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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 Strickland-Brown)
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 M.)
3. "Get called for jury duty! Ha! Waiting can take hours. Get prepared to catch up on your reading." (Elizabeth Thayer)
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 Garcia Ortiz)
5. "Well, I stay up late reading, which has lead to a mild sleeping disorder…but, guys, books are worth it!" (Kyushu Arora)
6. "I wake up a little earlier each day and enjoy a book with breakfast." (Kaitlynn Scribner)
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 Armanious)
8. "Instead of watching TV before bed, I read! You sleep better that way, too. (Raquel N. DeSouza)
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 Master)
10. "It's not the safest way to make time, but I read while walking to work." (Eliza viola Legault)
11. "I've actually called in sick when I've been reading something particularly good!" (Angela Free)
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 Foster)
13. "Get old. Retire from your job. Presto! More reading time!" (Linda White)
How do you make more time for reading? Share your tips in the comments!
(Top image credit: Beauty and the Beast)
Comments Showing 1-50 of 319 (319 new)
message 1:
by
Helen
(new)
Sep 23, 2016 11:43AM
My trick is to have several books 'on the go' at once. One in my handbag to read in queues or waiting rooms or whatever; one in my work bag for tea breaks and lunch breaks; one by my bed for reading before I go to sleep; one by my computer to read while I wait for things to load etc; one by the sofa to read in ad breaks like Sara (12); plus an audiobook to listen to on buses, while washing up, while ironing etc. I'm never more than a few paces away from a book, so I can grab any spare moment to indulge.
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The commercial trick for sure! I do this all the time. And sometimes I'll get sucked into the book so I forget to unmute the television.
Helen wrote: "My trick is to have several books 'on the go' at once. One in my handbag to read in queues or waiting rooms or whatever; one in my work bag for tea breaks and lunch breaks; one by my bed for readin..."I read multiple books at once myself.
I get up before my husband and daughter and read for an hour to an hour and a half. I have found not only is my mind at its freshest, but it helps me feel good all day. I get my alone-time in at the same time.
Alex wrote: "The commercial trick for sure! I do this all the time. And sometimes I'll get sucked into the book so I forget to unmute the television."I do this too, and sometimes I just turn the TV off because the book is better than the show I was watching.
I'm #13. I retired, and now I can read as much as I want.
No one mentioned "don't sleep much," which leads me to believe that forgoing that mythical full eight hours is something most book lovers do from time to time without even thinking about it.
I listen to audio books. I'm always listening, whether I'm on a bus or in a taxi...even when it's time to sleep. How can I spend 8 hours sleeping when there is a story to finish.... :)
I can read and knit at the same time lol otherwise its audiobooks all the way!
I read on my commute to and from work; always have a book with me for times I am waiting (bus stop, doctor's office, etc); read before bed; and I also have a couple of books on the go.
Austin wrote: "I read every moment I have at school"Same! :)
I read when I'm waiting for the bus; I read when I'm at a restaurant alone and I am waiting for my food to come; I read most nights before bed; whether the internet is up and running or down, I read; I've also planned (and loved doing this) days where I do nothing but reading (meaning, the moment I finish taking a shower and all that to the moment I fall asleep; break time for meals, don't count).
Kelly wrote: "I can read and knit at the same time lol otherwise its audiobooks all the way!"I do that as well! I can't get away with audio books though. I also watch the TV and knit or read and am still able to follow whatever is on the TV. It drives my husband barmy
Helen wrote: "My trick is to have several books 'on the go' at once. One in my handbag to read in queues or waiting rooms or whatever; one in my work bag for tea breaks and lunch breaks; one by my bed for readin..."I love to always have a book close as well! Only, I can't read several books at the same time or I'll get confused. My solution was to carry a book with me (literally in my hand) wherever I go. My family and friends really know me as the girl who's always carrying a book around...
No matter what kind of day I've had, no matter how exhausted I am, I read once I'm in bed. It may only be a couple chapters; it may only be a few pages if it's already three in the morning. But dang it, I WILL READ.
I usually read for a half hour to an hour (at least) every day when I get home from work just to make sure I get my time in. I also keep whatever I'm reading with me at all times just in case I have unexpected time to read!
I don't own a TV! And also I will listen to audiobooks while I clean, drive, shop etc.
I, er, I read on the toilet. It's the one moment of the day wherein my brain can't say, "You should be studying!" because there just isn't space in my bathroom to hold a textbook. But there is space for a paperback.
I do the first one all the time. It's my way of rewarding myself for cleaning the house. I thought I was the only one. I get so much read on my cleaning days. As a bonus, I sometimes have an audio book going to listen to while I actually clean to.
Erin wrote: "No matter what kind of day I've had, no matter how exhausted I am, I read once I'm in bed. It may only be a couple chapters; it may only be a few pages if it's already three in the morning. But dan..."Erin, I'm with you all the way! I have to read in bed no matter what. Also, whether I'm at work, the laundromat, waiting to pick up my daughter, etc, I'm never without my phone. I love the Kindle app! I currently have over 400 books to choose from in my pocket. Heaven!
I'm an over-achiever, so I make sure I do something productive before I allow myself to read. If I haven't at least done school or cleaned anything, then I won't feel good sitting down and reading. And then, since I'm a nightowl, I just read past 1am every morning... *blinks* #mylife
See #1 but leave out the cleaning tasks between chapters. Amazing how much time there is for reading!
