Is Your TBR Out of Control? 3 Tips to Keep Books from Getting Lost

We’ve all done it. We’ve all added a book to our TBR that we fully intend to read, and then three bookstore visits and five late-night Amazon shopping sessions later, we have forgotten the very book we were once excited to check out. It is just part of being a reader. And some days we might revisit those books, but sometimes they get shoved to the side, and we can’t quite get ourselves to pull them out again. So many new shiny things! If you find yourself constantly finding new books to read, here are three tips for making sure books don’t get lost in your TBR.

Tip #1: Organize by Date

If you like things really organized and don’t mind holding yourself to a schedule, organizing your TBR by the date you added each book can be really helpful. This way, you will be able to stay where you are on the list while still enjoying the fun of adding new books as you find them. This approach works especially well if you track your TBR in a digital file, but it is a very structured way to manage a TBR list. If structure is not your thing, one of the following two options might be a better fit.

Tip #2: Split Your TBR Into Two Groups

If you prefer more flexibility, you can split your TBR into two groups, old and new. Books that have been on your list for over six months go in one group, and books newer than six months go in the next. You can adjust the time based on how fast you read (e.g., two months, two weeks, etc.). Keep each group in two different locations. If you have a physical TBR, keep each group on its own shelf. If you have a digital list, keep the two groups labeled and make sure to move books as time goes by. This strategy helps draw a clear line that prevents older additions from getting lost while still letting you decide when to read what. If you are a mood reader and prefer a completely free-spirited approach, the following option might be right up your alley.

Tip #3: Organize Your TBR Based on Moods and Other Categories

If you are a mood reader or just prefer maximum reading flexibility, organizing by mood or other categories (length, genre, cool covers, etc.) can be a great option. If you use this option, I recommend including a category for books that don’t fit one genre that you can grab from when you aren’t really sure what you want to read. You can also mix this approach with the first option and include a category of books added to your TBR a long time ago that you can browse when you are in a reading slump. This approach can be great if you have a larger TBR. If you are organizing physical books, using labels on your shelf to mark where each category starts and ends can be helpful. If you have your list online, make sure to add labels. You can also create lists on Amazon with titles corresponding to the category you create.  

Have Fun!

These options can be a great way to ensure none of the amazing books you find get lost among all the other amazing books you regularly add to your TBR. If you have another strategy for organizing your list that has helped you stay on top of your TBR, leave a comment and share it below. I would love to hear from you!