'I'm a new mum who read 60 books last year. This is how I actually did it.'

It's a story so old, it's practically a classic: when women become mothers, even the most voracious readers find themselves with no interest in books at all.

Is it because what used to be free time is now spent doing 57 loads of washing a week? Is it because the place where our brains used to be is now a pile of sludge? Is it because we're simply too tired to focus on words on the page?

In all likelihood, it's all of the above. But when my second kid was born last year, I was determined I wouldn't let it happen to me again. I set an ambitious Goodreads goal of one book a week for 2024, and, if I may be so bold, I smashed it out of the park.

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But I'm not bragging for the sake of bragging (honest). I think almost everyone could read more if they do the same things I did — and because I'm not the gatekeeping type, I'll tell you exactly what they are.

Choosing books I enjoy.

Yep, it seems like a no-brainer, but it's astonishing how many of my reading "ruts" have been caused by trying to plough through books I actually just don't enjoy. Don't pretend you're not guilty of the same thing — everyone I know has fallen into the trap of thinking they need to read the latest darling of literary fiction, only to lose interest after a couple of chapters and proceed to read… nothing for many months.

What finally helped me break this cycle was interrogating the reason I want to read more in the first place. It's not because I want to improve myself or stretch my brain. I have a job where I already think a lot (wow, OK, flex!). I read the news (well, I follow a lot of news-adjacent Instagram accounts).

I want to read more because reading is one of the few times I can really get into a state of flow. Unlike when I'm watching TV (which I also love doing!) I physically can't be on my phone at the same time as reading. It relaxes me and entertains me. Immersing myself in a story is beneficial for my mental health, regardless of the subject matter. And that means I'm free to choose books that I actually… like.

When I audited my "To Be Read" list and culled all the titles that fell into the "should" category, everything got suddenly easier. I now have but a single factor I use to choose my next book: Does it make me go ooooooh?

No, not "Pride and Prejudice". Books I actually enjoy.

You know the saying "dance like nobody is watching?" This year, I read like nobody was watching. Because, unlike when I am dancing, when I am often making quite a fool of myself and attracting a fair bit of attention, nobody is watching me read.

I had a public GoodReads account, so I put it on private. Oh, the freedom! The liberty! And — if you can believe it — not one concerned member of the public contacted me to ask why they could no longer track every book I was reading! Bizarre!

Some of the things I have read this year are what other people would call "trashy". I literally couldn't care less. If you can watch six seasons of Gossip Girl -—- and don't pretend you haven't! - I can read four books about a London socialite who's a lot wrapped up in a love triangle and also a little bit wrapped up in some gang warfare (Magnolia Parks, I adore you). Does the fact that many of my books are "chick-lit" mean they don't count as much as Anna Karenina? I don't think so! Soz, Tolstoy, a book is a book, and I like the ones where college hockey players have sex with each other!

Getting comfortable with a 'Did Not Finish'.

Here's the thing: even after committing to only read books that promised to delight me, a few duds snuck in, as they were bound to do. I was forced to remember that slogging through a book you're not vibing just because you've already started it is not going to help you read more.

Fun fact: the term "sunk cost fallacy" was actually coined to describe me trying to read a book about Ancient Greece for my book club. Did I finish it? No! Was I ever going to? No! But did I waste a whole lot of time when I could have been reading other books thinking about how I should read it? I sure did!

Having my book accessible all the time. No, all the time.

As a mum to a young child, having one hard copy of the book you're reading is laughable. The chances that you'll have that book with you when your baby inevitably falls asleep on you are less than zero.

Last year, my goal was to always have a copy of my book on my phone to avoid the inevitable doom-scroll. I mostly read on Kindle (and prefer it to reading on my phone), but use the Kindle app — which neatly syncs with my Kindle every time I open it — in emergency situations, like when I'm nap-trapped.

Another hack I discovered this year which was a total game-changer is audiobooks on Spotify Premium. Premium members get 15 hours of free audiobooks a month, but unlike an Audible subscription, you don't have to commit to a single book. That means if you're reading a hard copy or Kindle book but need to drive somewhere or pick up a baby or, I don't know dig a ditch with your bare hands, you can jump into the audiobook from wherever you're up to, and revert back to the book when you're ready.

Falling back in love with libraries.

Wow, shocker! Yes, this is a very unique recommendation for a concept called "libraries", which you might not have heard of before! But, given I was carting around a baby all year, a visit to the local library served the dual purpose of being a fun family outing and an opportunity for me to pick a new book.

Rediscovering the teenage joy of bringing home a fresh stack of library books has been a delight — we even keep a special "library shelf" at home where my kids' library books sit alongside mine.

Feature image: Supplied.