As a reader, you might have already noticed how much advice there is readily available for those looking to get more reading done. You can check out my blog post on 10 Ways to Add Reading to Your Daily Routine, for example.

The usual such as speed reading and audiobooks are all well-known and proven. But what if you want to improve your reading experience, enrich those precious hours spent reading instead of thundering through them?

The simple answer to this wish is to start a reading journal. “What’s that?” you may ask, “and how do I even get started?” Your questions will soon be answered as I guide you through the wonderful and life-changing world of the humble reading journal.

Why Keep a Reading Journal?

1. Your Personal Reading Assistant

In every reading journal, there should be a section of ample pages dedicated to only the titles of the books you have read. Feel free to note down the author, publisher or any other detail you deem necessary. Taking note of the date on which you first opened the book until you last closed is also a practical way to ensure you don’t run into the classic problem of starting five books at once and finishing none! Think of it as a library index that you’re free to consult whenever you can’t remember the name of a book or when you read it – you’ll even be able to keep track of your reading achievements throughout the year.

2. Improves Critical Thinking

Just imagine if you’d written down every thought you’d had about a book, every fleeting remark as you read or any continuous thoughts. Not only would you become a master book reviewer capable of weaving their musings and experiences of a book together, but you’d also have reference and gain deep insight from. Reading through your notes will illuminate any character or storyline arcs, showcasing how they are unfurled gradually unfurled throughout the story and shedding light on any plot devices used to bring these changes about. Your ability to analyze and comprehend the writing process of an author and the techniques they used will increase tenfold – perhaps even helping you to improve as a writer.

3. Never Forget Wisdom and Knowledge Gained

Part of what makes reading so enjoyable is the valuable experiences it imparts onto us. It’s why we so often tend to fall in love with a book. When a book becomes part of your heart, you don’t want to forget it, and to the chagrin of most avid readers – this is exactly what happens. It’s impossible to confide all of that valuable information to memory. It is possible, however, to keep records of what you’ve learned, of profound quotes that stood out to you, of relatable character experiences. This can all be done by using a reading journal to jot these reflections and quotes into. You’ll never feel like you’ve forgotten a book that once seemed so important to you, you’ll just have to check your journal.

4. You Live Alongside It

Most avid readers look to books when traversing turbulent times in their lives, finding comfort and companionship within their pages. As you look back on your reading journal you may be able to pinpoint certain points in your life due to what was written down – what you thought to be important at the time. You keep track of how you obtained the book, from what friend or what shop, thus showing where you were at that point in your life. The reading journal will allow you to see your life through books, showing just how intertwined a reader’s life can become with their books.

5. Looking Back Over Your Reading Achievements

Reading is known for being a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, but it’s also no easy feat. Being able to view the big picture of your progress can work as an effective incentive to continue reading – not to mention a reason to be proud of yourself. You’ll even be able to write down exactly what books you hope to read and set goals for yourself.

6. Improve Your Future Reading

Keeping track of your musings on a book can allow you to see what aspects of a book you found to be lacking, or what parts titillated you. By using these remarks as guideposts, you will be able to read summaries of books and know exactly whether they will be to your liking or not. There will be no humming and hawing if you know your reading style by heart. You’ll also find it easier to enhance your reading experience by diving into genres specific to that which you enjoy most and branching out into others as you grow. Maybe you also find it hard to converse about a book you’ve just read. We’ve all been there, we want to scream about a book from the rooftops, about how beautiful and soul-touching it is, but nothing comes out. We meet a block. We simply can’t seem to remember where to begin. Looking over your reading journal will help you to share your musing on a book concisely and intelligently. In return, you will receive feedback, other’s opinions and you will certainly run into some reading suggestions – acting as a helping hand on your reading journey.

7. Education

If you're trying to gain knowledge in a certain field, study for a PhD or simply just want a better grade in a class, all of the reading can definitely add up. The important facts and tidbits can get lost in the haze of words from book to book and you completely lose sight of what’s important. Keeping an educational reading journal can be just as beneficial as any other reading journal – allowing you to easily keep track of who said what, and what they mean by what they said. Referencing and fact-checking will be a thing of the past – you’ll have it all inside your compact and portable reading journal.

ARE YOU CONVINCED YET?

Keeping a reading journal may seem outdated to some, but some of the most prominent leaders and trailblazers in the world kept journals as a way to collect and formulate their thoughts properly.

A reading journal can be kept both on paper and electronically so there are many ways to try it. Give yourself the luxury of an optimized reading experience by starting a reading journal today.

Have a look at my shop for printable reading journals to get you started right now!

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