be sure that it is a book club that fits me. A book club, that focuses on romance for example.

9. Take Advantage of Fall Weekends
Fall weekends are made for relaxing, so why not dedicate a few of them to a reading day? Brew some tea, get cozy, and spend a lazy Saturday or Sunday with a good book. You’ll be surprised how much you can read when you dedicate an afternoon to it—plus, it’s the ultimate self-care. Get a few snacks, a blanket, and a few drinks and get cozy for a few hours.

10. Track Your Progress
There’s something motivating about seeing your progress! Use a reading app like Goodreads, or simply keep a list of the books you’ve read. Watching that list grow over the fall season can give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to keep going.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to reading more books this fall. Whether you’re curled up with a mystery novel or listening to a memoir while sipping pumpkin spice lattes, fall is the perfect time to dive into new stories. So grab a blanket, find a comfy spot, and let the reading begin! 📚🍂

Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash

The post How to Read More Books This Fall first appeared on A happy life.

Recently, I decided to improve my life for several reasons. The biggest reason was that I was feeling so tired during the day that I barely had the energy and motivation to do anything at all during the day. So I knew that had to change. But I also decided to do other things for my (mental) health. I already noticed a big difference in my energy levels and mood. So today I am sharing my non-negotiable daily habits, and maybe I can inspire you to improve your life as well.

My Non-negotiable Daily Habits

1. No screens after 8/9 PM. The most important thing for me right now was that I wanted and needed more energy during the day. Even on the nights I would fall asleep early, I was still feeling tired. I knew the reason for this: screen time. Every time I watch an episode of something in the evening, I would feel tired the next day. I enjoyed watching an episode of my favorite series in the evening, but I knew it wasn’t good for my sleep. So now, I turn off my screens between 8 and 9 every evening.
   
2. Getting enough sleep. This is related to the first one, but I make sure I get enough sleep every single night. I am a different person when I am tired and not in a good way. I prefer the energetic version of myself. I feel amazing when I get enough sleep. I feel more motivated, focused, and happier. So I don’t stay up too late and go to bed around the same time. It’s not always easy, but it is definitely worth it.
   
3. Self-care every day. Self-care comes in different ways. Most people think of taking a long bath and using facemasks. But I am also talking about other things, like doing things I want to do. Sometimes that can mean I want to watch a movie, other times this can mean, I want to move my body and dance. Sometimes our days are already filled with things we have to do (even though we don’t want to do them), so it is nice to make some time for yourself.
   
4. Exercise. I am not the biggest fan of exercising, especially during the colder months I prefer to stay under a blanket. But I try to move my body as soon as I wake up. Exercising has a lot of benefits because it also releases feel-good hormones. So when I start my day with a little bit of exercise, I feel a lot better. And I don’t even go to the gym and sometimes I am not even going outside. I love the GrowWithJo channel on YouTube and most of the time I use one of her videos for my morning workout.
   
5. Drink at least 2 Liter of water. Drinking enough water is so good for you. It helps you to stay energized and focused and it is also good for your skin. For the last couple of weeks or even months, I haven’t been drinking enough. So now I am making sure, I drink enough water. I bring my water bottles everywhere I go, so I can take a sip whenever I want. Usually, I would feel a little bit foggy in the afternoon, but now I don’t really have that anymore.
   
6. Focus on the things I want. I am an overthinker and I used to think about the things I don’t want, which is not fun. It made me feel anxious and stressed. Now I changed my mindset and I am now focused on the things I like and want. It makes me a lot happier. It puts me in a good mood no matter what. I am not saying I am the happiest woman alive 24/7, but I know now that I am in control of my thoughts and I can make myself feel better if I want to.
   
   So these are currently my non-negotiables daily habits. Right now, I am starting to feel like a different person and I love it. These new habits give me more energy during the day and I also feel happier. What are your non-negotiable daily habits?
   
   Photo by Nguyen Thu Hoai on Unsplash

The post My Non-negotiable Daily Habits first appeared on A happy life.

If you are following me on social media or here on my blog, you will know I love to read books. My love for books started at a very young age. I could stay up for hours to read a book. I had a library card and read so many books as a kid. Then I lost my interest in books because of high school. They force you to read certain books and suddenly I did not like reading books anymore. But the moment I went to University, I started reading again and I still do it (almost every single day). Maybe you are reading this because you want to start reading (again) or you just want to know how to read more books. We have our busy lives and sometimes we forget to make time for ourselves and to read. But don’t worry, even with a busy life, there are ways to read more books.

How To Read More Books

Read before bed
Reading before you go to sleep has many benefits in my opinion. The moment I started doing this, I noticed how fast I fell asleep every night and I also slept deeper and better in general. Reading in the evening makes me sleepy which is perfect if you want to fall asleep fast. It also lowers your stress levels and if you read every night for an hour (or longer) you can many books every single year.

Bring a book or e-reader with you
When I was a student at University, I had to travel for 30-60 minutes to school and 30-60 minutes back home. I travel by bus so I could take my e-reader with me and this way I could read a lot. These days I go to work by bike, I can’t do it anymore. But if you take the train or bus to work, this is the perfect way to read a little bit. I would recommend bringing a small book or your e-reader with you. Bringing a 700-page book with you is not ideal. I tried that one day.

Read instead of watching television
Another way to read more is to skip television time. When I go home from work (between 7 and 8 PM) I see people in every single house watching television and there is nothing wrong with it. As long as you enjoy it obviously. But if you don’t love the program on TV, you can easily turn the TV off and read a book instead. If you watch TV for two hours every single night, imagine how many pages you can read in those two hours. This way you can read a lot of more books.

Embrace Audiobooks
People love it or hate it. I have to be honest, audiobooks aren’t for me. Right now, I still prefer to read from my e-reader. But if you like Audio Books, this might be the way for you to read more books. You can listen to audiobooks everywhere. You can listen to it on the train/bus, while you are cooking dinner, or when you go out for a walk. The options are suddenly endless and this way you can definitely ‘read’ tons of books.

Read the books you love
If you go on social media, and you follow people who are also into reading, you might see them recommending books. But it totally possible that you won’t like those books. Everyone is different and has a different taste in books. I like to read tons of romance because it makes me happy. But other people like fantasy or crime. Find out what your thing is and stick to those books. The reason is that it will take you less time to read a book that you actually enjoy. There was one time I read a book I did not like and it took me a month to finish it.

Make time to read books
This is something I like to do on the weekends, especially on a Sunday. I love Sundays because I have time for myself, the stores are closed in the morning, so I can’t do my grocery shopping and Sunday mornings are just perfect to make time to read. Make a cup of tea (or coffee), and sit down on your couch with a cozy blanket. And just enjoy reading your book.

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

The post How To Read More Books This Year | 6 Simple Tips first appeared on A happy life.