The Productive Pixie

Sometimes, life can feel crazy busy and everything can feel like too much! Especially when your to-do list is a mile long and you never seem to cross anything off your list... and if you do, another task will replace it just as quickly. I've felt this way myself, and it is not a fun position to be in. Today, I'm going to share some realistic tips for staying productive when you feel burnt out!

The 10-Step Guide to Staying Productive When You Feel Burnt Out

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Burnout. It's that moment when you don't look forward to tomorrow, knowing how much you have to do. It's when you wake up in the morning and are already longing for the evening.

It's when you feel like you've been running on empty, but you still have things on your never-ending to-do list!

Let's face it. Burnout is going to happen if you have a lot on your plate, and you are trying to juggle so many things at once.

If you feel...

Bored
Unmotivated
Exhausted

These tips about managing burnout are for you!

This post has been in my rough drafts since 2022! I've been dealing with some burnout over the past few years, so I've been taking a break and figuring out how to stay productive when burnt out.

This is the step-by-step guide to staying productive when you feel burnt out. Feel free to follow these steps in order or just pick out the ones that you feel like you need right now!

The 10-Step Guide to Staying Productive When You Feel Burnt Out

Before we get into the tips, I want to take a moment to talk about realistic productivity. It is not possible to be productive 100% of the time.

You cannot give 100% effort all of the time, so it is important to give yourself regular time for self-care to avoid cycles of burnout. Take care of yourself. Know when it is time to set boundaries, and when to seek support!

1. Do a Brain Dump

Pull out a piece of paper and write down everything that comes to your mind! I've talked about how to do a brain dump on here before, and they can be so helpful for relieving stress.

Personally, if I don't write down a task or a new idea, it's going to continue cycling through my brain over and over again until I write it down.

... Or, I forget about it, and then feel stressed because I can't remember what I forgot. Maybe you can relate!

You might sit down and suddenly have a blank mind, but that's perfectly fine. Sit with your paper for 10 minutes or so and add things to your page as they come. Then go back to your day and come back to your brain dump page if you think of more things.

Nothing needs to be written down in a pretty way. Just get it all on paper!

After you have a good list of everything that is making you feel burnt out, and everything that is on your plate, you can sort them into categories and add deadlines if you want to.

The main point of doing a brain dump is so everything is not in your head anymore. Now you can see how much you are dealing with.

2. Cut Back to Basics

This step is crucial for staying productive when you feel burnt out. I quit blogging for quite a while because creating content constantly was making me feel too stressed.

I always felt behind and like I wasn't doing enough. My blog wasn't successful enough, no matter how much I worked.

Now, after my break, I've realized that my blog doesn't need to be perfect. My writing isn't perfect, but people still read it (Thank you!). Every time I write an article, I'm simply practicing.

I'm also not doing everything that "a blogger should be doing." I'm focusing on what I enjoy doing, which is the writing.

It is time to get real with yourself. Ask yourself what you actually need to do, and what you *think* you need to do. Just because something works for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you.

I might suggest something in this post that doesn't resonate with you. Then don't do it! There are tons of articles out there on the internet titled things like "25 Things You Need to do Every Morning". If you do those 25 things every morning, I can almost guarantee you are going to feel burnt out! I would too!

Everyone's ideal routine will look different.

Think about everything you are feeling stressed out about and figure out which of those tasks you actually need to do, and which ones you just feel obligated to do.

Say "no" to obligations that you do not actually have to do.

3. Consume Some Mindless Content

What?! You want me to consume some mindless content?? I'm trying to be productive!

YES, absolutely! To be productive, you need to take breaks with no restrictions sometimes.

Doing so will help you be more productive when the time comes. When you are super burnt out, "productive" breaks probably won't do the trick because your brain needs a break. This is why I use YouTube and watch movies on the weekends.

What is mindless content? Things that you don't really have to use your brain for.

Movies
TV
Books
Social media

Whatever your favorite "guilty pleasure" hobby is, you should do some of that!

But notice I say some mindless content. After you've consumed some mindless content, and you are starting to feel a little more refreshed, it's time to restrict your usage so you can be productive.

If you want to, set aside some time weekly to consume this type of content, and then restrict your usage the rest of the week so it feels like a treat.

4. Entirely Switch Up Your Routine

Now it's time to boost your productivity! I love routines, but they can make life seem very routine.

If you are starting to dread getting out of bed in the morning, it might be because of your daily routine. Life gets boring if everything always stays the same, so I'm just going to say it: "throw your daily routine out the window."

Ok, maybe not literally, but find two to three things in your daily routine that you can switch up.

If you work out in the morning, try working out at night. Try a new type of exercise or cooking a new recipe. If you have a strict schedule, you'll probably have to get creative.

Currently, I'm in college, so my routine right now switches up entirely every few months, and it keeps things fun!

It might sound cliche, but life is too short. You don't want to feel bored every single day of your life.

Figure out how you can make your life a little more adventurous!

5. Take Care of Your Health

When you feel burnt out, it might be because you are not taking enough time for yourself.

A productive way to take time for yourself is to exercise!

On the other hand, if you feel burnt out from exercising, you might try a new type of exercise. There are plenty of free workout videos on YouTube so try one out!

When I feel burnt out, I find that exercising in the morning gives me more energy and a sense of accomplishment to help me get through the day.

You might also choose to get a little fancy with your meals and do something out of the ordinary. Switch up the foods you eat and try something new! Try eating on your front porch or in your backyard.

Make sure you are getting enough sleep! One of the best things you can do for staying productive when you feel burnt out is making sure you are taking care of yourself!

6. Find Some Inspiration

This will mean different things for different people. This might mean listening to an educational podcast or going on a long walk by yourself. Find whatever works for you!

You might have an artistic outlet you use to relieve stress or maybe you curl up on the couch with a book. I would recommend finding a few different ways you can find inspiration, so you can switch them up.

I really enjoy reading non-fiction business books and listening to podcasts!

7. Do One Task at a Time

Sometimes, all you have to do is take it slow. If you are feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, it is probably because you have a crazy long to-do list and everything seems too hard. You don't have to do everything!

Well, you actually might, but you don't have to do everything right now.

Ask yourself, what feels manageable right now? If doing one small homework assignment feels manageable, then do that.

Everything is on your brain dump page, so you only have to focus on the task at hand.

When you get up in the morning, decide on the 1-3 most important things you need to do. If you do those tasks, then the day is successful.

8. Take Frequent Breaks

Sometimes all you need to do is take a quick break. Go cozy up on the sofa with a new book or make your favorite treat.

I know that taking a break might feel counterproductive, but breaks are necessary. If you are always trying to power through, then you are going to end up constantly feeling burnt out!

Build some form of slow self-care into your routine that isn't related to technology. This could be sleeping in for an hour on the weekend or having a treat at dinner.

Another example is going on a walk daily. It might seem like more effort at first, but you will feel better afterward.

I like getting up and walking around my apartment for a few minutes in between tasks, and it helps me renew my focus for the next task, as well as giving me time to think.

9. Limit Your Technology Usage

This might sound a little contradictory to some of what I said above but try to limit your technology usage and only consume mindless content during set periods.

