{"id":11736,"date":"2022-08-02T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?p=11736"},"modified":"2023-10-17T15:35:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T19:35:42","slug":"how-to-do-more-recreational-reading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Do More Recreational Reading"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Reading is one of the most accessible hobbies a person can pick up\u2014all you have to do is pick up a book! Some people can feel intimidated about getting into reading again after a long break since the days of mandatory reading at school. But when you\u2019re reading just for pleasure, you get to enjoy a sense of freedom. There are no rules about what you <em>have to<\/em> read or what sort of books you\u2019re <em>supposed to <\/em>like. Instead, your journey is entirely your own, and you can explore whatever interests you at whatever speed works.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only will you expand your mind with new stories and new perspectives, but reading can also help you:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Improve your vocabulary&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthen your own writing skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop a healthy attention span&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stick to a routine&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Reading is often a solitary activity, but with Meetup, it can be a social one! There are nearly 2 million people across the globe taking part in Meetup book club groups. Follow these simple tips, and you\u2019ll be surprised how easy it is to incorporate more recreational reading into your life.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-find-a-reading-community-to-motivate-you\">Find a reading community to motivate you&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Joining a book club is one of the best ways to develop a reading habit that actually sticks. It\u2019s easier to put off reading when you\u2019re only accountable to yourself. When you\u2019re part of an active reading community, you feel motivated to pick up your book so that you can participate in the next discussion. Over time, as you get closer with your group, you\u2019ll find yourself really looking forward to reading, because it\u2019s a bridge to friendship!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meetup is chock-full of Meetup groups for every genre, niche, and level. Look for a community whose theme and reading materials spark a genuine interest in you\u2014it shouldn\u2019t feel like homework. Here are just a few examples of the wide-ranging Meetup book clubs you can check out:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brainy books \u2014 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/washington-d-c-literature-and-classics-meetup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington D.C. Literature and Classics Meetup<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/existentialism-philosophy-and-literature\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Existentialism, Philosophy, and Literature<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/science-book-club-for-the-curious\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Science Book Club for the Curious<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/shakespeare-41\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York Shakespeare Reading Group<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Genre fare \u2014 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/boston-scifi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Boston Sci-Fi\/Fantasy Meetup Group<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/post-apocalypticbookclub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Post-Apocalyptic Book Club<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/the-horror-book-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Horror Book Club<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Just for fun \u2014 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/bucketlistbooksnyc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bucket List Book Club: Read what you&#8217;ve put off!<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/the-seattle-read-for-fun-book-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read for Fun Book Club &#8211; Seattle<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/something-witty-book-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Something Witty Book Club<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clubs that feel like home \u2014 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/nyc-gay-guys-book-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NYC Gay Guys&#8217; Book Club<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/meetup-group-gkfkhdwy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago Feminist Book Club<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/houston-womens-book-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Houston Women&#8217;s Book Club<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Meetup-book-club-edited-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Meetup-book-club-edited-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Meetup-book-club-edited-560x315.jpeg 560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Meetup-book-club-edited-1120x630.jpeg 1120w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Meetup-book-club-edited-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Meetup-book-club-edited-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Meetup-book-club-edited-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-add-reading-to-your-schedule\">Add reading to your schedule&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of people who struggle to incorporate more reading into their lives say they can\u2019t \u201cfind\u201d the time. So instead of waiting for spare moments to appear throughout your day, create a dedicated space for reading.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some, starting the day with 15 minutes of reading is part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-cultivate-a-healthy-morning-routine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cultivating a healthy morning routine<\/a>. You may find that reading before bed is best\u2014it can help you wind down and maintain your sleep schedule. With audio books, you can plan to \u201cread\u201d every time you commute to work, go for a walk, cook, clean, and more. The possibilities are endless\u2014just make sure your reading routine is something you can repeat consistently. Try it out and you\u2019ll see: reading for just 10 minutes per day will have you flying through books.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-make-connections-with-readers-like-you\">Make connections with readers like you&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve chosen a book club that grabs your interest, try attending an event! With your new strong reading habits, you\u2019ll have no problem being prepared to take an active role in the discussion.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find someone\u2019s comments on the book really align with your own, strike up a conversation with them later. A great way to further a connection is by asking someone to swap book recommendations with you. You\u2019ll be exposed to stories you may never have come across on your own, and learn more about the kinds of books you enjoy reading. Plus, the more you read, the more you\u2019ll have in common with your new bookworm friend! Eventually, talking about books will evolve into deeper conversations about anything and everything.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Making personal connections through reading has never been easier. You can even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/lp\/how-to-group-start\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">create your own Meetup book club<\/a> to meet in-person with lit lovers in your community, or meet virtually with readers from around the world! There are no limits to what you can read, and no one-size-fits-all approach to being in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/7-book-club-alternatives-to-try-with-friends\/\">book club<\/a>. Whether you want to share your burning passion for the classics, or just kick back and chat about the latest beach read, you\u2019re doing it right.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\"><p>Reading is one of life\u2019s most rewarding hobbies. It can also be a bridge to friendship! Learn how to make a reading routine. <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":11739,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Do More Recreational Reading - Meetup Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Do More Recreational Reading - Meetup Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Reading is one of life\u2019s most rewarding hobbies. It can also be a bridge to friendship! Learn how to make a reading routine.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Meetup Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-08-02T12:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-10-17T19:35:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/book-club-members-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Meetup Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Meetup Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Meetup Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914\"},\"headline\":\"How to Do More Recreational Reading\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-08-02T12:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-17T19:35:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/\"},\"wordCount\":801,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Stories\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/\",\"name\":\"How to Do More Recreational Reading - Meetup Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-08-02T12:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-17T19:35:42+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Do More Recreational Reading\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Meetup Blog\",\"description\":\"Community Matters\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Meetup\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png\",\"width\":130,\"height\":124,\"caption\":\"Meetup\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914\",\"name\":\"Meetup Team\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Meetup Team\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Do More Recreational Reading - Meetup Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Do More Recreational Reading - Meetup Blog","og_description":"Reading is one of life\u2019s most rewarding hobbies. It can also be a bridge to friendship! Learn how to make a reading routine.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/","og_site_name":"Meetup Blog","article_published_time":"2022-08-02T12:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-10-17T19:35:42+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1440,"url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/book-club-members-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Meetup Team","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Meetup Team","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/"},"author":{"name":"Meetup Team","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914"},"headline":"How to Do More Recreational Reading","datePublished":"2022-08-02T12:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-17T19:35:42+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/"},"wordCount":801,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Stories"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/","name":"How to Do More Recreational Reading - Meetup Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-08-02T12:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-17T19:35:42+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-do-more-recreational-reading\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Do More Recreational Reading"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/","name":"Meetup Blog","description":"Community Matters","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Meetup","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png","width":130,"height":124,"caption":"Meetup"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914","name":"Meetup Team","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Meetup Team"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11736"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11736"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17921,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11736\/revisions\/17921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}