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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 51-100 of 319 (319 new)
message 51:
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Cristian
(new)
Sep 23, 2016 05:41PM
I read in the bathroom, particularly #2
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keep buying books until they pile everywhere and the only way you don't feel guilty is to read them.Wait... That's normal, right?
I have done audiobooks but I have a hearing loss and my recall isn't that good, my audio processing is slower because I am autistic though I have used audiobooks I prefer the BOOK, I am reading four at the same time now. I have read 88 books in this year alone, my lifetime countup of reading I have done is a bit above 870, something like that.
When I was little, my brothers and I would get in trouble for reading in the bathroom, but that didn't stop any of us. We just got really good at hiding books in the bathroom. I was the best at it!
I don't mind going out to a restaurant by myself and taking a book with me; almost feels like a "date with a book" :oP
Hannah wrote: "When I was little, my brothers and I would get in trouble for reading in the bathroom, but that didn't stop any of us. We just got really good at hiding books in the bathroom. I was the best at it!"That its pretty cool.
I read whilst walking places and I take a book everywhere (I mean everywhere - parties, the pool, library, driving lessons, shopping, doctor's appointments) that way I can read whenever I have time. Who knows, your car could break down in the middle of nowhere and help be four hours away - that's four hours of reading time!
Courtney wrote: "I read whilst walking places and I take a book everywhere (I mean everywhere - parties, the pool, library, driving lessons, shopping, doctor's appointments) that way I can read whenever I have time..."Or you are waiting for a ferry.. or a bloody drawbridge opens for 30 mins..
I bring my Kindle at my bag. So everywhere I got a chance to read, I read.
I read while I am on the crosstrainer or bike at the gym. This way I almost forget that I do sport, I even go faster when the plot is exiting ;)So an hour exercise and 100 pages of a book and I'm done for the evening :)
5, 11, and 13!! Don't sleep or stay up all night and sleep all day. No distractions all night while the world sleeps.......unless of course, you come onto Goodreads and spend forever here doing Goodreads things. Poe said it best: "“Sleep, those little slices of death — how I loathe them.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
Yo leo mucho antes de dormir, así sea a la siesta o a la noche si no leo me cuesta mucho consiliar el sueño. Llevo mi libro a todos lados. Desayuno y leo a veces si almuerzo sola, almuerzo y leo. Aprovecho todo lo que puedo para leer.
Y otra cosa, siempre tengo un libro que leo en el baño jejejejej.Ojala existieran libros para ducha.
I compromise by limiting my viewing on TV and always read early evening before I watch anything. As I am usually reading more than one book,I try and read so much of each one.
I do a combination of audio, digital and good 'ol print. I always have multiple books on the go so that no matter what sort of weird mood I'm in - I always have something that I feel like reading.
Cyanna wrote: "I turned all my waiting time into reading time"Same. I always have books with me and looking for a waiting time. :)
#13 has been a real boon for me. Also, I read while watching baseball or soccer which accomplishes two things at once.
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 ..."I tend to have different types of books together - so for instance one may be a thriller, one an autobiography, one a junior title (I run a children's book group at work so have to keep on top of those), one sci-fi etc etc. Reading two who-dunnits at the same time might get confusing, or two Dr Who titles, but otherwise it isn't a big deal.
Audiobooks, Audiobooks, Audiobooks .. they are the best thing ever :D
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.Go to visit my website for more information Kamagra
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..."Me too! I usually have a paperback in my handbag, an ebook on my tablet and an audiobook on my phone so I am never far from something to read.
I try to read whenever I can, always before going to bed. I take books to school all the time. When I'm on the bus, when I should be studying. But still, I don't think I have enough time to read.
Kelly wrote: "I can read and knit at the same time lol otherwise its audiobooks all the way!"Kelly: So you read physical books while knitting? Do you have some trick to do it? I like knitting while watching TV, but knitting + reading is hard for me, because turning pages is annoyingly interrupting . And if the book is new, it won't stay open on the table without hand. Hmm... Maybe I should try e-books + knitting.
Amber 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 ..."I'm the same. having several books 'on the go' at once makes me confused and I'm not into audio books, so carry a book everywhere.
I listen to audiobooks while I'm running. I get my exercise and am excited about it because I can't wait to see what happens next. Win win!
To get some exercise at the same time I read while walking on the treadmill at the gym.
