10 Reasons to Keep a Reading Journal

These 10 reasons to keep a reading journal will help you get focused, stay organized, and hit your reading goals!

I’m obsessed with journals. I think most writers are because we are constantly having ideas we want to write down, feelings we need to process, or lists of things to organize.

I’m a recent convert to the idea of of a reading journal, and I have to say, I love it. I love the way it keeps me organized and helps me keep track of my reading goals. If you’re not on the reading journal bandwagon, what are you waiting for?

10 Reason to Keep a Reading Journal

Keep track of your TBR pile

Go ahead and admit it. Your TBR pile is out of control, isn’t it? That’s okay, we’ve all been there. The good news is, a reading journal can help you keep track of all the books on your TBR pile, and even help you plan and budget for them!

Organize your book wishlist

You know you’ve received many book recommendations from friends and family, bloggers, and bookstagrammers, but how can you remember them? Using a journal to record all the book recommendations is really helpful when you head to the library or bookstore.

Keep track of how much and how often you read

A journal can help you log everything from books you’ve read to time spent reading. This can help you hit any reading goals, whether the goal is reading for 30 minutes a day or 12 books in a month!

Retain and remember books you love

Recording reviews or summaries of books, helps you remember which books you’ve already read, and which books you really loved. The simple act of recording a summary helps your brain remember it, and it can feel like visiting and old friend when you look back at you old journal entries.

Record quotes you find inspiring

I love quotes. In fact, I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to quotes and words I love. A reading journal can give you space to put all your favorite quotes in one place.

Keep Record of Book club Contacts

If you’re in a book club, a reading journal can help you keep notes and reviews of the books you’ve read, and also keep track of contact information for any book club members!

Record Reviews and Summaries to refer back to

Keeping record of summaries of reviews of books you loved (or didn’t) can help you avoid reading books you don’t enjoy and find more of what you do!

Keep Track of the Books You Read

Ever forget whether or not you’ve read a certain book? I have. And it would be nice to have had a reading record to make sure I didn’t buy the same book twice. (True story) A reading journal can help you track the books you’ve read, purchased, or loaned to a friend.

Capture questions or topics of interest

I don’t spend enough time reflecting on what I’ve read, and it a goal of my to be more thoughtful in my reading. A journal can help you reflect on questions, thoughts, ideas or topics that interest you and you want to learn more of.

Have fun!

My favorite way to keep track of anything is through fun incentives: coloring sheets, sticker charts, even a simple check list. There is something so validating about watch the number of sticker growing or seeing the box ticked off. So why not have fun with your reading lift? Make a sticker chart of a coloring sheet to help you keep track of all those wonderful books you’re reading!

Reading to get started? I have the perfect reading journal to share with you and it hits all of these notes. Best part? It’s totally free! Sign up and get my FREE Reading Book Planner sent straight to you inbox, complete with book lists, reading logs, and (my favorite) coloring sheets to keep track of all those wonderful books you’ve read!

Don’t forget to save this post for later. Download my reading planner and let me know how it works for you?

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