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13 Ways Book Lovers Make More Time for Reading
So many books, so little time? Every reader's been there. We asked on Facebook and Twitter: How do you make more time for reading? From savvy tips ("Listen to audiobooks while you drive!") to cheeky suggestions ("Just don't sleep!"), these are the ways your fellow book lovers fit reading into their busy lives.
1. "Throughout the day I play a little game. I read a chapter (just one) and then I get up and clean something. Example: Go and sweep the kitchen floor. Then read a chapter. Then fold a load of clothes and put them away. Then go read another chapter. I can do this all day. It works great for me!" -Shannon
2. "I always carry a book with me, so if I have to wait—like at a doctor's office—I can get some reading in." -Brigitta
3. "Get called for jury duty! Ha! Waiting can take hours. Get prepared to catch up on your reading." -Elizabeth
4. "I take the bus to work instead of my car, which saves me money and gives me lots of time to relax and read!" -Michelle
5. "Well, I stay up late reading, which has lead to a mild sleeping disorder…but, guys, books are worth it!" -Kyushu
6. "I wake up a little earlier each day and enjoy a book with breakfast." -Kaitlynn
7. "I am a huge fan of audiobooks. I listen to audiobooks while driving, taking a walk, cooking, and traveling…. Audiobooks offer huge opportunities to make the most of your time while you are doing something else." -Emile
8. "Instead of watching TV before bed, I read! You sleep better that way, too. -Raquel
9. "I actually 'plan' my reading time each day and night. Even if I have a hectic day, I schedule at least 30 minutes for myself." -Susan
10. "It's not the safest way to make time, but I read while walking to work." -Eliza
11. "I've actually called in sick when I've been reading something particularly good!" -Angela
12. "I watch TV a LOT. However, it finally dawned on me that the commercial breaks these days are much longer than they used to be. So I keep my book with me when I'm watching TV, and I can get several pages read during commercial breaks. I average about 30-40 pages per night this way!" -Sara
13. "Get old. Retire from your job. Presto! More reading time!" -Linda
1. "Throughout the day I play a little game. I read a chapter (just one) and then I get up and clean something. Example: Go and sweep the kitchen floor. Then read a chapter. Then fold a load of clothes and put them away. Then go read another chapter. I can do this all day. It works great for me!" -Shannon
2. "I always carry a book with me, so if I have to wait—like at a doctor's office—I can get some reading in." -Brigitta
3. "Get called for jury duty! Ha! Waiting can take hours. Get prepared to catch up on your reading." -Elizabeth
4. "I take the bus to work instead of my car, which saves me money and gives me lots of time to relax and read!" -Michelle
5. "Well, I stay up late reading, which has lead to a mild sleeping disorder…but, guys, books are worth it!" -Kyushu
6. "I wake up a little earlier each day and enjoy a book with breakfast." -Kaitlynn
7. "I am a huge fan of audiobooks. I listen to audiobooks while driving, taking a walk, cooking, and traveling…. Audiobooks offer huge opportunities to make the most of your time while you are doing something else." -Emile
8. "Instead of watching TV before bed, I read! You sleep better that way, too. -Raquel
9. "I actually 'plan' my reading time each day and night. Even if I have a hectic day, I schedule at least 30 minutes for myself." -Susan
10. "It's not the safest way to make time, but I read while walking to work." -Eliza
11. "I've actually called in sick when I've been reading something particularly good!" -Angela
12. "I watch TV a LOT. However, it finally dawned on me that the commercial breaks these days are much longer than they used to be. So I keep my book with me when I'm watching TV, and I can get several pages read during commercial breaks. I average about 30-40 pages per night this way!" -Sara
13. "Get old. Retire from your job. Presto! More reading time!" -Linda
How do you make more time for reading? Share your tips in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Finding the 1,000 Books to Read in a Lifetime
Paulo Coelho's 'Hippie' Travel Tips
The Most Beloved WWII Novels of the Last Decade
(Top image credit: Beauty and the Beast)
Check out more recent blogs:
Finding the 1,000 Books to Read in a Lifetime
Paulo Coelho's 'Hippie' Travel Tips
The Most Beloved WWII Novels of the Last Decade
(Top image credit: Beauty and the Beast)
Comments Showing 101-150 of 195 (195 new)
I too find taking a book with you everywhere is the best. During lunch break, I hate chatting. I just eat and read. At night, a couple of chapters are a must.
In the daytime I take a book everywhere I go. At night I try to read for at least an hour before I go to bed. When I don’t I always struggle to sleep!
