How to read more?

[Brian Christiansen]

I hope this is an appropriate place to post this, I posted it to a group specifically for the series "The Wheel of Time," but I looked at the groups here on Goodreads, and thought it might be more appropriate to post it here, if not I would like some direction as to where would be the best place. It is a bit long, but here goes:

The other day, I saw an article that was a list of things you should stop buying at 50 or 60 or whatever age one officially becomes a "senior." One of the the things it mentioned was books, and the reason it gave was that your vision goes to hell in a handbasket at that age.
I have no idea if the writer of this article was advocating buying a kindle or other e-reader so you could enlarge the type and not have to hunt down large print editions of the books you wish to read, whether he was trying to be humorous in some strange way, or whether he actually thinks you should stop reading at that age
Well, I am rapidly approaching 64, so I guess I am officially a "senior," but my vision started going to hell in a handbasket about 25 years ago.
I also looked up what the average amount of time that the average person watches TV, and this number was 3 hours. I know that averages do not necessarily describe any given person, and there are outliers that watch no TV at all, and others that watch perhaps as much as 8 hours or even more ("way too much TV").
I think that 1, perhaps even 2 of these hours should be spent reading, with the brakdown being some thing like this: half of it on reading about current events through newsmagazines, either traditional paper and ink or online or newspapers, either paper and ink or online, and the other half reading books. I also think that at most 2 or perhaps 3 of these days should be dedicated to escapist literature like the Wheel of Time or The Lord of the Rings or whatever genre you happen to like. The other 4 or 5 days should be spent reading stuff like history (my favorite aspect of history is culinary history), biographies, and other such works of non-fiction.
This is my "ideal," and unfortunately I don't even come close to it, in fact, I am a "way too much TV" outlier. I guess my question, after all this is how I can move to, or at least closer to my ideal.
Should I start a reading diary?
Should I buy more books as e-books, right now I am re-reading the Wheel of Time, and I read the first 2, New Spring and TEOTW, both of which I have as ebooks, much faster than I am reading The Great Hunt, which I own as a trdditional paper and ink book. The reason I read the ebook much more often than the paper and ink book is because it is much easier to read when I am having lunch or otherwise eating.
Should I join a reading group, either here or on Facebook, with the purpose being to report my progress, and sort of be held accountable for my reading.
Brian Christiansen

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[♞ Pat]

Brian,

I'm 67, and pretty much officially "senior" status, but I'm a voracious reader still. I read regular print, large print, on my Nook (for ebooks) and audio books. Eye strain CAN be a thing, which is why I also check out eaudio books out from my library, so that I can enjoty a book when my eyes are tired or I'm commuting.

What I have found is that the groups here that offer challenges are great ways to stay motivated and accountable. It's a good way to make friends and keep yourself accountable. I work in a library, but plan on retiring at the end of May, so Goodreads is really going to continue to be my primary point of accountability, and finishing challenge tasks is a great motivator for ME.

Groups here are all friendly and this one in particular has a very "family community" kind of feel to it. Janice puts together a lovely annual challenge every year, with advancing levels of completion, so it's easy to get to a goal wherever you set it.

Others that I enjoy are the Around the Year in 52 (which is basically a book a week, so 52 in a year) but it's not a timed challenge, so you can work at it however you want and set whatever finish goal you decide. I also like the Monthly Challenge because it offers plenty of tasks each month - you won't be able to finish them ALL - but it awards points for each finished task (and I love points.).

There is also the Seasonal Reading Challenge (that one is a heartbreaker if you have a need to finish what you start), but the number of tasks on it are enough to keep you plenty busy with a book almost all the time.

Others here might have additional ideas for challenge groups that I haven't mentioned here. There are a large number of others here, so pretty much something for everyone!

Good luck with your progress this year and in the years to come.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I think Pat made many good points. I know my reading time will continue to be limited for a good amount of years, so what I have decided to do is to read meaningful books. I'm very picky at the moment, and try to read those special books I really want to read, and skip everything I think I will not love. I know your question is about how to read more so I'm not being very helpful. :) My point is, if you pick only great reads you will not feel you wasted your precious reading time with something that wasn't worth it. One day I will have lots of reading time and then I will be able to read whatever comes my way. Fingers crossed.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I found that when I joined Goodreads I started reading a lot more. I am exposed to a lot of different books that I might not have known about and we have group reads to discuss books and challenges. I end up reading more because participating with others is fun.

I also read a lot more now that I've started listening to audiobooks because I can can listen while doing other things, such as cleaning or driving. Plus, audiobooks save my eyes.

I find that physical books are easier on my eyes than ebooks, but I read both.

I don't watch much tv, so that gives me more time to read, but I do have other hobbies so I guess that evens out.