I turned all my waiting time into reading time
I always have to read before I go to sleep. My husband of 33 tears thinks the ereader is the best invention ever. The first 30 years if our marriage his last words to me at night where always "can you turn the light off now?"And always reading at lunch time. It's my recharge method
I'm a die-hard reader! I have over 3000 eBooks on my Kindle Fire so I'll always have a book to read. Sometimes while waiting to be picked up from work I use the Kindle app on my phone and read a book. I try to have at least 2 or 3 books going at the same time, but with different subject matters. I listen to audiobooks at work, in my car on the way home and sometimes mute the TV and listen to my book. When I'm emptying the dishwasher and helping around the house I'm listening to an audiobook. I also listen to an audiobook when I go to bed with my ear buds. All in the life of an addictive reader!! :o)
Austin wrote: "I read every moment I have at school"oh same, all the way!
I do #1 all the time. And since I have Aldiko on my phone, I read every chance I get. And especially at night before sleeping. Sometimes till 3 in the morning.
Definitely agree with #7, audiobooks! Listening to books has completely changed my reading experience! I am able to get through so many books in a year now that I listen to audiobooks. Love, love, love them.I am usually reading two books at a time. One audiobook, and one physical book. I listen to the audiobook while driving, doing chores and walking my dog. The physical book I read in the evenings after work, before bed, and on the weekends.
I try not to read more than 2 books at a time. Any more than 2 and the likelihood of me actually finishing one of them drops significantly.
I do #12 virtually every evening. XDI make time for reading by getting everything i possibly can done as quickly as i possibly can, then whatever's left is for reading. Depending on errands and whatnot, i average about 40 pages a day. 100 on some weekends and slower weekdays.
Jazzy wrote: "I'm an over-achiever, so I make sure I do something productive before I allow myself to read. If I haven't at least done school or cleaned anything, then I won't feel good sitting down and reading...."Same! I study all day everyday, but for some reason, even if a book is really pulling at me, I still feel guilty for reading for pleasure and feel like I should be studying instead.
I do still make time to read though, I have to, otherwise I think I'd go crazy! I mostly read on my lunch breaks and while I'm waiting for anything that requires waiting. Like many of the other commenters here, I always keep a book with me just in case I can squeeze in some time to read.
I also do the reading during commercials thing when I'm watching TV. I'm gonna have to try audiobooks it sounds like. I just love a tangible book though!
I shower at night & lay my clothes out the night before work. I leave for the office at 7:15 a.m. and I used to wake up at 6:30 to get dressed and have coffee, but now I've started waking up at 6 so I can read for a solid 30-60 minutes with my coffee! By the time I get to work, I actually feel AWAKE instead of still groggy, and I've started the day off with me time!
At work, we get a half-hour lunch break and two fifteen-minute breaks. The only one I'm guaranteed is my lunch break, but even if that's all I get, that's half an hour of reading time five days a week. If I get all three breaks, that's an hour a day - and since the fifteen minute breaks are paid, I actually can get paid for half an hour of reading!
Easy - Ebook reader on my phone. Whenever everyone else is staring at facebook, i'm reading
Reading is one of the biggest reasons I love trains :) the amount of chapters is unbelievable. Oh and it I agree it is a perfect way to clear your mind before going to bed.
I love audiobooks. I listen while I exercise, and sometimes while I'm at work. I carry a physical book with me wherever I go, just in case.
Sandra wrote: "Reading is one of the biggest reasons I love trains :) the amount of chapters is unbelievable. Oh and it I agree it is a perfect way to clear your mind before going to bed."I'm almost identical. I take a train (a real train, not an LRT) in to work and I get a lot of reading done
When the internet's bad, i open a PDF file all the time, so i read when the pages don't charge...
I finish my work in school early so I can read..... Or if they are explaining something I already know, my book is then in my hands. I read every night & when doing homework I answer 5 questions or do 5 problems then I read for 10 minutes! Really helps me get in my reading time! ;)
Katee wrote: "I, er, I read on the toilet. It's the one moment of the day wherein my brain can't say, "You should be studying!" because there just isn't space in my bathroom to hold a textbook. But there is spac..."A lap is big enough to hold a textbook. A toilet break is not necessarily the best time to do intellectually strenuous stuff. On the other hand, as a knowledge worker in days gone by, sometimes the pooper was a good place to do some concentrated thinking without interruptions.
Some books are really good as bathroom books, and most of them are not marketed as such.
Helen wrote: "My trick is to have several books 'on the go' at once. One in my handbag to read in queues or waiting rooms or whatever; one in my work bag for tea breaks and lunch breaks; one by my bed for readin..."How on Earth do you remember all those plots aha
Fabian wrote: "Helen wrote: "My trick is to have several books 'on the go' at once. One in my handbag to read in queues or waiting rooms or whatever; one in my work bag for tea breaks and lunch breaks; one by my ..."It's like watching several tv series at once.. not tough
I have been able to develop a thirst for knowledge .Picking up a good book and keeping a few books on the queue has helped memake reading a part of my lifestyle.
When I wake up I start reading and just keep reading till I have to do something. I also read before bed just for more time. Holidays also help because I don't have to get up as early most days because I don't have school.
I read like I'm doing something wrong. I sneak pages like secret trysts with a forbidden lover, even when I'm reading something innocuous or even sacred.