Technology can make everything in the world seem like it is going faster than it actually is.

I don't have my phone turned on all the time, and I also don't have my laptop turned on all the time. I recommend turning off all your tech at night if you can and unplugging a few hours before you go to bed.

Recommended Post - 10 Easy + Efficient Ways to Unplug from Tech

You might be surprised how much extra time you have in your day! Staying productive when you feel burnt out is difficult, but reducing your technology usage will help a lot.

10. Don't Try to be Perfect

Give yourself permission to give yourself the amount of rest you need. As I mentioned earlier, you don't need to be giving 100% all of the time.

Sometimes, you can only give 10% and that's normal.

Also, try to not compare your life to other people. You don't need to do everything or to do what other people are doing. You just need to do what matters to you.

The 10-Step Guide to Staying Productive When You Feel Burnt Out

The main thing I hope you take away from this post is that it is ok to feel burnt out. You will get through burnout by making time to take care of yourself!

When you make time for yourself, you will have more energy to be productive!

Here's your action plan for staying productive when you feel burnt out. But again, you don't need to do everything. Pick just one of these tips and implement it in your life today!

Do a brain dump
Cut back to basics
Consume some mindless content
Switch up your routine
Take care of your health
Find some inspiration
Do one task at a time
Take frequent breaks
Limit your technology usage
Don't try to be perfect

If you enjoyed this post about staying productive when you feel burnt out, you might enjoy these ones too!

Have a wonderful week and do something nice for yourself today!

If you enjoyed this 10-step guide to staying productive when you feel burnt out, make sure to pin it!

June 06, 2026 No comments

Do you ever find yourself accidentally spending more money than you earn? Do you feel a little guilty swiping your credit card because you don't know if you can afford it? Managing money can feel difficult because there are so many unexpected things you have to pay for! Today, I'm going to simplify your finances by showing you the low-stress bullet journal finance tracking layouts I use.

How I Keep Track of My Finances in My Bullet Journal (Without Overwhelm)

Side Note - I am not a financial advisor, and this is not financial advice. This is simply the method that I use to track my finances. Follow this finance tracking system at your own risk.

Learning to manage finances is crucial because we all have to learn how to manage money. The best time to learn to track your finances is as a young adult because the older you get the more money you have to manage.

I've been using these bullet journal finance tracking layouts for over a year, and I feel in control of my finances. With a few tweaks, this same system can work for you too!

Managing money as a young adult can be hard, but it can also be as simple as writing everything down and reviewing your accounts regularly, which is what I do.

By making your system as simple and low-stress as possible, tracking your finances does not have to be overwhelming.

If you are just getting started with bullet journaling, you can check out my simple guide for starting a bullet journal. This method can also be done in any notebook or even a spreadsheet, if you prefer digital planning.

Let's get right into it!

How I Track My Finances in My Bullet Journal (Without Overwhelm)

I don't have a strict budget because I always try to spend as little as possible (within reason 🤣). This is the system I use to make sure I'm not spending too much.

For example, I try to spend around the same amount each week on food, but it's ok if I spend more than that set amount one week because I know other weeks I spend under my set amount. I just try to have my weekly food bill average out to my set amount.

I know this method won't work for everyone, but right now it works for me. You just need to figure out what works best for you. And maybe that is having strict numbers for each area of your finances.

Mainly, I track how much I earn and how much I spend. You may recognize this as a cash flow statement if you are a business major! The goal is to earn more every month than I spend.

You should have a goal for your finances too!

My Finance Tracking Routine

1. Finance Tracking Frequency

The first step is easy. You just need to decide how often you want to look at your finances. I always review my finances weekly, and it only takes a few minutes most weeks.

You may be able to do this finance review every other week, if you are on top of things! I do every week, so if I accidently miss paying a bill one week, I'll catch it the next week before the bill is actually due.

2. Pay Bills

Yay! Our favorite thing. Ok, paying bills is probably everyone's least favorite thing, but it has to be done.

Even if I know I don't have to pay a bill one week, I still log in to my account, just to make sure that everything looks correct. When it comes to money, and your banking and credit card accounts, it is always better to be on the safe side.

I also have emails and notifications set up for every purchase.

3. Move Money to Savings

I try to save as much money as possible because I never know when I might need some extra money. At the end of the month, I always move a percentage of the money I made that month into my long-term savings.

If you aren't saving money, then you are not paying yourself.

4. Record

Now, it's time to get into the bullet journal pages I use to track my finances!

And remember, you can easily set up this system in a spreadsheet, if that works better for you.

My Bullet Journal Finance Tracking Layouts

I use two layouts for my bullet journal finance tracking system for the entire year, and that's it!

1. Earning and Spending Bullet Journal Layout

This is the main page I use to track my finances. I write down everything I earned and spent for that week when I look at all of my accounts. It's good to have all of your finances in one spot!

The photo above shows my finance tracker from 2025, when I was tracking my finances in a slightly different way, but you can see my 2026 layouts at the top of this post.

I have my earning and spending broken down by month with four columns under each month.

The name of the purchase or earning

This will be the store, product, or company name depending on if I bought multiple items
If I go to this store often, I will label it with a number too, so I can see how much I go there (Walmart #1, Trader Joe's #5)
If it is an earning, I underline the name, so I can see at a glance where those lines are

The date of the purchase
CR if the purchase was made with a credit card
How much was spent or earned

I designate this with a + or - sign

After the month is over, I create three columns at the bottom of that section. I draw each monthly section as the month progresses because I don't know how many lines, I'm going to have for each month until the month is over.

Total amount spent this month (designated with a - )
Total amount earned this month (designated with a +)
Total amount put into savings this month (designated with an arrow)

Now, I can see at a glance how much I made and earned for that month. I can also see how much I am paying myself!

Next, it's time to transfer these numbers over to my other bullet journal finance tracking layout.

2. Year-Over-Year Monthly Change Bullet Journal Layout

This is a numbers heavy page! It looks like a spreadsheet! You can see an example in the photo below. It's not the prettiest bullet journal finance tracking layout, but it's effective.

On this page, I simply write down how much I made and how much I spent for that month. I set this page up for multiple years of earning and spending, and then at the bottom of the page, I total up my earning and spending for the entire year.

This way, I can see year-over-year how much I'm spending and earning so I can be totally honest with myself about my finances.

I personally don't write down how much money I have in my accounts. I just keep track of changes because my goal is to earn more than I spend, but you may also choose to keep track of the total amount of money you have.

How I Track My Finances in My Bullet Journal (Without Overwhelm)

And these are the simple bullet journal finance tracking layouts I actually stick to! This is how I've been staying in control of my finances during my time in college.

Below are a few quick takeaways from this post.

Check your finances regularly
Keep track of how much you make and how much you spend so you know you are spending less than you earn
Always pay yourself by putting money into savings

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy these ones too!

I hope you enjoyed learning how I keep track of my finances in my bullet journal as a young adult. Let me know if you'd use these bullet journal finance tracking layouts as inspiration for your own by sharing this post! Thanks!

