SHELF CONTROL:MANAGING YOUR TBR

Welcome to another chapter of my weekly segment! 📚❤️ If you are a new reader,a very warm welcome ❤.
In this chapter, I am going to discuss how to navigate your TBR shelf based on my personal experience of cause! If your TBR shelf is as small as mine or if your TBR shelf is overwhelming, no worries because this chapter is just for YOU!

Currently, as I'm writing this chapter, I have 18 (eighteen) books on my TBR shelf and 4 (four) book images on my phone's gallery. Books are being released every day, and because I easily feel overwhelmed and burned out, I try to keep my TBR shelf minimal using a few strategies. Here are the top 3 ways:

1. Categorize and prioritize: Recently, I started using a notebook to categorize my TBR by genre and prioritize books based on my excitement level. This helps me focus on the books I really want to read.

2. Regularly reviewing and adjusting: Often, most of the books on my shelf, I sometimes lose interest, and it is not because the book is bad; sometimes I blame it on my attention span. Once I lose interest and I read the blurb, I don't feel any excitement towards it anymore. I remove it from my to-be-read shelf and focus on other books.

3. Use a "maybe" shelf: I've come to see that huge numbers intimidate me, and it is the major reason why I didn't set a definite goal for the 2024 reading challenge; I just went with the flow. Reading should be fun and interesting, and the moment it stops being those things, I chill out a bit. Now, about the "maybe" shelf, this is how it works: if you see a book that catches your interest but you don't quite feel it enough, you put it on the back burner for a while, and you can revisit it by checking Goodreads reviews, re-reading the blurb, and discussing with fellow readers. An example of a book I have on my "Maybe" shelf is The Mechanics of Yenagoa by Michael Afenfia and This May End Badly by Samantha Markum



By using these methods, I've been able to maintain a manageable TBR shelf and reduce my stress levels. What's the most creative way you've managed your TBR shelf? Share your secrets with me in the comments!