How To Make Time For Reading

[Lisamarie]

Hey there Literati,

Lots of questions come in asking how I make time for reading. Since I struggle to fit it in too, I'd love to hear how you make time to read. I schedule time in my Life Planner, but reading more sounds wonderful.

To get us started, here are Brandi's thoughts from our other string:

For me with kids, I don't have hours to read so I sneak it in when I can. I read waiting for my Prek son's bus in the morning & afternoon, read before bed, doctors offices, mornings before kids get up, naptime, breastfeeding, etc. haha. Just gotta fit it in! :)

What are other ways to create more space for reading?

[Amarie]

I find it easiest to allocate time to read before bed. I find it relaxing and calming after a long day. I also read during 'me time' - a whole day which is scheduled to occur once a week, for me to catch up with myself and do things I want to do.

I live in London, so I also read on public transport (which I rarely use these days).

[Lisamarie]

Amarie wrote: "I find it easiest to allocate time to read before bed. I find it relaxing and calming after a long day. I also read during 'me time' - a whole day which is scheduled to occur once a week, for me to..."

Hi Amarie!

Thanks for chiming in. Wow, loooove London. Can't wait until I can afford to go back. That pound is pricey in dollas. ;)

I read before bed too but I often fall asleep after only a few pages. I love that you schedule a whole day to do whatever you want. I do the same thing. It's glorious. One day a week I spend a day doing whatever sounds most fun and restful.

Keep it up :)

[Tia]

I struggle with finding time to read also. But, lately during a specific time in school when all my students are reading I have been able to read uninterrupted for twenty minutes. I like the idea of scheduling time in my Life Planner.

[Kacee]

This helps! I was just commenting that I need to find more time to read as a wife, mom, and second grade teacher. Great tips!

[Rebecca]

Ive not been able to find a lot of time to read after having both my children and I've got so many books that i want to read its all a bit daunting. So by joining this group and aiming to just start with the book of the month should get me back into the swing of things i hope. I just carry my book everywhere I go so if i get a break at work, out it comes :)

[Kacee]

I am all in for the bi-monthly classic read! I have not read too many of these books so I am looking forward to this.

[Keri]

I try to read every night before I go to bed! It seems to be the only time I can squeeze it in!

[Emily]

My most favorite show EVER is Gilmore Girls. One of the main characters is known to reading non stop. In one episode she talks about never leaving home without a book because you never know when you're going to have time to read.

Ever since I saw that I've taken a book with me wherever I go, and it's so true. 15 minutes while you wait for the doctor, ten minutes while you wait for a friend at a coffee shop, etc.

It makes a huge difference!

[Racquel]

I read every night before bed that's the only time I have to relax and enjoy a book

[Linette]

I barely have the time to read. i am a full time student at the university, i read a lot of books required for classes, but barely ever my own list. I sometimes try to fit it in before bed or on the way to university.... but i dont get much reading done :( i dont know how to solve this issue... i unfortunately dont have a life planner since i live in Israel, and it costs a fortune to get these planners shipped to where i live !

[Lisamarie]

Hi Linette,

Amazing you are in Israel! I did see EC lowered her shipping to $20 international. I know that's still pricey but it's half what it was before.

One idea Tabatha shared in the FB Group, is to divide the book into daily sections using Target clips, genius! Post-its or page flags would work great, too.

[Jessica]

Hi Linette

I second (third?) Lisamarie and Tabatha's advice - I teach literature at university and have to read A LOT, plus all those books I want to read too ... Setting an allocation of pages per day is the best way I've found to manage it :)

Jess

[Linette]

Hi Lisamarie and Jessica,
thank you for the great advice. i will surely be trying the post-it to divide my books into smaller chunks.
And thank you for letting me know that the shippment is less on EC now. i will try and order one. it is really something that i want and need :)

[Lisamarie]

Jessica,
I'm excited we've got yet another literati in our midst! I'm also encouraged that the pages/night method is what you'd recommend. At the beginning of the month I map out my reading each night in my planner so that I can complete our reading plan timely. I'm right on schedule (only behind in Vanity Fair), so it's working great so far.

Linette, my pleasure! :)

[Rebekah]

I read on public transport to work and also before bed. If I am on a reading schedule (like when I am reading the book of the month), I break the book down to just a few pages a day and it makes it all seem more manageable. That seems to do the trick for me!

[Amy]

Hi There,

I've just joined the group so *big wave* :)

I personally like to allocate time in my Filofax and schedule a time to read i.e. Monday night read 'so and so book' from 7pm - 8pm. Dedicating just an hour out of my day makes me look forward to reading too.

Since going freelance I have struggled to read as I am constantly writing and reading from a computer screen all day its sometimes difficult to then pick up a book and read again, however I am a huge fan of dedicating time to read. Kind of like a date.

I currently dedicate time for reading and a YouTube catch-up on Sundays so my times are 2pm - 5pm for both.

What are your tips?
Amy x

[The Book Maven]

My experience might be a lot different from many of y'all, as I am a childless career woman, but here's how I make the time to read:

I just do it.

In addition to the whole curling up in bed or on a couch and reading, I have other tricks. Generally, I keep a book with me at all times. On my lunch breaks at work, I pull it out and start reading. Waiting in offices and lines, I pull it out and start reading. I'm one of those folks that goes out to eat by herself all the time. Guess what? My book comes with me and I am reading. If I am eating dinner at home alone, I am reading.

All those times you could pull out your smartphone...pull out your book instead. :)

[Tanya]

I'm exactly the same way. I take a book with me everywhere, and it's a habit I've had since I was a child. Then again, I'm an English major, so that might be a contributing factor. ;)

[Stacy]

I just recently started taking a book with me where ever I go -- especially now that I'm pregnant I find myself waiting in the doctors office more than I ever had before and have gotten lots of pages read! I also read at night I'm not a big TV watcher or when I wake up in the morning I grab my book when I'm drinking coffee (recently decaf coffee

[Ashley]

I second everything mentioned! Also, I know this isn't "reading" but I often listen to audio books when working out, driving, or going for walk-breaks at work. I have audio sync for my kindle so I can pick up "read-reading" at night right where I left off. It's been a game changer for me!

[Lyn]

I read before bed... find unless I'm severely overtired, I can't full asleep without doing so. I also make sure I have my ereader with me at all times so that if I have time to read, I can. Reading is also my go-to activity when I'm too sore to do much else.

[Mamey]

I read mainly before bed, but I do bring my book with me every where I go. I sneak in pages on my breaks at work and lunch hours..

[JMW]

Hey!!!

Here is the way I make more time to read:

I take the commuter bus (about an hour each way) to and from work - I'll read then. I'll also pick up a book when I'm waiting anywhere (dr's office, hair dresser, car maintenance). I always have a book with me. I try to read before bed, but as soon as I lay down most nights, I'm out. Lol!

When I'm in the car, I'll listen to audiobooks (if I'm not on the phone). I also listen to audiobooks when I'm sitting in the sauna after working out. I'll also listen when I'm running errands about town.

It took a long time for me to get into this groove so I hope this helps someone.

Happy reading! xoxox

[Becky]

I have been working on finding time to read and found that my new kindle really helps, although it is just not the same as a classic book! I read everyday before bed, but also try to find more time to read when I am relaxing at home rather than watching TV, because when I thought about it, most of the things I watch I don't actually get much joy from, I just flick them on accidentally and then its two hours later! I would much rather spend that time reading!