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9 Tips for Squeezing More Reading Time Out of Your Day
Don't let Your Year in Books end with a whimper. It's not too late to say goodbye to 2016 the right way: with a pile of books (and probably a hot beverage). In an effort to read more and, for some of us, to complete our 2016 Reading Challenge, we turned to—who else?—our wonderful Goodreads community.
We asked on Facebook and Twitter: What are some tips for reading more? See what could work for you…and then get back to your books!
1. "Cut off all outside distractions. If your phone dies, let it die. Don't plug anything in until you're finished with your book. And get cozy. Make yourself a hot tea or hot chocolate and throw on some flannel pajamas." (Lacie)
2. "Stack the deck in your favor! Have a bunch of short books you've been meaning to get to? Put them on the top of your list." (Melinda) *See 25 of our favorite books under 200 pages.*
3. "Listen to audiobooks every second you can't actually be reading. Commuting, cleaning, and laundry would be wasted time without the ability to listen to a good book." (Denise) *See 20 of our favorite audiobooks for every type of reader.*
4. "Get up early to read for at least an hour and then read for at least an hour at night." (Rae)
5. "Call in sick for a 'me day.'" (Jainell)
6. "Find sneaky ways to read more at unexpected times. I read when I'm blow drying my hair!" (Joanna)
7. "Always have a book with you. If you're waiting in a long line at the supermarket, whip it out!" (Grace)
8. "Start reading a book or comic book series with 5+ books. You'll get hooked and won't want to stop reading." (Sally) *See 24 of our favorite addictive series for teens.*
9. "Mix up genres and book lengths. Never get bored!" (Mark)
And for those who are really serious about reading more, there's this tip from Justine:
"Quit your job and send the husband and kids out of town. Recruit some cats, stockpile tea, and get to it!"
Do you have a secret reading tip? Share it with us in the comments!
(Top image credit: Doctor Who)
Comments Showing 101-148 of 148 (148 new)
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Dec 27, 2016 06:32AM
Find someplace quiet and lock everyone out. And don't forget put your earphone on so no one can ever bother you. Works for me everytime. :)
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I can vouch by 2 and 9. I need to start doing more of 4.
Use your challenge not to update on what you've already read but to get to a certain amount of pages in a day or a few days. Allowed me to read faster this past year...
3. Don't. Ever. Read. Fanfiction. I totally agree with you. This year happen to me to be sucked into a crazy reading rush and well, time passed that way.
Vicki wrote: "Yeah but your kitty will. She likes to play 'chase the paw' when I'm in the bathroom. She can't come in because the door's closed so she sticks her paw underneath the door and moves it around while I try to catch it. Such simple things can amuse cats for hours. ."
My cat does something similar with his paw under the bathroom door, but his aim is to claw me.
I used to read fanfiction but I'm pretty exclusive on only being interested in a few types. I'm not sure why people are recommending to stop reading it to boost reading count? I thought the point of the article was to increase reading, not only for certain amounts of books or what counts on Goodreads. As long as I'm enjoying what I read, I don't worry about it.
Bozhidar wrote: "I am not a fan of audiobooks. I have tried a few but i find it hard to concentrate on them(following the story) or get into it(like i am living the adventures)."I feel that with audiobooks it is as much about the reader as it is about the story, the combination of both when perfectly done can be magical.
Taaya wrote: "1. Plan your workout only with exercises you can do while reading.2. Read on the toilet - if you don't have a a lot of kids, nobody will bother you there
3. Don't. Ever. Read. Fanfiction. Or at l..."
I'm guilty of having read a lot of Fanfiction this year. I think that's why I haven't read as much as I'd like to. I've actually read around an entire novel just during bathroom breaks.
Turn off the TV. Better yet get rid of the TV.
Bozhidar wrote: "I am not a fan of audiobooks. I have tried a few but i find it hard to concentrate on them(following the story) or get into it(like i am living the adventures)."I can relate to that. I decided to try audiobooks again this last year and only did more educational books, because I tend to tune out when I read them (no matter how interested I am in the topic) and biographies. I really like listening to ones read by the author. Kevin Smith, Felicia Day, Ron Perlman and Bruce Campbell... that is a good place to start should you try again.
Stay off Goodreads and READ instead of READING ABOUT READING!! (Ha. I can't do this. I enjoy reading about reading every bit as much as the reading itself.)
