If you want to rediscover your love for reading, you’re not alone. As we get older, some of the things we used to enjoy doing get lost in the shuffle, and things like reading for pleasure get put on the back burner. It doesn’t mean you never truly enjoyed the activity; it just means other, more pressing matters could have arisen.

The upside is that it’s easy to get this lovely hobby back into your life with just a few steps. Finding your way back to reading might seem like a challenge, but if you’re genuinely interested in picking up a book again, you’re already halfway there.

Learn how you can get back into reading and enjoy those books you’ve been meaning to read by following our recommendations.

Start Light

It might be tempting to dive into reading head first, picking up the most complicated or challenging book you can find. But the best way to get back into reading is by starting light. You don’t have to look for the longest, most dense book to prove you’re back in the game—it’s not a competition!

Look for books that could be easy to get through; this is helpful because you’ll be able to finish the book in a short amount of time, which will make you feel accomplished. That sense of accomplishment will give you the confidence to continue on your reading journey, which is when you can start intruding more challenging material into the mix. Look for YA novels, satirical or comedy books, or even a fun thriller.

If you really want to ease your way into reading, why not consider an audiobook? Audiobooks can be a fantastic way to introduce yourself to reading as a form of entertainment. Some audiobooks are even read by the author of the novel, so you can truly hear the way the story was meant to be read.

Ask Your Friends to Recommend Books

Sometimes when we’re trying to get back into a hobby, we need some help. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to reading, ask what other people are reading. The chances are pretty high that at least one of your friends is reading something that would also interest you. Or maybe they’ll tell you about a book that they’ve been meaning to read, and you can suggest you read it at the same time. Not only will you get more ideas about what books to buy, you’ll also be able to talk about the books you read with your friends.

If you and your friends or family members share different interests when it comes to books, then take a look at some bestseller lists, award lists, or books that have recently been published.

Reframe Your Thoughts

Sometimes, the thing preventing us from achieving a goal is us. If you’re upset or down on yourself for not being able to get back into reading, or you're caught up in what you “should” be doing, you’re actually working against yourself.

Sometimes it’s easier to focus on what we did wrong or our regret instead of accepting the facts and moving on. It can be difficult to reframe our thoughts and think more positively. We think we “should” be going more or doing something else, and the idea that we’re not checking off times from our to-do list can cause us to freeze up because we become overwhelmed.

If you acknowledge that you might be beating yourself up or putting too high of an expectation on yourself, maybe it’s time to ease up. Set realistic goals, think about what you want to get out of these goals, and accept that it might be challenging at first to start a routine from scratch.

Read Short Stories & Essays

Lastly, one of the best ways to get back into reading on a regular basis is to read short stories or short essays. Short stories are easily digestible, you can finish them quite fast, and they’re entertaining. You can find short stories that are 10,000 words long or under 1,000 words long. They don’t require a ton of commitment and can be read in one sitting, making them accessible and thought-provoking.

If fiction is not your thing, essays can be a great alternative. And no, we don’t mean those long essays you had to write for school. Essays can be punchy. They can read just like a short story, but the only difference is that they’re nonfiction. When a creative essay is done correctly, it can almost be compared to a documentary or a docuseries; you learn while being entertained.

There are personal essays, creative nonfiction essays, and funny essays. Essays have come back into popularity in the past couple of years because they can have biting wit, but also talk about real-life issues. Both short stories and essays can be found in book form—you just want to search for “collections” or “anthologies” if you’re browsing an online bookstore.

Get Back to Reading

If you lost your love of reading, know that it can be easy to get it back if you give yourself time and set goals. Don’t be too hard on yourself; find things that interest you, and open yourself up to reading about new things.

Reading can be a relaxing hobby that strengthens your mind and helps you learn more about the world. If you’re trying to rediscover your love of reading, know that you’re doing something great for your happiness and health. To find books at great prices and have them delivered to your door, browse through an online bookstore like Book Outlet.