I get asked frequently how I get as much reading done as I do. My short answer is, I’m a librarian. But the truth is that being a librarian has very little to do with how much I read. It does have to do, however, with how much I love to read! I mean, I can’t picture being a librarian and not being filled with joy at the prospect of reading a great book.
Today I’m going to share 3 suggestions for ways to fit more reading into your day.
- Carry your book with you wherever you go. This is easy if you have a Kindle or other device because it’s lightweight and portable. The idea, though, is to keep it handy so when you’re waiting . . . wherever that might be . . . you’ve got your book there to read. It doesn’t matter if you only read a paragraph or two, you’re still making progress.
- Schedule reading time every day. I think we all know that we make time for the things that matter to us. If reading matters to you then you will make time for it but you will have more success if you actually set aside time for just reading. Maybe it’s 10 minutes in the morning with your cup of coffee or maybe it’s 15 or 20 minutes on your lunch break. Maybe it’s after the evening news or before bed. I’m willing to bet that if you take a look at your daily schedule you can find a way to work in some dedicated reading time.
- Read books you love. This might seem obvious but the reality is that if you aren’t enjoying a book you aren’t going to be eager to pick it up and read. Find something that holds your interest, a book that you hate to put down will be one that you can’t wait to pick up. My rule is that if I’m not loving something by the time I’ve read 50 pages I stop reading it. This doesn’t happen all that often for me because I curate my to-be-read list very careful but I do pick up the occasional dud and I make sure I put it down when I realize that’s what I’ve done.
I hope these tips are helpful. I think reading is the best past time in the world. Well, except for knitting.
If you wrote a post for this week please include your link below and thanks for playing along.
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter
Carole: Love to read since I discovered the “Little BigBooks” at the library when I was in about the fourth or fifth grade at old Allen School. Would pass the library on my way home and would stop in. Mrs. Moorehouse was the children’s librarian and I remember her being so patient and kind when helping me pick out my book. Remember as a young teenager finding a copy of “Gone With the Wind” which my older sister tried to hide from me because she thought I was too young to be reading it! Still read every day. Right now reading “Dear Edward.” Now that I have relocated, I go to Seekonk library. So beautiful, so many books to read! So little time!
Those are great tips, Carole! I know a lot of people carry their knitting everywhere they go, but – like you – I carry a book everywhere I go. Always have, always will. 🙂 It’s easier now with e-readers, but I also lug big, ol’ library books (like Shuggie Bain!) around with me. Happy reading!
I’m a book person. I keep one in the car for those waiting times. Thank you for that 50 page guide. I am always reluctant to give up on a book, while resenting the time I’m reading a dud. I’ve gotten better about that, but I like having a guideline for when to pull the plug. Great thoughts here.
I carry books and/or my kindle everywhere I go. The last question I ask my husband when we are going somewhere is, “have you got your kindle?” There is no better way to enrich the time when you are waiting for something to happen. These are great tips!
Yes, yes, and YES! And reading coupled with knitting is just simply heaven! 🙂
Those were helpful ideas to put aside everyday to schedule a read. I, however, cannot do that! I too love to read, but if it is a good book, I can’t put it down. The whole day or until I fall asleep reading the book late late at night is a total bust. Nothing is getting done that day for sure. So, I need to schedule a day to read a book.
Dan also is an avid reader but he tends to keep nodding off while reading, so by no choice of his own, he does pace out his reading time. The stack of books is piling up that Dan gave good reviews on so now that the weather is warming up, I’ll schedule a day to read out on the porch.
I seem to go in spurts when it comes to reading … I’ll read 4 or 5 books in a row in short succession and then go a couple of weeks without starting a new one. Or I’ll find a book by a certain author that’s great and read a couple in a row by that same author. It’s hard to sometimes remember how relaxing and enjoyable reading can be when we have so many other distractions in our lives (looking at you, TikTok and phone game apps) … I hope I never lose my love for reading!
I think I carried a book with me everywhere when I was younger and even recall my parents saying “Get your nose out of that book and go outside!” I did go outside, but often it was to read more. Now I have my kindle in my purse, inside or outdoors. There are lots of “wasted moments” in a day, but they’re not wasted if you are reading!
Great ideas. I have always carried a purse that is big enough to hold a book in case I find myself with time to read between activities. And I have recently been using my Kindle a lot more which has greatly increased my reading time. I also think being a reader is a choice. When you want it to happen, you will find ways to make it happen.
What a great topic this is! One thing I do is show up early for things (like school pick-up or, in the old days, appointments) so I have uninterrupted, built-in reading time. I’ve been doing this since my kids were little, when a pap smear became the equivalent of spa time for a season in my life. I’m just FINE if the provider is running late….because it just means more reading time for me! Love this post. (Now, if I were only a faster reader. But I’m not going to change that. So, whatever.)
I’ve always loved to read but my reading took a big hit last year with the pandemic. The Happier Podcast has a read 21 mins a day in 2021 challenge and I’ve adopted that practice each morning. Some days it’s all I manage but it has helped to keep from getting a slump again.
I always have a book or my kindle with me if I am going anywhere that might involve a wait. I’ve loved reading as long as I can remember and my best reading memories from childhood are of summer days, sitting under the big trees in our back yard lost in a good book.
Ebooks have been the best things ever to enable me to read more because I can read on the computer when I’m at work and things are slow and I no longer have to choose between reading time and knitting time — if the book is on the iPad, I can read while I knit!
I am not reading as much lately and I’m not sure why. I need to do something about that.
#1 and #3 are already checked off my list. I do carry a book (almost) everywhere and I don’t waste time on books I am not excited about reading.
I struggle with #3–but I am much, much better at stepping away from books I don’t enjoy.
I don’t think I have ever taken a book with me unless it was on vacation. I have read a tiny bit on my phone if I was stuck somewhere. I really have to start doing that. I have a few appts at the end of the month and I will have to remember to bring a book.
Great tips, Carole – I’ve been doing #2 this year – setting a timer and just reading … it’s been a game changer!