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How many books have you read in the past year?
How many of those books were actually remembered a month after you finished them?
Probably not many.
Why is that? It’s because most people don’t take the time to reflect on what they’ve read.
They just flip through the pages, get to the end, and move on to the next book.
But what if you could remember more details about every book you’ve read?
That’s why keeping a reading journal is important.
In this blog post, we will discuss why it is important to keep a reading journal and some of the benefits that come with it!
Why Keeping A Reading Journal Is Important
If you’re an avid reader you may know that a reading journal is beneficial for improving your reading ability and increasing the enjoyment you get from books. However, you might not realise that keeping a reading journal is important in many areas of your life and can benefit your memory, mental health, and writing skills. Here are some less considered benefits of keeping a reading journal:
- Boosts Your Memory
When you keep a reading journal, you’re more likely to remember what you’ve read. This is because the act of writing forces you to process and reflect on the information in the book. So next time you can’t remember what happened in that book you read last month, take a look at your reading journal!
2. Improves Mental Health
Writing in a reading journal can also be therapeutic. It allows you to express your thoughts and feelings about what you’ve read, without judgement. And it can be a great way to relieve stress after a long day.
3. Enhances Writing Skills
If you’re a fan of writing, keeping a reading journal will help to enhance your skills. It is often said that if you want to learn to write better, you need to read more. A reading journal will make you think more deeply about the book you’ve just read and you will start to notice patterns and plot devices used by authors to convey the story. This will improve your own story telling ability over time and you’ll start to notice the elements that make a good story. If you often write yourself into a corner, then reading more and keeping a reading journal can help you to learn how to troubleshoot the problem. You will be able to think logically about where the story is heading and the ending should become clearer. You’ll also get practice in summarising and expressing your thoughts on what you’ve read. So if you’re hoping to improve your writing, start keeping a reading journal today! If you’re looking for a way to help you plot better stories then check out our novel notebook to help you develop and keep track of story ideas.
Digital Reading Journal
If you prefer to plan digitally, check out our digital reading journal available to purchase via Etsy.
If you’re an avid reader, you know how great it feels to lose yourself in a good book. But sometimes, it can be hard to remember all the details of what you’ve read. That’s where a reading journal comes in handy. A reading journal is simply a log of the books you’ve read, along with your thoughts and impressions. It can help you remember what you’ve read, and it’s also a great way to track your reading progress over time. Whether you’re looking to remember specific details or just want to keep a general record of your reading habits, a reading journal is a valuable tool for any reader.
By looking back at your reading log, you can see how much you’ve read and what kinds of books you’re drawn to. Finally, a reading journal is a great way to connect with other readers. By sharing your thoughts and opinions about the books you’re reading, you can find like-minded people who love the same authors and genres that you do. So why not give it a try? Start keeping a reading journal today and see how it transforms your relationship with books.
Why Read?
Reading is such a personal experience, and yet there are so many benefits to it that we often forget. Reading allows us to explore other worlds, to meet new people, and to learn about different cultures and time periods. It can also be a great way to relax and escape from the stresses of everyday life.
A reading journal allows you to keep track of the books you’ve read, reflect on what you liked and didn’t like about them and make notes on your favourite authors. It’s also a great way to track your favourite series and genres. Keeping a reading journal helps you get more out of your reading experiences. It’s also a great way to monitor your own progress as a reader. Not only will you be able to see how much you’re reading, but you’ll also be able to track your improvement over time. The benefits of reading are countless, so why not make the most of your experience by keeping a journal? You’ll be glad you did.
5 Benefits Of Keeping A Reading Journal
1. It’ll make you a better reader. A reading journal can help you become a better reader by forcing you to critically engage with what you’re reading. When you’re making notes in your journal, you’ll naturally start to pay more attention to the details of the story. As you start to notice more and more, you’ll find that your comprehension and understanding of the text improves. In addition, keeping a reading journal will help you to develop your own voice as a reader. By sharing your thoughts and impressions of the books you’re reading, you’ll learn to articulate your own opinion and to back up your points with evidence. As you become more comfortable expressing your own thoughts, you’ll find that your confidence as a reader grows.
2. You’ll get more out of the books you read. Keeping a reading journal is a great way to ensure that you get the most out of the books you read. By taking the time to reflect on what you’ve read, you’ll be able to connect with the text on a deeper level and really understand the author’s intent. In addition, by sharing your thoughts and impressions with others, you’ll be able to gain different perspectives on the books you’re reading. You might even find that you enjoy discussing your favourite books with other readers just as much as you enjoy reading them!
3. You’ll remember more of what you read. If you’re an avid reader, chances are that you’ve forgotten the plot of more than a few books. Keeping a reading journal can help you to avoid this problem by giving you a place to record your thoughts and impressions as you read. By referring back to your journal, you’ll be able to jog your memory and remind yourself of what happened in the story. In addition, by writing down your thoughts and feelings about the book, you’ll be more likely to remember how you felt while reading it. This can be especially helpful when trying to recall a book you read long ago.
4. It’s a great way to keep track of your reading progress. If you’re working towards a reading goal, keeping a reading journal is a great way to track your progress. You’ll be able to see how many books you’ve read over the course of a year and what genres you’re reading the most. In addition, by sharing your reading journal with others, you’ll be able to get feedback on your reading habits and get suggestions for new books to try.
5. It can help you better understand the books you read. When you take the time to reflect on what you’ve read, either through writing or speaking about your thoughts, you start to better understand the book. You begin to see how different elements work together and how the author meant for them to affect readers. In addition, by sharing your thoughts and impressions with others, you may find that they offer different interpretations that you hadn’t considered before. This can help to broaden your understanding of the book and provide you with a new perspective.
Reading Journals
Check out our reading journals available in a range of formats to suit your preferences. Tracking your reading and journalling about books read is a great way to get more from your reading and remember the plot of books read.
Reading Journal Book
Printable Book Log
Digital Reading Log
Conclusion
So, if you’re looking for a way to get more out of your reading, remember the benefits of keeping a reading journal and give it a try. Not only will you be a better reader, but you’ll also have an easier time recalling what you read and be able to track your progress as you work towards your reading goals.
If this post has inspired you to start keeping a reading journal, check out our reading journal prompts for ideas on what to write about. If you’re still not sure that seeing a reading log is for you, check out our post about the pros and cons of keeping a reading log. Happy journaling!
Reading Journals
If you’re struggling to finish a book, writing about it in a reading journal can help you get to the root cause of your dislike and better understand your reading preferences in the process.