There's a really nice app called Forest that helps you avoid being distracted by your phone, it's really helped me get back into academic reading (which can be a bit tougher to get absorbed into than a gripping fiction book).The premise is that you have to grow a forest and the way to nurture your forest is to leave your phone alone for a pre determined period of time.
I won't bore you with the details but worth a look if you find yourself distracted by notifications or your phone in general.
Participate in the Goodreads Reading Challenge. You set a goal for yourself and it's a great motivator to at least get close to that.You will still feel successful!
I love #1 : )I reading in the bath, and when I do watch TV I mute the commercials and read while they are on.
Rudy wrote: "I always have a "breakfast book" handy by the dining room table. Whenever I eat alone I get in two to four pages read before I finish my meal."I like to read at breakfast, too. : )
Two things I do:1) When I'm home, I start my day with 45 min. in my 'reading chair' with a good book and a cup of tea. That means that even if I have to get up a bit earlier, I do it! It's the best gift I ever gave myself, and I call it that because I decided to do it 6 years ago on my birthday.
2) I travel quite a bit and have discovered the wonder of audiobooks. I used to think that they were for people who didn't like to read, but there are stories that I just enjoy having someone read to me. My imagination really soars when that happens!
Because of his job, my husband is often on his Blackberry, even at home or when we're out for a meal or shopping. I don't find it insulting; instead, this is my cue to open up my Kindle because he's going to be busy... I also read while waiting in line or for someone, in a waiting room, or when we visit with the kids and everyone, including my husband, is playing video games (which I don't), while making a meal, or waiting for 15 min before taking my BP. There's so many ways to find time to read! PS of course I read before going to bed...
I was raised a bookworm, but I love these suggestions. I am definitely a bathroom reader, always read before bed. Cats and hot tea are always a comfort to accompany any reading. Since being laid off from work, I have rediscovered the library...and I have been missing so much!!! "Overdrive" is wonderful ... just check out books that are sent to your Kindle or Nook, and return automatically! I also check out audio books to listen to ... one for the car and one that I listen to while I paint!!!! (My favorite readers being Jim Dale of the Harry Potter books and Patrick Stewart reading anything!!!!!).
Working in a public library for 30 years, had led me to many great book. Really, too many to read. I've been a Trekkie since the late 60s.
I love the get up early suggestion! This is totally what I do! I only need a few minutes to actually get dressed in the morning, but I always get up and an hour or two before I need to actually start getting ready so I can drink lots of coffee & check goodreads & of course read! It's especially great when I'm ready graphic novels or manga. ;) I can read a book a day or more doing that!
Audiobooks can work if you are doing something simple that doesn't require thinking.Examples: Going for a long walk, doing the gardening or housework and driving to and from work.
Treat the audio like a episode of a TV series and only listen to it in blocks of 30 to 60 minutes. Then change to a different book.
In this manner you can listen to 2-3 books per week easily.
Some books can be terrible (depending on the book or the reader) so ditch it as soon as you get that feeling.
The best part in all this, whether reading or listening to books, is that TV disappears from your life almost completely.
Don't take showers, and read in the bath. Everyone will leave you alone for about one hour! Thats a lot of reading time.
As a mama of a 10 month old, I was worried I wouldn't get ANY reading in this year, but in the early months, I would often read during the very long nursing-sessions-turned-nap and nowadays, I will sometimes cuddle with her while she naps or at night before I go to sleep and get 30 minutes to an hour of reading in. I've also found that in the more recent months she is able and willing to play independently for a little while, as long as I am close and responding to her every ''Mama?'' so I like to sit in the rocking chair while she explores everything in her toy box and can usually get 20 minutes of more of slightly interrupted reading in. :)
I absolutely take advantage of reading a book and listening to it in tandem. I read while at home where I have the quiet, usually without outside interruptions. But when in the car or working on a project at work that does not happen to be a project that other people are involved… audible is the way to go!
Bozhidar wrote: "I am not a fan of audiobooks. I have tried a few but i find it hard to concentrate on them(following the story) or get into it(like i am living the adventures)."I find I have gotten very involved in an audiobook while solely listening to it in the car. To the point where I did not want to get out of the car right away when I've reached my destination. So try that if you have not.
Pick fast paced books. A very good example are Agatha Chrisite's works. You will NOT put the book down at all because all of them are high engrossers.
I find that reading at a quicker pace makes it easier to absorb the book and remember it. This means of course that the book is that much more meaningful and thereby enticing for the next time you pick it up. It also means that you won't have to go back and reread the sections you've forgotten.The other thing I do is not for everybody. I read a number of different books over the same period of time. That means you have a book for every mood and, if you are doing the goodreads challenge, you can finish a whole lot of books at the finish line!!