May 30, 2026 No comments

Phones. Everyone has one, and at this point, they are pretty much necessary to have. You may have a love/hate relationship with your phone, and whether you like it or not, you probably have your phone with you constantly. There's been a growing trend of moving towards digital minimalism. Today, I'll share my experience with creating and using a minimalist phone!

How I Created a Minimalist Phone to Cut My Screen Time in Half

While some people get rid of their smartphone entirely, and buy a flip-phone, that is not feasible for me as a college student. I would get so lost without Google Maps! 🤣

While I often use my phone to read books on Libby or to look at my schedule, I also find myself wanting to look at YouTube or read funny stories on Reddit.

As a college student, it is super easy to open up YouTube and watch random videos whenever you have downtime (during meals, before bed).

During my sophomore year of college, I had a lot of dance classes (5+ hours some days!!) and it was exhausting. During meals, I would grab some food and then just watch YouTube. The minutes add up quickly.

While YouTube can be informative, it can also be distracting, and I knew I wanted to use it in moderation. Plus, I already have enough screen time from doing homework!

Today, I'm going to share how I've built a minimalist phone. Some of these tips I've been using for over a year, and some of them I've been using for three months or so, and I've found them very helpful to remind myself to put my phone down if what I'm doing is unproductive.

I've cut my phone screen time by around 50% over the past two years, and these are tips you can easily implement on your own phone to reduce your screen time!

How I Created a Minimalist Phone to Cut My Screen Time in Half

1. Delete All Unnecessary Apps

This is more of a cliche tip, so it may not apply to you, so you can just keep scrolling if you already only have a minimal number of apps downloaded. But it's an excellent place to start when turning your phone into a minimalist tool.

Go through all of your apps and make sure that you only have necessary apps that you use regularly downloaded on your phone. I try to do this regularly!

My apps fall into these categories:

Scheduling Tools (calendar, time tracker)
Education (podcasts, reading)
Communication (emails, messages)
Tools (clock, calculator)
Health (health trackers, music)

At the time of writing this post, I have 55 apps downloaded on my phone. 12 of those apps are for communication (Messages, GroupMe, WhatsApp). Some apps, I cannot uninstall because they came pre-installed on my phone.

The number of apps you have on your phone may surprise you! I thought I had less, but here we are lol.

I don't have a single social media app on my phone. If I want to use social media, I have to use it in my browser, and the default on social media sites is to have them blocked, which means I have to go to an app that I'll talk about in a second and unblock it if I want to use it.

2. Turn Your Phone Black + White

Earlier this year, I read the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt because one of my marketing professors recommended it and this book made me think about how addictive my phone is. As a result, I started researching ways to make my phone less addictive.

Turning my phone display black and white is something, I never would have thought of doing on my own. In fact, I didn't think it was possible, but it is, and it is easy to try out.

Now, I can't say for sure if this tip has reduced my screen time, but it's been three months, and I haven't turned it off because a black-and-white screen is now my preference for my phone. Not sure if I'd say the same if I tried to turn my laptop screen black and white, but I prefer it on my phone. 🤣

It seems to be much more relaxing on my eyes, and it supposedly makes watching videos and colorful content less addictive, which I am a supporter of!

If you want to try it out for yourself, you can search online for instructions for your device to make your display black and white. It should be in your phone's accessibility settings!

3. Install a Minimalist Phone Launcher

I installed a minimalist launcher on my phone about three months ago. I no longer have app icons, and I have to search or scroll through a list to find the app I want.

This cuts down on mindless clicking from one app to the next. Previously, I had all of my apps in separate folders, but supposedly having app icons increases your screen time, so I've been testing out a minimalist phone launcher. It's basically just a list of all my apps in black and white, with a search bar at the top.

I like it, and I don't have any reasons to switch back to my old phone interface. When you have to search for an app, it makes you stop and think about whether you want to actually be using the app or not.

4. Track Your Screen Time

This was my first step towards controlling my screen time and building a minimalist phone. I started using an app called StayFree on both my phone and laptop. It's free, and I'm not sponsored by them or anything!

This app tracks my screen time on both my phone and my laptop, and it sends me a notification at the end of the day, telling me what my screen time is, which is super helpful for me!

If you aren't interested in using StayFree, there are bunch of other screen time management tools, you can use. You can also use your phone's built-in tools.

Tracking your screen time will help you identify areas of improvement. I aim for 2 hours or less on my phone each day.

5. Install an App Timer

This is such a gamechanger, especially in the beginning! StayFree has a built-in app blocker, and timers, so I use StayFree as my only screen time management tool. StayFree can be used to block any website or app.

I'd starting by putting a time-limit on apps that are taking up too much of your time, and then eventually deleting. An alternative option to deleting is to always have them blocked and then unblock the app when you need to use it, or it is your break day.

I allow myself to use YouTube over the weekend on my phone browser! For the most part, social media sites are always blocked.

6. Turn Off Nonessential Notifications

You almost have a minimalist phone! The last step is to turn off notifications on all of your nonessential apps because it's so distracting to be getting notifications at all hours of the day.

I like to have notifications on for all of my communication apps, and my school apps, so I know when people are trying to reach me, and so I know what my grades are.

The less notifications you have turned on though, the better!

How I Created a Minimalist Phone to Cut My Screen Time in Half

That is all there is to creating a minimalist phone! You can be as strict or as lenient as you like with these rules, as everyone uses their phone for different purposes.

I've been able to cut my own screen time on my phone by around 50% over the past two years, and I now use my phone for more productive purposes, such as reading books. (Reading books on my phone has caused my screen time to increase a little, but for a good purpose.)

Just remember that reducing your phone screen time is a process, and some days will be better than others. :)

If you enjoyed this post, you can read these other posts about how to reduce your phone screen time too!

I hope this post helps you build a minimalist phone! Let me know in the comments how you reduce your phone screen time!

If you have a minute, please take a second to save this pin!

May 23, 2026 No comments

College is stressful, and exciting... but for many people (me included!) it was their first time living away from home. Suddenly, there is no set schedule. You can eat and sleep whenever you want. You can even choose whether to show up for class! From meal planning to budgeting, everything is on you. And that's where a bullet journal comes in. Here are 30 bullet journal pages for college students to add to your bullet journal!

Updated for 2026

I'm currently a college student, so I think it's safe to say that I feel your pain. In this post, I'm going to share bullet journal pages for college students. It's time to organize your entire life as a college student so you can find success without breaking the bank or failing your classes.

This post has a lot of bullet journal page ideas for schedules, and studying, and grades. Those are all important things, even crucial things.

But getting great grades is nothing, if it is at the expense of your health and happiness so I've also included bullet journal page ideas for meal planning, exercising, budgeting, etc. This post will give you ideas to help you organize your WHOLE life as a college student.

30 Bullet Journal Pages for College Students (Everything from Classes to Meal Planning)

I've broken this article up into the following sections, so feel free to skip around to what interests you!

Back to School (Great for freshmen!)
School (These layouts are specific to school: grades tracker, class schedule, etc.)
Adulting/Organization (Budgeting, meal planning, cleaning, etc.)
Miscellaneous/Fun (Layouts that might be helpful for you as a student!)

