Sistahs, how y’all feel? Girls, y’all alright?

sadeisthegoat badu

Okay now, all Muva Badu-ness aside, let a thug start by wishing everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR! While I can’t speak for anyone else on this ghetto planet we call Earth, for this Midwest Gypsy, the year 2021 was one for the books.

There were ups, downs, diagonals, and all of that other craziness. However, one of the main things that kept me sane-outside of fermented grapes and a good cry every now and then-was BOOKS.

rhoa sassy

I am not kidding y’all, I have probably read more in 2021 than I did when I first discovered the adult section of the Barnett Livingston Library.

Therefore, before I press on with this piece, allow me to take a moment to say THANK YOU to the numerous Black authors who have kept this woman sane and entertained with your literary skills #NotAllHerosWearCapes.

Now that we’ve taken care of the housekeeping, let’s get it, Sistah Girls! 

its grind time grind

As the final days of 2021 zipped by, I would find myself scrolling through Instagram stumbling across a multitude of folks with the same thought posted, “I want to improve my reading goals in the new year.”

If you just so happen to be one of these individuals, then this list is for you. Without further ado, here are seven ways to help you read more this year…

SET THE TONE

Create a space in your home where you just read. Affectionately called the “Bookt Up Spa” by ya girl, you should make this area a sacred space in your abode where ONLY reading takes place.

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To set the vibe you desire, you can decorate using your favorite book quotes or trinkets such as candles, your favorite reads, a cute bookshelf, or even a bean bag chair.

Whatever decor you choose for your version of “B.U.S,” do so with the idea that you are creating an in-home transportation system that will take you wherever you want to go as soon as you settle in and open that first page.

HOLD ALL CALLS

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Sistah Girls, I know that we live in a society where our phones have our entire worlds behind that little tempered glass screen. I also know that emergencies happen and we don’t want to be unavailable in case of one.

Nonetheless, if your goal is to enjoy more books in your free time, consider customizing your phones’ “Focus” settings to allow you some uninterrupted reading time. For the superheroes out there (aka the moms of the world), you can always set certain contacts in your phone as “Priority.”

This way anyone who truly needs to get in touch with you can. While anyone else that’s trying to block your book blessings will be denied access until you’re finished with your reading.

RUN IT BACK LIKE WALE

Sometimes re-reading an old book is okay. And in this scenario of wanting to read more in general, it is even helpful. Think of a re-read the same way you would think of re-watching your favorite film.

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Okay, I see the head nods and smiles. Now y’all feeling me *Birdman hand rub.* Good, so go ahead and grab that book you enjoyed so much the first time and fall in love with the storyline all over again. Who knows, you might even gain a different outlook the second time around. 

BRING A PLUS ONE

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Take something to read with you everywhere you go. This way you can have something to do during your wait at the doctor’s office, on your lunch break at work, while you’re sitting in the carpool lane at your little person’s school, etc.

Don’t want to carry a bulky book around? No worries, many digital reading platforms can be downloaded to your mobile device. 

TRADE YOUR STAR PLAYER

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Instead of getting on social media when you get bored, pick up where you left off in your book. Even if you choose not to finish the entire book in one sitting, trading in some of that downtime you were going to use on social media for reading a few pages will help you to read more in the long run. 

GET TO KNOW NOVELLAS

Novellas are an exceptional way to not only enjoy a new story but always to enhance how much you read. Most novellas take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get through.

Don’t let the shortness fool you though, novella’s, when written effectively, can leave the reader feeling just as fulfilled by the storyline as a full-length piece. Don’t knock it til’ you try it.

JOIN A BOOK CLUB

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You can never go wrong with joining a book club. Not only does being a member of a book club help you to meet other readers across the globe (depending on the type you join), but it also gives you that accountability piece that is needed when trying to maintain a reading goal. It’s a win, win!

Not sure where to start your search for a book club?

Might I suggest the one and only Sistah Girls Book Club! If you are looking for a book-loving community that feels like the show Girlfriends mixed with Insecure, consider joining Sistah Girls Book Club today. Click HERE to join the club. You’ll be glad you did. 

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