Are you feeling swamped? There is still time to read!
It is 10:18 pm, and I’m in my bed with my phone, a book, and a glass of water. I’m about to start reading for the night, and I’m feeling good about myself. It wasn’t always like this; I had almost given up reading because I was too busy! But one day, it hit me: if you want something, you will make time for it!
As a hands-on mom: between taking care of the kids, doing housework, running between sports activities and working full time, there never seems to be enough hours to fit everything in, let alone read a book! However, lately, I have come up with innovative ways to keep me motivated and shrink my bedside book stash. I committed to reading for at least 15 minutes every night, realizing it could make significant progress toward my reading goals. It doesn’t seem like much, but over time it adds up!
Here are some tips that have helped me make time for reading:
Staying consistent
Consistency is key to forming any habit, and in 2020 when the pandemic hit, I took time to reexamine my priorities. I realized that I wanted reading to be a more significant part of my life, and I was willing to put in the effort to make it happen. I started by setting a very achievable goal: reading one book chapter every night before bed. This allowed me to break my larger reading goals into manageable pieces, and I was more likely to stick with it if I didn’t try to do too much at once. I also set some simple ground rules for myself:
I would not allow myself to go to bed until I had read at least one chapter and
I would avoid reading on my phone or tablet as the blue light has been proven to interfere with sleep.
So far, this system has worked well for me, and I’m slowly but surely making my way through all the books I had piled on my bed stand.
Subscribe for a book box
Once a month, I get a box delivered to my doorstep with a book that is handpicked for me based on my reading preferences. It’s like Christmas every month! This has been a great way to help me discover new authors and genres that I wouldn’t have otherwise picked up. When you invest in something, you’re more likely to follow through. My monthly book box comes from Quill and Ink Bookstore in Saskatchewan.https://www.instagram.com/quillandinkbookstore/.
Set a reading goal
I like to set a reading goal for myself each year. For example, this year, my goal is to read 50 books. It’s not as daunting as it sounds if you break it down into manageable chunks. That’s only one book every week! And some weeks, you’ll surprise yourself and read two or three. If you miss a week, don’t sweat it. Just pick up where you left off the following week.
Find a reading buddy.
A friend or family member who enjoys reading can be helpful. You can talk about the books you’re reading and get recommendations for new ones. You can even start a book club! Reading is more fun when you can share it with others.
Make time for reading.
You may feel too busy, and there is no time, but guess what? There are always ways to squeeze in time for a bit of reading! You can read while the baby is napping or in the evenings after the kids are in bed. If you need help finding uninterrupted blocks of time, try listening to audiobooks. The best thing about audiobooks is that you can listen to them while doing other things, like driving or cooking! Quite the jackpot, isn’t it?
Keep going
It’s essential to keep reading, even if you feel too busy. Reading is a great way to relax and unwind and is also good for your brain. So make time for it in your busy schedule, and you’ll be glad you did.
What are some of the ways you make time for reading? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below about how you find time to read or if you have any book recommendations for me! 🙂
Thanks for reading!