I work 12 hour shift's. I can sit there all day or night with my ear phone's in listening to books! I love my job!!
These are all really good tips. I usually take longer subway routes with less transfers so that I can get longer uninterrupted periods of reading in. Its the best especially when its a great book! The time just zips by!
I carry my Kindle paperwhite in my purse, read in the car, read at lunch break, read in the bathroom, read while brushing my teeth, read while on my exercise bike, read while washing dishes, read while cooking, read while waiting for my husband to look at trains, I keep a book by my computer and read while slow pages load, Usually I have a paper book and Kindle book going at the same time. Yes, I am an addict.
If you can't take along your books at school or work, you can read on e-book with your e-readers or cell-phones. It's a good way to evaluate your short free time.For example; while I'm waiting for the next lecture, I can also read the book I wanted.
(ps: sorry for my English, if I made mistakes.)
Don wrote: "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 bre..."
I, too, always have a book with me. I read at stop lights, bridge lifts, accidents, etc. But I, too, will read between t.v. programs that I like. I haven't used audiobooks because I just love reading. However, I'm thinking I might try them for my personal time. I DO use them in my classroom with my students.
I read on my commute to and from work, I stopped watching as much TV as I used to, and on weekends when I don't have anything pressing to do, I curl up with a book.
Catty wrote: "I read while I am on the crosstrainer or bike at the gym. This way I almost forget that I do sport, I even go faster when the plot is exiting ;)So an hour exercise and 100 pages of a book and I'm ..."
omg good idea
I thought I was the only one who did the commercial trick and the chores trick! xD I use that with homework too. One subject, one chapter, next subject, one chapter. I also read an e-book on my phone in public just when I'm waiting around to start my shift or in between classes, etc. Audiobook while I'm driving/cooking/chores/etc. And my physical hardcover or paperback for while I'm home doing those sneaky little tricks. It's honestly a relief to find out I'm not the only one that does this!!!
I hardly watch TV any more and stay up late. - I'm not into audiobooks. It depends very much on the reader's voice, his/her pronunciation, accentuation and speed. If there are sufficient pauses at the right places. I'm very fussy about it. Very few readers meet my demands there.
Haha! The first one? I'm doing it right now x'D. Reading one chapter Harry Potter, then 30 minutes Aristotle's Poetics (homework) and then some cleaning-task ;)
weekends , I read at least one book per weekend or try to . when I pretend I am resting
The last one number thirteen is sooooo true!!!!!!!!
I have more than one ereader and thus always have one with me, and I can read whenever it's possible. The phone is another good chance for reading if I forget to bring the ereader with me. And since a few years I wake up too early in the morning, cannot continue sleeping, so I read: these are the best reading hours, completely alone, everything is silent, it's me and the book, nothing else in the world.
My responses to the 13 ways:The 1st: my job is a housekeeper. That won't work, they would reprimand me.
The 2nd: I do that, definitely.
The 3rd: Haven't been called into Jury Duty yet, but good idea.
The 4th: I get car sick, no reading in anything that moves.
The 5th: I have to get up early, that one won't work.
The 6th: Breakfasts aren't long enough.
The 7th: I can't process Audiobooks that well, my brain doesn't follow.
The 8th: Makes me not want to go to bed.
The 9th: 30 minutes is too short a time for me, or I will lose track of time.
The 10th: *Giggles* No not me.
The 11th: Again, nope.
The 12th: Good idea, but add ear-buds to that to drown out the stupid commercials.
The 13th: I can agree with this one. But that is a LONG wait. Heehee
Responding to the jury duty recommendation: Don't take a Kindle or any device that could be used to read news. Judges I'm familiar with don't allow them. That's a situation where a lengthy book is better, probably one not crime-related.
Don wrote: "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 bre..."Interesting thought.
Lynnette wrote: "I take my ereader everywhere. I can then sneak in a page or two wherever I am. I also read on my lunchbreak at work."I have 2 E-readers. 1 for home, and 1 for traveling. Love it.
Alan wrote: "Responding to the jury duty recommendation: Don't take a Kindle or any device that could be used to read news. Judges I'm familiar with don't allow them. That's a situation where a lengthy book is ..."My Dad had a buddy he worked with at jury duty with him and he (the buddy) had a Sherlock Holmes. So maybe the OLD classic detective stories would be ok.