Polyphasic Sleep (looking down on people who sleep avg 8 hrs)
I liked Linda's (#13) suggestion best! Unfortunately, I can't avail myself of it yet, so I do many of the other things instead. (Except read at work.) A big help was getting rid of my TV a long time ago. I do occasionally watch stuff online, but it has to be a deliberate choice for something specific and not just mindlessly sitting in front of the tube. I'm also an avid audiobook fan. Audiobooks are perfect for times when you can't read with your eyes--driving, walking/exercising, grocery shopping, doing housework, etc. I never leave the house without my phone, Kindle (I don't like to read on my phone), and earbuds so I can dip into a book whenever an opportunity arises.
Derpa wrote: "Bethany wrote: "Similar to the gal who mentioned reading while brushing your teeth, I read while I'm blowing my hair dry. I also have been known to have a book nearby to read during commercial brea..."I do read while brushing my teeth. I hate brushing my teeth, it's the most tedious duty of the world. Books turn it bearable.
I never leave my house without a book in my hands or my bag. It helps me to utilize my spare time in the best way. Most important, it helps me to meditate during possible revolving negativity. I will be able to travel in most beautiful pages of my own little world. I am a proud bibliophile who can't survive without books.
always carry a book with you. read while waiting for the bus and before I go to bed. read while I wait for the bath to fill.
Unagna wrote: "Derpa wrote: "Bethany wrote: "Similar to the gal who mentioned reading while brushing your teeth, I read while I'm blowing my hair dry. I also have been known to have a book nearby to read during c..."It makes the time pass faster!
i found myself a job where we have about an hours downtime every day (sometimes up to two!) plus a regular half hour break and this is where i read most of my books. the downside is that i work nights - but getting paid to read? totally worth it.
I'm ALWAYS reading! I try to get most of my housework done by around 11, then I spend the rest of my day reading. I read in the bathroom, and I carry a book when I go out. I read while I'm waiting for public transport, and before I go to bed. If I have to go somewhere for an appointment or classes, I'll get there super early just so I can read. I've never told my parents, but I may have skipped a few uni lectures and classes just to keep on reading. Oops!
I've been spending lots of time in trains the past month, going back and forth between my hometown and the town I'm going to study in. Each journey takes almost three hours, so you can imagine the amount of pages I turned (in these cases a kindle is really useful, carrying around a book that is thick enough for six hour train journeys would be really heavy)
I cook dinners for the week all day on Sunday and put them in the fridge/freezer. That way my family gets a home cooked meal throughout the week and I get to read for a few hours when I get home from work.Downloaded apps on my phone so when I wait in line at Walmart, I can finish a few chapters.
I have 12 animals to take care of so it doesn't leave me much time to do anything else, but when the animals are out of there enclosures I grab a book and sit on the floor with them and read while they play.
My colleagues think I'm one of those youngsters who can't keep off Social Medias. the truth is I have a book on my phone, so I can read when I walk from my desk to the water fontain. I also have a kindle for commute, a physical book at home, and lately I've taken to read comics on my computer during long/boring meetings :# (don't take me wrong, I own a proper version of said comics).
While playing videogames, I keep a book nearby. I can usually get a few paragraphs in during the load screens.
I loved the idea about reading one chapter, doing something productive and then reading another chapter. I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone which comes in handy for the times I have an unexpected wait . Otherwise I would have been left bored and forced to make small talk with others who are waiting.
To Catch A Falling Star wrote: "I take my book everywhere I could - including the bathroom- and whenever I find a moment to read, well , Bye-bye, reality."same
# 4 and 10! Exactly what I do! LOLAnd beside that I read in bathroom... * running and hiding in shame*
Carry your kindle with you everyday, the opportunity will ALWAYS arise!
I'm more intentional with the books I read right now so I don't read a lot in a year. But when I do find titles that perk my interest, I save up and wait for the next big book sale we have in the area. Once I get the books I want to read, I usually make time to read during the weekends. What I love about actual books is that it helps improve long-term attention span and helps rest my eyes from computer/phone screens. Still, I don't mind downloading e-books as well in my trusty iPad to save up on shelf space.
I read pdf in my phone when I've to wait somewhere. During studying I also read books for refreshing. I enjoy reading books while taking breakfast too. It feels that the day is going well!
I keep the speed on my Audible app at 1.15. It doesn't impact the reader's quality, but I do go through the books a little faster.
Never use facebook or twitter and other sources of distraction. I also watch very little tv and always read during ad breaks. After dinner and before bed is my reading time. Now I wear a backpack a lot, I can bring a book all the time for public transport, queues, delays, coffee breaks.
Kindle for travel and a couple of paperbacks in case the Kindle runs out of power.
