Reading Life #9: How to do a reading life audit
A few simple steps I use to get more out of my reading life
This is Reading Life, a monthly series featuring a short essay on reading reflections, tips, and the bookish life. Start finding book recommendations you love by upgrading to paid today!
This week, I started putting together my list of favorite reads of 2023 (I'm looking forward to sharing a whole post on that in December!). These lists start popping up in abundance each year around this time, and I love seeing them.Â
Reflecting on your reading year and seeing what you loved is so valuable. And so much knowledge can be gained from the practice of reflection. You can gain a better understanding of yourself as a reader. You can see how your reading tastes have changed. You can confidently pick up books you know you'll enjoy and more easily identify which might not be right for you.Â
When I sit down to start making my year-end list, I also audit my reading life. I started this practice a few years back, and it can be as elaborate or as simple as you'd like it to be, but it always yields great insights into your reading life.Â
Whether you are a data nerd and want to dive deep or just want to spend 20 minutes reflecting on a few simple questions, I can't recommend this enough. The insights you gain can guide you to a richer and more enjoyable reading life.Â
I find it best to do this practice twice a year: once at the end of the year as I'm preparing for a new year of reading and once in the middle of the year to get a pulse check.Â
So today, I am sharing some tips I use to perform an audit of my reading life.
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