Drop Everything and Read, usually abbreviated to D.E.A.R., takes place during the month of April and encourages people of any and all ages and abilities to make some time for reading. The celebration lasts the entire month, but it's centralized on April 12, the birthday of children's author, Beverly Cleary, who you might recognize as the creator of beloved characters like Ramona Quimby, Ralph S. Mouse, and Henry Huggins. If you'd like to read more about the life and legacy of Beverly Cleary, check out our blog from last year's D.E.A.R celebration or Cleary's own website.
It's great to acknowledge D.E.A.R., but there's a big difference between recognizing the necessity and want to read and actually finding the time to sit down with a book. Between work, school, family, friends, and just the general tiredness that keeps us from wanting to expend too much brain energy, reading can often feel like a herculean task. We have some strategies, though, that might make it a bit easier to actually drop everything and read.
Always have a book on hand. It's a bit hard to read if you don't actually have something to read. Carry around a book, or have one available offline through the Libby App.
Read while you wait. Instead of scrolling through social media or staring at a wall while you're in line or at the bus stop, use that spare time to read. Even if it's only for a few minutes at a time, they'll add up.
Read before bed. According to the Sleep Foundation, reading before bed, especially as opposed to using a device, can greatly improve sleep quality and mental health. Just make sure you pick something you'll be able to put down or else you'll be up all night!
Find things you actually like reading. This isn't school; reading doesn't have to feel like homework or a chore. If you get bored easily, try fantasy or sci-fi to liven things up. If you're not a fan of make-believe, try nonfiction. If you don't like standard novels, pick up a graphic novel, manga, or even an audiobook, and remember that you're never too old to read a picture book.
Read out loud to someone else. Reading out loud to children helps to foster a love for reading in them! If you don't have kids, that's alright; you can also read to pets and plants. While there's no definite research to prove that talking to plants will improve their growth, finding a friend among the life around you is good for your mental health, and, more than that, animals and plants can't judge you.
Set a goal and reward yourself. Try to read a certain number of pages or dedicate a certain amount of time per week to reading. Don't be afraid to start small and work your way up to larger numbers. While reading is often its own reward, having a little treat if you hit your goal doesn't hurt.
Get others involved. Just how people find gym buddies to hold them accountable for working out, you can recruit your friends into being reading buddies. Pick a day to all get together in person or even over voice/video chat, and alternate between reading silently and talking about what you've read. You can even all read the same book - check out our Book Club Kits!