I read during my commute, breaks and at lunch, and sometimes between calls (I'm a customer service rep).Jim
Commuting time is great but I did once nearly go past my stop.
Clare wrote: "Commuting time is great but I did once nearly go past my stop."I've missed my stop more than once.
I always take my kindle with me when travelling
Beats the Ryanair weight rules. Imagine taking a few hundred books in your luggage.
Mei wrote: "# 4 and 10! Exactly what I do! LOLAnd beside that I read in bathroom... * running and hiding in shame*"
Why shame?
I read once "Dice il saggio orsacchiotto: meglio un buon libro al cesso che un libro di merda in salotto!" which means "Wise teddy bear says: Better a good book at wc than a shit book in the living room".
I read on my lunch break at the office every day. Even sometimes before work if I get to work a little earlier than usual.
the one where it said they stay up late to read which causes mild-sleeping disorders, I felt that.
For me time isn't the issue when it comes to reading. It's background noise. Sometimes I read on public transportation but sometimes people around me talk and I can't concentrate. I also have plenty of time during the work day but we have three separate groups sharing a small space and so it gets noisy. Before bed is usually my best bet except for sirens and train whistles.
I'm still in school, so I try to get as much work done in school, so that when I come home instead of doing homework, I have the time to read. As well on fridays, I do all my work, so during the weekend I read. And, this is probably the worst of all, sometime i'll read in class, I'm not the biggest fan of ereaders or online books, but they do help.
Meghan wrote: "For me time isn't the issue when it comes to reading. It's background noise. Sometimes I read on public transportation but sometimes people around me talk and I can't concentrate. I also have plent..."I feel you, it's really hard to read when there is so much going on around you. I literally either have to have headphones in or I have to be by myself.
I schedule reading time. As I am retired this isn’t a problem. My usual time is after lunch until teatime.If I need to read a bit as in coming up to a reading group deadline I will schedule an hour in the morning and then before dinner. The idea is not to give myself eye strain.
I read while blow drying my hair in the morning! I'm not coordinated enough to use a round brush while blow drying like my stylist, but I sure can hold a book!
I also bring a book with me almost all the time, so I can read on the bus/train or when waiting somewhere. I also do no. 12 and read during advertisement breaks on tv! And sometimes I even read when I'm cooking and have to wait for the noodles to get ready for example^^
i actually read 50 pages per day, so when i get to school i read 25 pages and before bed i read more 25 pages.
You don't think I tried? My life is like an obstacle course that I keep hurdling myself through just to find time to read one more chapter.
I read after I go up to sleep, my trick? I go to sleep at 8-9 so after I read for 3 hours it’s only about 11 and I haven’t stayed up till 3 on a school night!
Ah yes, the good ol' walking and reading. I'm guilty of that but in my defense, some books aren't available as audiobooks and the story is oftentimes just too good to let go while walking to uni.
I walk while I read.. Once I walked right into the employees lounge at my library oopsI also stay up late reading
Audiobooks! Listen during workouts, drives to work--I usually get 4-5 hours of listening in per day. Then print books to unwind at night.
I literally carry a book everywhere with me. In my bag, I always carry the book I’m currently reading and try to read at any point of the day!
"get old! retire and presto!" that's my favorite one yet hahaha! My technique is always having a book on my purse and two more on Google Books, that way if my phone runs out of battery, I can always read something when I'm not busy. Sadly, my time has been getting shorter and shorter as I graduated and now I have to work 8 hours a day and then workout for 2 more hours after. But i'm trying!
I’ve gotten a lot of reading done thanks to working 3rd shift. There’s a drawer at the desk I work at so when things are slow, I slide it out and read on my phone or Nook and when things pick up just slide it closed. :D
I listen to audio books at work that gives me an additional 2 to 6 hrs. a day I also read while the wife is watching her soaps, add 2 hrs. for that. I always get to work early so I get 30 to 40 min. I read during both breaks so there is another 30 min. I read during lunch, instead of eating. I eat at my desk after lunch, gives me an additional 30 min a day for reading.
I also read in the bath, end up looking like a prune but get at least an hr. there. My goal is to retire in 6 years and spend the rest of my time reading. OK when my wife lets me that is.
I do many of these ideas, but one I haven’t read that I thankfully don’t have to do anymore is to read while breast pumping! I also read while being a passenger in the car and with an audiobook in the shower.
Read a chapter take a break ,read another chapter take another break.
thats how i make my read..."
For a few months, I have been juggling two books. I've had two or three-hours reading sessions every afternoon, and I've been changing books every hour so I didn't get tired. It's better still if one book is a novel and one is an essay or if they are two very different novels.