Nathan wrote: "easiest way to read more is to not pay your cable bill."Lol! I don't have cable so there is no bill!
Taaya wrote: "3. Don't. Ever. Read. Fanfiction. "
Yeaaaah this is pretty much the same reason I never complete my reading goal.
The last one it's awesome hahaha. Tips that have been work for me:
1.- I think one of the best ways to read a lot it's making you a gold per day. Read 100 pages, read 50 pages, etc. Without, notice you have read a lot of books without major effort.
2.-Put some tea and get cozy sometimes doesn't work because you fall asleep.
3.-The best way to get out of your phone, it's reading. Too much time on facebook? put your phone away, in some bed table, closet, etc and start reading. With time, every time you want to login in facebook, your mind will comand you to start reading. That's a nice way to stop internet addiction.
4.- Always but always bring a book with yourself. There's a lot of time to kill that we have no idea that will appear through the day.
5.- If you don't have time to read. I don't because I work a lot, and after that, I'm too tired to grab a book. I always give some time to read. Even 30 minutes it's enough.
6.- Take a day for yourself it's an awesome way to read, at the end of the day you will read faster because your mind is free of stress and trouble.
I've been very busy lately and it's hard for me to find time reading so listening to audiobooks really helps. Normally I play it on 1.5x while driving to work, exercising or doing chores, and if I have some spare time, I would play the audiobook at double speed while reading the book itself. I find this trick really useful for me, not only it speeds up my reading, listening and reading at the same time help me to remember the content better, too :)
Having no social life and no cable TV ... no problem!(I've even considered canceling Internet at home, but can't quite bring myself to do that ... yet!)
I am an artist. so when I paint, I listen to audiobooks....the books help me zone into and keep painting longer. It's a win win situation since I accomplish 2 tasks that I are the 2 things I most love to do.
Put your books on your smart phone. This way you can start reading where and whenever you want.
Stephanie wrote: "I read through the Kindle app, because whenever I have a few minutes to wait for something it becomes reading time. I might not have a book with me, but I always have my phone."Agree!
C-shaw wrote: "Stay off Goodreads and READ instead of READING ABOUT READING!! (Ha. I can't do this. I enjoy reading about reading every bit as much as the reading itself.)"LOL... I wonder how much time people spend reading all these comments... including myself
Diane wrote: "Don't be afraid to lower your goal on the challenge if life throws a curveball. You can always increase it again when the curveball is dealt with. I think most ideas have been mentioned, it is just..."Nicely said. I agree. Its about how reading fits in your life, and what role its plays.
TheBookLover wrote: "C-shaw wrote: "Stay off Goodreads and READ instead of READING ABOUT READING!! (Ha. I can't do this. I enjoy reading about reading every bit as much as the reading itself.)"LOL... I wonder how muc..."
We the obsessed. . . can't help ourselves!! Augh!
I'm guilty of wasting time on Goodreads, etc, looking up books and adding to my ever-growing "to read" list instead of actually reading.
Thanks, Diane.I really need to decrease my to-read list, and increase my read list!
Jasmine wrote: "Thanks, Diane.I really need to decrease my to-read list, and increase my read list!"
Oh, how true, Diane, and yet I can't!
I get many more books read each year by listening to audiobooks in the car. If only I had a longer commute! I have often found it hard to get motivated to read non-fiction, but on audio they are much easier. Same with some classics and books with odd dialects. Often the narrator makes all the difference.I also don't go anywhere without a book. The biggest (stupid) distraction I have is playing games on my phone or Kindle or laptop instead of reading. It's addictive, and I really have a tough time stopping.
I agree with Pegah and Tiago: eliminate TV or at least limit it to TV that educates you or makes you think.Turn off any television and online news (which is little more than fearmongering clickbait). Fear and anxiety makes it difficult to stay focused on quality reading for long.
For news, read long-view (ie, once-per-week) news sources like The Economist. You get a better signal-to-noise ratio from sources like that, so you spend less time reading and reacting to noise (see above point). Constant news coverage requires filling the air with noise which lowers the signal-to-noise ratio.
Give up the Sports addiction. Football game? 4 hours of mostly ad-driven TV time.
Between evening and weekend elimination of TV & Sports I enjoy between 14-24 hours a week in reading time over my peers. That puts reading 4-5 books per week is well within range of anyone.
Happy reading!