And if you are still a high school student, you are sure to find some useful bullet journal page ideas in here as well!

I've tried to make this list as comprehensive as possible, but there are links to even more bullet journal page ideas if you are interested in making a certain page.

And I know they will (at least give you some helpful ideas) because these are pages that I've used myself to organize my life in college. Let's dive right into the bullet journal pages for college students! 😊

Back to School Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

1. School Dump

Make this bullet journal page first! Going to college is overwhelming, and it's so hard to know what you need to do first. Nothing seems to be set in stone, and everything is changing. Plus, it might be your first time living away from home!

Here are a few things you might want to "dump" on this page.

Things to do once you get up to school (before the semester starts)
Things to do before you get up to school
Ideas of things you want to include in your routine
A rough draft of your weekly schedule
Courses you want to take
When you leave for school

You might notice that around half of this layout is blank. It's always a good idea to leave some extra space for things you need to remember/write down somewhere.

2. College Packing List

Forgetting something is probably one of every college student's worst fears! (Unless you go to college in your hometown.)

I'd start making this list as soon as you graduate high school, meaning that you will have around 4 months to remember everything you will need for college! Plus, it will give you plenty of time to make the other essential bullet journal pages for college students on this list!

30 Bullet Journal Pages for College Students (Everything from Classes to Meal Planning!)

3. Before School To-Do List

Having a "Before School" to-do list is invaluable! There is just so much to do! I've already talked about this quite a bit at the start of this article, so here I will just give you a few ideas of things you might want to add to your list.

Find housing
Figure out monthly budget
Sign up for classes
Make a list of the meals you want to make + print out recipes
Buy your school textbooks
Choose which school clubs you are most interested in attending
Pay for tuition
Buy plane tickets/figure out transportation
Organize your phone apps and computer files
Do back-to-school shopping

...which brings me to the next point on this list.

4. Back to School Shopping List

Chances are you will need to buy a lot of things when you head to college! Plus, you'll likely want to freshen up your wardrobe a little bit too!

I've found that it's best to start shopping for school supplies at least two months in advance. Don't forget that when you are getting close to the start of the school year, it may be an option to send packages straight to your dorm!

Most likely for this bullet journal page, you'll just want to have a straight-forward minimalist list.

5. College Possessions List

I'm kinda possessive about my things. I'm afraid of losing things because I don't want to have to buy new ones.

To date, I've lost a total of one item so far at college... and it was a dish towel! At the end of the school year, having a list of all of the items you brought up to school will be tremendously helpful when you and your roommates are sorting through everything.

I also recommend laying out everything that will be outside of your bedroom (kitchen, living room, etc.), and taking a picture of it!

School Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

Yay! Now we are on to the school bullet journal layouts! These pages are always fun to make!

6. Year/Semester at a Glance

Having a semester at a glance bullet journal layout will help you to not miss out on deadlines! Deadlines are very important in college. I don't think I've ever missed turning in an assignment on time! I'm not exactly sure though, and this is why I write down the deadlines! You can't remember everything!

Plus, once exams come around, you'll be able to see at a glance how much time you have left until the holidays!

7. Semester Goals/Intentions

If you've read basically any other post on this blog, you'll know that I love setting goals! The school year is a fresh start, so why not make the most of it?

For those of you who don't like the rigidness that goal setting can impose, you can set intentions instead. In my book, intentions are goals that are purposely a little vague, so they are a little less scary to set.

A goal might be to study for two hours every day, whereas an intention might be to set time aside to study five times a week. The intention is more flexible.

If you want to start goal setting, but don't know where to start, you can read the post below!

8. Weekly Schedule

Don't set this page in stone (pen) just yet! This is one of my favorite bullet journal pages to make at the start of every semester! Starting a new semester and classes with lots of possibilities is SO exciting!

With that being said, after I attend the first week of school, my schedule ends up changing quite a bit. You might not like the teacher. You might get into a class you were on the waitlist for. You might just not like the class!

And, you might even change your major after attending the class for the first time!

That was the long way of saying that you might want to write out your semester schedule in pencil and then cover it with pen after the class add/drop deadline.

9. Reading Trackers

For many school classes, you have to read a lot! You might also enjoy reading outside of class! Whatever is the case, having a reading tracker will keep you on task, especially if the book is boring!

I'm looking at you, The Iliad!

There are many different types of reading trackers, so I'm not going to cover them here. I prefer just a list of the books I've read over the year with a star-rating, and a "Books to Read" page.

You can check out my post on reading more, if you are interested in my bullet journal reading pages and reading routine!

10. Study Tracker

I personally don't use a study tracker because I just make sure that all my homework gets finished, and I track studying using a stopwatch on my smartwatch.

For some people, a study tracker can be a valuable tool though! I'm not going to have any great suggestions because I've never used a bullet journal study tracker. If I did, I would use something similar to a time tracker so check those out if you are interested!

To make a study tracker the most beneficial, I would probably use a different color for each class, but like I said, I haven't tried it out.

11. End of School To-Do List

This was SO helpful to me in high school! It's so nice to be able to see the finish line in the distance! You could even make a bullet journal layout that looks like a board game, and give yourself a special treat at the end.

Finishing the school year is a huge accomplishment, so you should feel proud of yourself! An end of school to-do list might be just the thing to keep everything organized!

12. Major Maps

As someone who loves planning, this is one of my favorite layouts to just look at. I have a square for every class that I have to take, and I map out the classes I still need to take. It's so satisfying to color in the boxes as I finish classes!

I draw each class option that I might take in pencil, and I outline classes that are required/classes I really want to take in pen.

This is a layout that I am migrating from journal to journal, and I think it is really useful! :)

13. Grade Tracker

I don't have a picture of this layout because... it's basically a page that lists all the classes I've taken along with the grade I received. I might be in college for 6 years with my major changes and minor(s), so my layout has room for 12 semesters.

Throughout the year, I plan in advance what classes I want to take each semester in pencil, and then I cover the pencil with ink after the semester is completed and add my letter grade next to each class name. It's basically a transcript.

14. Habit Trackers

Having habits in college is SO important! It might be your first time away from home, and so if you don't have a plan, you won't make time for the important things like exercise and going to bed at a good time.

Bullet journal habit trackers are great for keep track of how much you work out while at school. The bullet journal layout above shows how you can track multiple habits using a dutch door layout, and the picture below shows my habit tracker for stretching.

Here are some great habits to add to your list!

Eating fruit and vegetables
Eating in/cooking for yourself
Taking an unplugged break
Reading a book
Waking up + going to bed at certain times
Spending time with friends
Hours studied (mentioned above)
Time spent on a personal hobby (non-school related for self-care/relaxation)

Remember to start small and build from there!

15. Fitness Trackers

Exercising at college is crucial and it will help you do better in school! Plus, exercising is a great break from all that studying you are going to be doing! I take a lot of dance classes at my school, so I already have built in time for exercise, but I also like to do more exercise on the side.

Recommended - Healthy Eating + Fitness Tracking in My Bullet Journal

In the past, I've also tracked how much time I spend on each type of exercise (cardio, strength, stretching).

