Readers to the Rescue: 13 Ways to 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)
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 106 (106 new)


I went on a cruise last week and spent a lot of time laying out in the sun with a good book. It was awesome.




*Kindle or Kindle app on my phone if waiting somewhere (doctor's office, child's practices, etc.)
*Audiobook when walking for health or to get somewhere
*Pick up a book to read when I find myself mindlessly flipping through boring FaceBook or uninteresting Netflix options
*Reading at bedtime as a necessary way to make my eyes tired enough to fall asleep



I take it to work as well, during free moments it's easy to grab it.
I also always read before bed.


When Winds of Winter comes out I plan on being sick until I'm done with it! :)

Also have listened to books for years - ever since they were on actual tapes!


tots worth it.
hm. I never have problems with finding time to read, but #1 would help me to actually get some work done as well...




Or at least cut it in half.
I watched the first episode of "Game of Thrones" immediately after reading the first half of the first book. Turns out my imagination was better than the show. So I never watched another episode.



I also teach so aftr i explain a chapter i make them sit and learn while I read
And...i have called in sick on days when im reading an exceptionally good book *bows head in shame*
Also, when i need a break from studying, i read.. my mom thinks im nuts ;)


LOL yes!! Girl after my own heart. Find the best hiding space and read lol

I now work as a house/pet sitter, so thankfully, I have lots of time to read. :)
At this current stage of my life at 26 I still have tons of spare time to read books. I have taken various different approaches over the past several years. My current approach is I have a goal of reading just 5 books a month and 50 pages a day, no more, no less and that has been a very efficient way to approach my love affair with reading. I’m not much of a TV guy and I don’t play Video Games at all, so that isn’t a problem for me like so many other men within my age bracket. So that in a way has afforded me more time to read. But something I really, really like to do much like the first option stated but with a different twist is I read 10 pages at a time and then listen to 10 minutes of several different podcasts and may ride my bicycle around the neighborhood one time and continue on to the next ten pages and since I only read 50 pages a day I tend to space it out all throughout the day so the excitement level can stay fresh all throughout the day. Don’t get me wrong, I could read for hours upon hours but I just choose not to because I like to keep up with other things I enjoy as well. I know in the blog it mentioned that some of you who shared stated that you read on work breaks but this to me has never worked. I just can’t seem to stop looking at my phone’s clock long enough to get a few good pages in. But I have attempted it and seldom do I work a full 8 hours because I’m only part-time at my place of employment. But as someone stated in the blog, in the past I’ve been known to plan out my daily reading schedule. Back when I was college and did not have a job I used to read a chapter each morning and take a walk, read another chapter and take another walk and then when it was time to head to school I packed up my stuff and went. But now due to my unpredictable work schedule in retail I read at all different times but still am to read quite a lot. I don’t ever plan to stop reading ever. It’s just super relaxing and very, very fascinating and there’re so many options to choose from.


I always listen to an audiobook before bed. Books before bed have been a habit of mine since I was young. If I don't listen to an audiobook before bed, it'll often mean I take longer to get to sleep.
I use my iPad's or iPhone's VoiceOver so I can have the books read to me. That way, I can relax and reduce eyestrain when listening to an ebook or NetGalley ARC, or required reading for one of my Goodreads groups before the deadline day.

When Winds of Winter comes out I plan on being sick until I'm done with it! :)"
Just make sure your boss is not reading this! ;-)


Haha, you must be a hard-core dedicated reader. Bravo!

Great observation! I also thought I read this somewhere.


2. Read instead of TV."
Audiobooks are also awesome if you spend a lot of time in your car.
My librarian always helps me out when I'm on the hunt for something good.


Get up early and try to quickly do all the house chores. Then you have more time for reading. Also, don't sign up for a lot of activities. I suggest only one or two a week.

I want to try the audiobooks on the way to work.




I also always take a book with me. I like to visit places in and around my city ... so road trips and public transport give me time to read. Commercial breaks are great too and the alternating between 1 activity and reading works too.
I sometimes read more than one book if the book I am reading is slow paced or long, so that I don't fall into a reading slump.
Ebooks are a lifesaver for me as well. I can get through so many titles while at the gym; it's easier to prop up my Kindle on a treadmill's control panel than hold a printed volume while walking at 3.6 miles per hour. And if you *really* need to squeeze in a reading moment here and there, stick that book on your phone. Check it throughout the day instead of Twitter or your email. Those minutes add up.