Recently, I was in a bit of a self-imposed rut when it came to reading.
Don’t get me wrong, I love reading!
I used to power through 2-3 books a WEEK. The issue of finding time to read cropped up after I had Bugga. Between my full time job and two little ones, finding time to read was nearly impossible.
So, in an attempt to motivate myself as well as others, I compiled a list of ways that you can implement reading into a very busy schedule.
Ways to Read More Books (When You Don’t Have Time to Read)
Listen to Audiobooks
I know that some people actually can’t stand having others read to them. I am not one of those people. I actually adore listening to audiobooks! They are great for my commute to work, and to listening to while I’m working on thoughtless tasks or cleaning. I used to get my audiobooks from Audible, until I decided to cut back on some of my less important expenses. Now, I get my audiobooks for free from the library.
Read Right Before Bed
After the kids are asleep, take some time to read right before you go to sleep. I’ve found that reading before bed helps me sleep. If you are like me and have a little one in bed with you, grab a book light or *gasp* an eReader or eReader app on your phone and read some eBooks.
Go to Bed Earlier
Slip into bed a bit earlier than you normally do. One thing that I do is pack my lunch as I’m cooking dinner so that I don’t have to wait until the girls go to bed before I can get that task done. That frees up more time to get to bed earlier and read!
Read to Your Kids
If your children are older, choose some novels that are age-appropriate for them and interesting for you. You’d be surprised how many young adult novels are actually really great reads! This is also an awesome way to bond with your kiddos.
Read with Your Kids
A great addition to a bedtime routine would be sitting quietly and reading your own books together, either in bed or on the couch. This is a great time to cuddle, but still get in a few chapters of your own book.
Utilize Your Lunch Break
I have the ability to eat at my desk, so that is often what I do. I grab my lunch, eat at my desk while I’m working, then use my actual lunch break to run errands and get some reading done. I am lucky enough to have a Starbucks, a library, and even a Barnes and Noble close to work, so I drive over to one of those locations and read for a bit in a nice atmosphere.
Borrow Library Books Instead of Buying
Something about knowing that I have to return a book motivates me to read it a lot more than purchasing a book. When I know a book has to be returned within a certain time frame, it goes to the top of my stack.
Put Down Your Phone and Pick Up a Book
It’s amazing how often we find time to pick up our phone and browse Facebook or watch YouTube videos, but we don’t have time to read. Instead of picking up your phone when you get a spare moment, pick up your book instead. It is a little more inspiring to read in front of our children instead of looking at a phone!
Set a Goal
Having a goal for how many books you read within a certain timeframe will really help motivate you to pick up your book and read! Download this monthly reading log to get you started on reading once a month. Or - use this goal tracker from My Love for Words to check off each day that you are able to get some reading in.
Join a Book Club
Another great motivator is to join a book club! Bonding with friends over great books will inspire you to squeeze in a few extra minutes of reading time each day.
Join GoodReads
GoodReads is a fantastic social media site for books! You can update your reading progress page by page, write and read reviews, make friends, follow friends, get recommendations, and so much more! Logging in a book is as easy as scanning the barcode!
Make an Book Bucket List on Amazon
Keep track of all of the books you want to read within a certain timeframe by creating an Amazon Wishlist specifically for those books.
Utilize Waiting Rooms
Any time I have a doctor’s appointment, I go just a little earlier than I absolutely necessary just so that I have some extra time to read in the waiting room.
Keep the Book You Are Reading with You
You never know when an unexpected bout of time will pop up, so a great idea would be to keep the book you are reading with you at all times. This is easy if you have an eBook Reader app on your phone, a little eReader, and/or a giant purse (lol).
Organize Your To-Read List by Priority
Whether you use an Amazon Wishlist, a printed list, or just a stack next to your bed, organize your reading list by priority. This will save you time digging through a pile of books trying to figure out what to read next.
Participate in a Reading List Challenge
There are some cute reading list challenges floating around Pinterest. Grab one and pick books for your To-Read list. This is a fun way to motivate you to read.
Here are some reading list extras from around the web
Reading List Printables
Printable Reading list from 30 Handmade Days - A super cute printable and also a reading challenge!
Reading List Inspiration
The Rory Gilmore Reading List Challenge from Blogs of a Bookaholic - OMG! I LOVE Gilmore Girls, but MAN this is an epic challenge.
50 Books, 50 States from PopSugar - I love this! A fictional tour of the US via novels.
65 Books You Need to Read in Your 20’s from Buzzfeed - Now that I am 30, this book list is kind of irrelevant, but at least I read a few books on this list!
46 Brilliant Short Novels You Can Read in a Day from Buzzfeed - How perfect is this list for us?
What books are on your reading list? How do you sneak in time to read despite your busy schedule?