16. Class Information

I've only made these bullet journal layouts with class information a few times because I know exactly where I can find all my class information online. With that being said, it is sometimes helpful to make a bullet journal layout showing major homework assignments, and class progress. When I make this type of bullet journal layout, I have a separate page for each class.

Adulting/Organization Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

17. Passwords

I'm not going to include this layout in this post for obvious reasons, but this page is so helpful for passwords for sites I don't go to often. It may not be a good idea to include important passwords on this page if you carry your bullet journal around with you, but it is a good place to keep passwords that aren't super important.

On this page, I include the email, the password, and other account information I would need to log in. If it is an important password, I might leave out the email or put a _ for some characters in the password if it's something I would understand at a glance.

18. Recipe List

Considering getting takeout again? Think again! What if you hit your health goals this semester by doing weekly meal planning? With a handy list of all the recipes you enjoy, you can simply go down the list.

Having a list of recipes, you enjoy eating in your bullet journal takes the stress out of meal planning. I have a screenshot of all my recipes in a certain folder on my phone as well, so I can always consult the actual recipe when shopping!

I make enough of one recipe to last for all my lunches or dinners every week so I only have to do a lot of cooking one day out of the week. For my other meals, I do simple recipes like overnight oats or BBQ beans with greens.

19. Master College Shopping List

If you are like me, you probably use the same ingredients over and over again. You buy the same things on repeat, but you always end up forgetting about that one item you know you needed. You just couldn't remember it!

If you don't carry around your bullet journal with you, you could just have this list on your phone. The list would contain common household items such as soap and trash bags along with all the food items you buy.

Every time you go to the store, you can take a quick glance down this list to make sure you aren't forgetting anything important!

20. Capsule Wardrobe Bullet Journal Page

I've talked quite a bit about my capsule wardrobe on this blog. If you've never heard of it, and you feel like your closet is all over the place, then you came to the right place. Starting a capsule wardrobe is not as hard or as restrictive as it might sound!

Check out these articles to get started!

Having a list of all the clothing in your closet is also handy for shopping because "how many black shirts do I already have in my closet???" will be removed from your vocabulary. It'll be right there in your bullet journal.

21. Cleaning Schedule

I feel like I've been saying that a lot of the pages on the list are helpful, but it's true! Having a cleaning schedule will help you have a clean environment to live in, and hopefully, you'll feel less stressed if you like studying in your living space because it will be cleaner and less cluttered.

I don't currently have a cleaning schedule in my bullet journal because I already have my routine down, but if having a bullet journal layout that helps you stick to cleaning, then go for it!

22. Budget Page

Setting and sticking to a budget is important no matter how old you are, and college is a great time to start building a habit of saving and spending less.

I usually make very simple budget pages. I write down how much I spent or earned. At the end of the week, I write down the amount of money I have in the net column so I can see at a glance how much the money in my bank account fluctuates week to week. This also gives me a general idea of how much money I spend week to week.

Something new I'm trying out is drawing a horizontal box at the end of every month so I can calculate how much I spent and earned for the entire month. It is really helpful if you need accountability with how much you are spending.

One of my goals this year is to make a certain amount of money, so this will help keep me on track, without having to have a separate budget page for each month of the year!

23. Morning + Night Routines

There's kind of an expectation that college students stay up really late. When you think of a college student, you might think of a student hunched over a laptop in the wee hours of the morning. Don't get me wrong! Some students totally do this, but you don't have to.

Some students also dread taking 8 AM classes. That's ok, they aren't for everyone... but, having a set schedule will help you get enough sleep, which is super important!

Having a morning and night routine will ease you into bed and out of bed literally. 🤣

I know sometimes it takes a little longer to get ready for bed than other days, so I don't have a specific time that I go to bed at, I just start my night routine at a certain time, and then get in bed, when I'm finished with my routine.

24. Weekly Routine

As you can see from the picture above, this weekly routine page is a little different than a weekly schedule.

This layout includes everything that I do once a week or multiple times a week, but not daily.

A few ideas of things you can include on your weekly routine bullet journal layout are:

meal planning
laundry
grocery shopping
meal prep + cooking

I like having weekly routines better than having daily routines because they are easier for me to stick to and they aren't super repetitive like daily routines are. If you miss doing something one day, you have a little bit of flexibility.

Miscellaneous/Fun Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

25. Level 10 Life

I talk about how this layout works more in my 2021 bullet journal setup, but the basic idea is to divide your life into roughly ten sections, and then to rate each area of your life on a scale of one to ten. The idea for this layout comes from the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.

I have been using this layout for the past four or five years, and it gives me a good idea of what areas of my life I need to focus on, and what areas of my life are going well. College is a super busy time of life, but it is important to make sure you are making time for the important things!

26. Highlights/Memories

It's so fun to make a highlight page and then look back at the (hopefully) filled page at the end of the year! This is a great way to add a scrapbooking and journaling aspect to your bullet journal. You can just do a list with space for you to write down your highlights each month, or you can go wild with pictures and washi tape!

Some people like to do "A Year in Polaroids" where you glue one picture a month into your bullet journal.

7. Summer Plans/Bucket List

After school finishes for the year, you need to have something to look forward too! There are many ways you can set up this bullet journal page, but just a list and the collage style are probably the most popular!

Recommended - My Bullet Journal Summer Bucket List + How You Can Create One Too

Have some fun with washi tape and stickers! You can also draw a doodle in pencil of each thing on your summer bucket list and then color it in and add ink as you do each activity.

Recommended - Making a Summer Bucket List to Help You Reach Your Goals

28. Self-Care/Reward List

Tests are hard, stressful, and they take a lot of preparation, so you deserve a reward afterward.

Now, I'm always an ice cream girl so you'll find me eating some sort of non-dairy chocolate peanut butter concoction after taking a test, but you might prefer different rewards, so it's a great idea to have a list!

If you are trying to be more health-conscious, you can have a list of healthy self-care activities that you enjoy, such as knitting or making a new recipe. You can also have a progress chart, showing how much more, you have to do before you get your reward!

29. Things to Try at College

At college, as at most new places, people are going to give you recommendations. I'm talking about new places to visit, restaurants to try, classes to take, clubs to go to!

It's a good idea to have all of these ideas in one place for when you are bored.

30. Memories

College is a lot of hard work, but it's also a lot of fun! Many people use a bullet journal as a way to keep track of memories, as well as a way to organize their life, so this is an easy way to keep track of the highlights of your year.

This is an especially great option for those who don't like doing traditional journaling. For the layout above, I just have a bulleted list that I make during the month as things happen.

Other Great Bullet Journal Pages for College Students Around the Internet

If you are anything like me, you always look at as many ideas as possible before getting to work. Yeah, it might just be procrastination, but it is helpful to see a lot of bullet journal layouts so you can see what pages are going to work best for you!

I've done some of the heavy lifting for you by collecting the best posts on bullet journaling for students right here! You're welcome!

I have some other posts on bullet journaling for students that you can also read. They will be listed at the bottom of this post!

There are tons of great bullet journal page ideas for college students out there, so take a look on Pinterest or even YouTube if you want more ideas.

30 Bullet Journal Pages for College Students (Everything from Classes to Meal Planning

That was a long post, but if you made it to the end, I hope you got some new ideas for your bullet journal, and that you feel a little more prepared for your next year of college! College brings a lot of changes, but it is also very fun and exciting!

I've already finished a few years of college, but I still have a few left and these are the bullet journal pages that I've used throughout my time at college to keep my life organized! If you have any other ideas for bullet journal pages for college students, feel free to drop them in the comments!

If you enjoyed this post, you'll enjoy these ones too:

That's it for the bullet journal pages for college students! Here's to an amazing semester of college!

Please pin and share if you enjoyed this post! Thanks! :)

July 05, 2025 No comments

Reading is one of the best ways to learn new things! Naturally, it makes sense to have a goal of reading more books this year, but it's hard to actually put the goal into practice. We all have busy lives so it can be hard to find time to read more books. Don't worry though because if you want to read more books this year than ever before then you are in the right place!

How to Actually Read More Books This Year (29 Actionable Tips)

Updated for 2026

How to Read More Books This Year (30 Actionable Tips)

I'm not one of those people who would describe themselves as an avid reader, so if you are like me, then I have some tips and tricks for you. I'll let you take a page right out of my book!

I've already read over 30 books this year, and I'm a full-time college student. In fact, last semester I took 17.5 credits, and still found the time to read, while maintaining good grades.

Even though I'm on summer break right now, I still have a busy schedule. Either way I'm sure you have a busy schedule too!

This list contains tips on how to find books you'll enjoy reading, how to create a habit of reading, how to read books effectively, and even tips on finding the motivation to read.

Read to the end to see what my reading routine is like!

Why Do You Want to Read More Books?

Later on in the article, I'll dish out some tips on maintaining your motivation to read, but if you don't start out with any, then those tips aren't going to help.

Before you set a goal of reading 100 books this year, it's a good idea to ask yourself the following question:

Why do I want to read more books?

Your answer to this question will guide what books you read, and how often you read. Reading a certain number of books just because it sounds like it's a good goal to have, isn't going to be enough.

Books are a great resource, but if you don't like reading, then you just aren't going to do it. I'll answer the question above to help you out a little.

I mainly read to learn new things, and to better myself. I read mostly non-fiction.

Do I read fiction books as well? Absolutely!

I love curling up with a great mystery. If you haven't read The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie, I highly recommend it.

But... back to my main point. Figure out your why, and then you'll find your way. Let's get right into the tips you can use to read more books this year.

29 Tips for Reading More Books This Year

1. Get a (FREE) Reading App

This is one of my top tips for reading more, and for good reason. Almost everyone (yes, I'm looking at you) has a phone and spends a good deal of time on it.

Instead of spending your 3-4 hours a day looking at random emails from lists you shouldn't still be subscribed to, or just scrolling through random things on social media that you don't even need to know about, why not read something of value to YOU instead?

I'll cut straight to what you want to know. My favorite reading app is Libby.

All you need is a library card, and then you'll have unlimited access to a whole library of eBooks and audiobooks. The app is completely FREE so you really can't go wrong with it, but below are a few of the best features on the app in case you are still on the fence.

Percent Read - You can easily see how much you've read, and how much you still need to read or listen to.
Samples - Before you decide to "check out" a book, you can read a few pages of it to see if it's worth it.
Begin Right Where You Left Off - Your bookmark cannot fall out of the book. I know that is one of my pet peeves! You can also bookmark pages in the book so you can re-find all the best tips at the end.
Resize Text + Choose Font - Libby allows you to make the text of the eBooks all the same font and size. Sometimes books do have annoying fonts so it's nice to keep everything the same size. It's a huge plus for people who don't have perfect eyesight, me included!

Yeah, I know it's not a paper book, so it won't have completely the same feel to it that book lovers love, but you always have your phone with you. Having a reading app will help you read more, and that's the goal!

I've hands down read more books this year than in previous years after downloading Libby!

2. Listen to Audiobooks

No one said you actually have to physically look at the words on the page to read books. Speed up the books if you want to "read" more in less time (as long as you can still understand it, of course).

As I said before, you can get audiobooks for free on Libby, but did you know that you can find audiobooks on YouTube as well? I'm all about finding resources for free! 🤣

So next time, you are super interested in reading a popular book, check and see if they have it on YouTube. You never know what book you might find.

I'll get you started by recommending some great books in a few different genres below:

Listening to audiobooks is a great way to actually multi-task.

Listen to an audiobook during your commute to work, while taking a walk, or doing tasks around the house. This way, you can make mundane chores like doing the laundry worth your while because you can learn at the same time.

Listening to audiobooks will definitely help you read more books this year!

3. Always Have a Book in Your Backpack

Or purse! This blog is mainly for girls who are college aged, so I know we are all lugging around backpacks. Maybe pick a small book to stuff in the front pocket? 😂

But seriously, if you always are carrying around a book with you, then you will be more likely to read it.

4. Have a Library Membership

Maybe this should be #1 lol, but who has the money these days to go out and buy books that they might not even like? Certainly not me!

We want to read more books this year, not have more unread books cluttering up our shelves at home.

If you don't have a library membership, and you want to read more books, please go to the library and sign up for a library membership. You will have a whole new world at your fingertips... or on the next block.

Having a library membership is something that you will not regret, unless you don't return a book for like 20 years lol.

If you are currently in college, go and check out your library! I suggest checking out around five books every time you go, and then read the ones you feel like reading.

Flip through all of them, and then start reading the one that looks the most interesting.

When the books are due, go and return all of them. The ones that you didn't finish aren't worth your time. There are other more interesting books out there waiting for you!

5. Start With a Short Book

If you are starting with a blank slate, meaning you don't read or you didn't read any books at all last year, then ease yourself into it. Don't go and try to read the longest book you can find.

Starting with a book of short stories is a great pick because you can read one story in one sitting. It's perfect for people who are just starting out!

I recommend Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie. You can't go wrong this book because they are humorous mysteries!

Create a Reading Habit

Now, you might be asking yourself, "How can I read more in a day?" By creating a habit of reading, of course!

If you've read my blog at all before, then you know I'm very into productivity and personal development. I could talk about these things all day!

Below, I'll share a few tips with you on creating a habit of reading!

6. Aim to Read a Chapter a Day

The BEST way to read more books in a year is by reading every day! Who would've thought?

Actually, reading every day is the hard part. 😂

Start by figuring out how much you want to read every day. A chapter is a good starting point because it's long enough that you have time to become engaged in the book. Some books though have longgg chapters so it might not be viable.

Generally, you want your daily reading goal to be something you can complete in one sitting. Every book is different though so 10 pages is a good place to start if the chapters in your chosen book are long.

Reading 10 pages a day is manageable even if you are a beginner, or a busy student.

Set a reminder on your phone or watch at a time when you know you will be free to read. Below are a few tips on different times you can read at.

7. Read in the Morning

Now, I'm not going to be one of those people that demands that you read first thing, right when you get up, before you even get on your phone... but reading in the morning is a great way to start your day.

Recommended Post - Become a Morning Person Now: Hacks for Rising Earlier

You'll learn something new, and you'll feel like you've already accomplished something right at the start of your day. I enjoy reading during breakfast. It's much more fulfilling than just scrolling on social media.

8. Turn Your Phone Off an Hour Before Bed

*chuckles* You weren't expecting to see this on the list, were you? Turn your phone off, unless you are reading books ON your phone. The hour before you go to bed is a great time to read.

I have an alarm on my watch to remind me to get ready for bed.

You can try this too! Set your alarm for a little earlier, than when you usually get ready for bed. When the alarm goes off, get ready for bed like normal.

Recommended Post - Why You Need to Start a Night Routine + How to Create One

Now, you have some extra free time to read your book and everything else is already finished for the day, so you don't have to worry about it!

9. Read During Meals

You already eat every day, right? So... you can tie your love for eating food with and it will help you create the habit.

Everyone spends around three hours a day eating food. That could be three hours spent reading as well! There's nothing like a good book along with a good meal. If you are super busy this is one of the prime times during your day to read.

Give it a try!

10. Read a Page Before Social Media

This tip is for those of you who use social media too much. You can cut down on a bad habit, while making a new, more productive habit.

An effective way to do this is by putting all of your apps into folders. Stick your reading app in a folder with all of your social media apps.

At first, you are going to have to force yourself to click on the reading app first, but after a while, you'll probably look forward to reading more than scrolling.

11. Whenever You Read, Read a Certain Amount

It takes at least a few minutes to actually get into the book (if you know what I mean) so don't just read a page every time you sit down. That's just not enough to do the book justice.

I know. I know. I just said to read a single page before scrolling on social media, but that's because you have to start small to create the habit.

After the habit is created it'll be easier to read more. It ALL starts with a single page though. So read the first page, and then only if you feel like it read more.

Bonus points if you stop reading right when you get to the most exciting part of the book so you can look forward to reading later. Just kidding! 😂

12. Listen to or Read a Book While Traveling

Skip social media and read a book while waiting places! I'm not condoning trying to read while driving 🤣, but have you considered listening to an audiobook?

Let's face it. The daily commute is boring. Making it more exciting by listening to or reading a good book! But make sure you stay safe while doing it.

13. Skip Watching a Movie or TV + Read Instead

This might be a little controversial, but instead of watching a movie (if it's by yourself), find a book to read instead!

It will be a lot more fulfilling! Plus, you can sit in a cozy nook you create for yourself and set the atmosphere by sipping on a cup of hot chocolate.

You can do this by using your TV remote as a bookmark! 🤣

In all seriousness though, you can keep your book right next to the TV remote.

Finding the Motivation to Read

14. Read Multiple Books at Once

The trick to reading more books is by reading MORE books. Right now, I'm reading five books. I'm probably never going to finish the most boring book, and that's ok!

You aren't always going to be in the mood for reading that personal development, so read an adventure book at the same time. I'll touch more on my own reading routine at the bottom of this post, but an ideal place to start is with a nonfiction book and a fiction book.

15. Join a Book Club

Joining a book club can be a great way to read more books because other people are reading the same book along with you. There is an element of accountability, and you can have the fun of meeting up and discussing your book together.

You can search and ask around to find a book club in your area or you can join an online book club. When you join a book club, you don't have to come up with new books to read!

If you don't feel like getting to know new people, you can start your own book club by reaching out to some friends! This should make for some fun conversations, and then you have an excuse to see your friends on a regular basis without having to come up with plans all the time!

16. Have a Reading Partner to Discuss Books With

Love the idea of a book club, but don't want to have to schedule and meet up, and all of that? Consider asking a friend if they would be your reading partner.

It's the same as a book club, except for just with two people! You both read the same book, and then you get together or facetime to discuss it.

This is a great way to keep in touch with old friends or something you can do with your significant other!

17. Read a Genre You've Never Tried Before

It's always good to get out of your box and try something new! Every once in a while, try reading a book from a new genre.

Look for those almost five-star books so know you're reading something that other people who love that genre enjoyed!

18. Have a Cozy Reading Spot

You generally sleep in the same spot, right? And you generally eat in the same spot, right? So, to help cement your new reading habit, why not have your own personal reading spot too?

When you are sitting somewhere comfy, the book is bound to be more captivating.

It doesn't need to be anything elaborate. Just consider having a seat on your sofa be your "reading chair". Get a squishy pillow for that spot or a cute sign that says, "reading nook" if you feel inclined.

The last step is to only sit there when you are reading. Enjoy! 😊

19. Don't Finish Books You Don't Like

Yes, yes, yes!

This is one of the MOST important tips on this list. Please don't force yourself to read books you don't enjoy. There is someone else out there who has written the same thing in a style that you'll like.

Life is too short to spend it reading dry and boring books.

So, here's my advice:

Read one chapter, and if you don't like it, then drop it. If the book is due, and you have read less than 15% of it, then it's not your type, so dump it.

And it's important to note that if it's a classic book that you want to read or is famous and worth a read, but just aren't enjoying... maybe, it's just not time to read it right now. As you read more, you'll grow as a reader, and you'll get more out of books. Give that book another go in a year or two!

20. Do a Reading Challenge

A lot of libraries have summer reading challenges so stop by your local library and see if they have anything going on! What are some good reading challenges to try?

Read a different genre every month.
Reading 24 fiction and 24 nonfiction books this year.
Read a book published in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, etc.
Read all of the books by your favorite author.

Search "reading challenge" on Google, and you'll find the perfect reading challenge for you!

21. Find Book Recommendations

Read more of what you love and skip what you don't! There are a lot of places to find book recommendations!

If you have absolutely no idea where to start, you can ask your friends and family. Make a list of all the books they recommend to you and start reading through them.
Make a list of topics you are interested in learning more about. There's a book on that!
Make an account on Goodreads. (More on this later!)
Look up the genre (i.e. "fantasy book list") you are interested in on Pinterest. (Pinterest is a great place to find reviews by bloggers.)
Look up a book you like on a store or library website, and then see what similar books are shown.

As you read more books, you'll find that your TBR booklist will get longer!

22. Read a "Fluff" Book Every Once in a While

It's not a waste of time to read an old book that you've already read four times or to read that cheesy "not-so-well-written" book. Every once in a while, you just need something light and easy to read.

Remember that book you really liked as a child? Go back and reread it again!

23. Follow Book Accounts on Social Media

What better way to remind yourself of your new reading habit, than following book accounts so you have to scroll past book reviews to find other content? Yeah, it's kind of a foolproof method.

Now, I'm always trying to cut back on social media usage, so I don't use this tip myself, but I do know there are a lot of book accounts on various social media platforms.

Keeping Track of Your Reading

24. Track Your Reading

This is so obvious, but tracking your reading, and how many days of the month you read, will help you keep reading.

It definitely helps me! I love being able to see how many books I've read so far this year!

There are tons of ways to keep track of your reading. You can have a "Books Read" list. You can have a checkbox for every chapter in the book you are reading. And you can also have a simple habit tracker with a checkbox for every day of the month.

It's all up to what works best for you!

25. Make a Goodreads Account

Goodreads is by far one of the most popular sites for readers, and for good reason (See what I did there lol?). I highly recommend downloading the app, if you don't want to track your reading on paper. This app has basically everything a reader can want.

Below are some of the highlights:

You can create a reading goal.
You can post reviews of books you read. (This is a great way to re-evaluate what you just read.)
You can connect with your friends and see what they are reading!
You can follow your favorite authors.
You have a list for books you've already read, books you are currently reading, and books you want to read.
When you finish a book, you get a list of similar books to your email account, so you get recommendations for new books to read whenever you finish a book!

There are also giveaways to enter! I haven't found any downsides to this site so far!

26. Have a Reading Goal

I'm big into goal setting, but you might not be, and that's ok. You don't need to write down a ten-step plan or anything. Just decide how many goals you want to read this year or this month.

Recommended Post - How to Set New Year's Resolutions You'll Actually Achieve

If you do love goal setting, check out the post above for some tips!

If not, you can do bare bones goal setting, and just write down how many books you want to read on the last day of your calendar app where you'll see it at the end of the year.

27. Create a "Books Read" + "Books to Read" List

Yep, this is exactly what it sounds like! You just need two lists, and you can create them anywhere: on your phone, in your bullet journal, or simply on two sheets of paper.

My "Books to Read" list is very simple. It's just a list of books I want to read. Most of the books I want to read are on my Goodreads account. It just depends on if my phone or my bullet journal is closer.

My "Books Read" list also contains my rating of the book on a scale of 1-5 stars. I think this list is very handy because, at a glance, I can see what books I really liked, and which ones I didn't.

28. Take Notes When Reading Non-Fiction

I know you've read a great personal development book, felt really pumped up in the moment, and then put it down, and never thought about it again. It's time for that to STOP.

You don't have to do anything fancy. In fact, I think you shouldn't.

Just take some notes as you read on paper or on your notes app.

You might even consider having a special reading journal so you can have all your notes in one place, and *ahem* you won't have an excuse to not reread them because they are all in one place.

In fact, I think the best way to read a book and remember it is by taking notes.

29. Keep Track of Your Favorite Authors

Consider following all of your favorite authors on Goodreads so you know when they publish a new book.

A lot of (still-alive) authors also have their own websites so you can go sign up for their email newsletters, and be in the know.

You can also just make a list on paper of your favorite authors to remind yourself to go check out their other books.

30. Screenshot Pages of eBooks

And... last but not least: An easy way to take notes while reading eBooks is to just screenshot the page.

I prefer screenshotting pages to bookmarking pages just because then I know I have everything important from the book already on my phone where I can look at it again later.

My Reading Routine

All right, I think if you've read this much of the article, then you probably deserve to have an insider look at what my own reading routine is. It's nothing fancy, but it might give you some ideas that will help you read more books this year!

I have a "Books to Read" + "Books Read" list in my bullet journal.
I read 2-5 books at a time using both Libby and physical books.

If the book is due, and I didn't finish it, then I just return it, unless I'm sure I want to read it, and then I give the book another chance.

I usually read while eating breakfast, and then sometime in the afternoon or evening.
Some months I read a lot, and some months I don't read at all.
I added a 2-hour reading limit on my Libby app to help cut down on my phone usage.
I listen to audiobooks while cleaning and doing laundry.
Right now, I listen to podcasts while running, but I'm considering trying out listening to an audiobook. (It might be too long to hold my interest while running as it can get boring listening to the same thing for a long time.)
Whenever I finish a book, I leave a few notes about it for myself on Goodreads, and then I write it down on my "Books Read" list.
Then, on Goodreads, I add the recommended books to my "Want to Read" list on the app.

That's pretty much all there is to my reading routine!

How to Read More Books This Year (30 Actionable Tips)

This post was long, but I'm happy you made it all the way through! I hope this list gave you some actionable tips for reading more books this year!

If you want to recommend a book to other people reading this article, please drop the title in the comments!

If you liked this article, you should read some of these ones too!

Thanks so much for stopping by to reading this article! I hope you'll find the time to read more books this year!

Don't forget to save this post for later!

How to Actually Read More Books This Year (30 Actionable Tips)

June 29, 2024 No comments

creating real-life systems

for productivity and growth

WRITER, PRODUCTIVITY ENTHUSIAST, TAP DANCER

real-life systems

productivity

personal growth

The 10-Step Guide to Staying Productive When You Feel Burnt Out

1. Do a Brain Dump

2. Cut Back to Basics

3. Consume Some Mindless Content

4. Entirely Switch Up Your Routine

5. Take Care of Your Health

6. Find Some Inspiration

7. Do One Task at a Time

8. Take Frequent Breaks

9. Limit Your Technology Usage

10. Don't Try to be Perfect

The 10-Step Guide to Staying Productive When You Feel Burnt Out

How I Track My Finances in My Bullet Journal (Without Overwhelm)

My Finance Tracking Routine

1. Finance Tracking Frequency

2. Pay Bills

3. Move Money to Savings

4. Record

My Bullet Journal Finance Tracking Layouts

1. Earning and Spending Bullet Journal Layout

2. Year-Over-Year Monthly Change Bullet Journal Layout

How I Track My Finances in My Bullet Journal (Without Overwhelm)

How I Created a Minimalist Phone to Cut My Screen Time in Half

1. Delete All Unnecessary Apps

2. Turn Your Phone Black + White

3. Install a Minimalist Phone Launcher

4. Track Your Screen Time

5. Install an App Timer

6. Turn Off Nonessential Notifications

How I Created a Minimalist Phone to Cut My Screen Time in Half

30 Bullet Journal Pages for College Students (Everything from Classes to Meal Planning)

Back to School Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

1. School Dump

2. College Packing List

3. Before School To-Do List

4. Back to School Shopping List

5. College Possessions List

School Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

6. Year/Semester at a Glance

7. Semester Goals/Intentions

8. Weekly Schedule

9. Reading Trackers

10. Study Tracker

11. End of School To-Do List

12. Major Maps

13. Grade Tracker

14. Habit Trackers

15. Fitness Trackers

16. Class Information

Adulting/Organization Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

17. Passwords

18. Recipe List

19. Master College Shopping List

20. Capsule Wardrobe Bullet Journal Page

21. Cleaning Schedule

22. Budget Page

23. Morning + Night Routines

24. Weekly Routine

Miscellaneous/Fun Bullet Journal Pages for College Students

25. Level 10 Life

I talk about how this layout works more in my 2021 bullet journal setup, but the basic idea is to divide your life into roughly ten sections, and then to rate each area of your life on a scale of one to ten. The idea for this layout comes from the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.

26. Highlights/Memories

7. Summer Plans/Bucket List

28. Self-Care/Reward List

29. Things to Try at College

30. Memories

Other Great Bullet Journal Pages for College Students Around the Internet

30 Bullet Journal Pages for College Students (Everything from Classes to Meal Planning

How to Read More Books This Year (30 Actionable Tips)

Why Do You Want to Read More Books?

29 Tips for Reading More Books This Year

1. Get a (FREE) Reading App

2. Listen to Audiobooks

3. Always Have a Book in Your Backpack

creating
real-life
systems