A full-time graduate student, taking thirteen hours, working a part-time job, maintaining a social life . . . while reading on average 1000 pages a month for fun.
“How do you do it?” is a question that I’m often asked.
There are some simple strategies that I use to make effective use of my time. I shared about this on Facebook recently, but creating time to do something that I love is so important that I decided to write a blog post about it.
1. Give yourself permission to read what you love
I’m happiest when I’m reading something that I want to read, not something that I think I should read. That rarely works out in my favor. In fact, I used to suffer from a bad case of anxiety starting a new book because I had spent so much time as a blogger reading what I felt obliged to read, not what I wanted to read.
This why I enjoy checking out huge stacks of books from the library (to the horror of my mom). Keeping a stack of books on hand gives me options from which to choose my next read.
2. Read at your own pace (don’t set deadlines!)
Leisure reading is meant to be done at your leisure, not on deadlines. While I may want to read two books a week, I know that I don’t generally have time to read two books a week. Not if I want to lead a balanced lifestyle.
Don’t be afraid to take more time with a book than you know you need. Remember that reading isn’t a competition. It’s meant for you to relax and spend time doing something that you love.
3. “Picture books” count
Again, read what you love. It’s okay to read graphic novels or picture books. (They’re also books.) If you love books with lots of images, then read them!
4. Set aside fifteen minutes a day to read
Be intentional in your plans to read. If you say that you want to make time to read, then set aside a portion of time every day to read. It doesn’t have to be a whole hour (unless you want to spend an hour every day reading!).
Start by setting a timer for fifteen minutes. If it’s going well and you feel ready to take the next step, you can start reading for longer stretches of time.
5. Incorporate it into your bedtime routine
I love reading for the last 30-60 minutes before lights out. Reading helps me to unwind for the night. Following the same bedtime routine tells my body that it’s time to prepare for the night, and it makes sleep come that much faster.
Plus, I get to read in my pajamas. In my comfy bed. With a good book. What’s not to like?
6. Make reading a part of your morning routine
Reading in the morning is a pleasant activity because the sun’s just coming up and it’s a new day. Starting the day with something I love helps get me into a good mindset for the day—because it reminds me that today is going to be a good day. (Even if it may seem difficult to grasp at first.)
Some ways to read in the morning:
- Keep a book at your bedside to pick up first thing in the morning.
- Read while you eat breakfast.
- Curl up on the couch before or after breakfast.
- Listen to an audiobook while doing your morning rituals.
- Read on the toilet or in the shower (a hands-free option is an audiobook).
- Read your Bible, magazine articles, blog posts, news reports . . . or continue a novel. I do a mix of these 🙂
7. Take a break from work with a good book
We all need a study break (seriously, we do). This can be spent in company with friends and family, exercise, doing chores we had neglected . . . and depending on what we were doing for school or work (because, sometimes, we do need a break from the books), it can also be spent leisure reading.
Audiobooks are a great way to “read” while taking a well-needed eye break.
8. Work out your brain with your body at the gym
I tried reading once or twice while cycling and decided it wasn’t for me, but I have friends who enjoy running on the treadmill or cycling with a book in hand.
An alternative is to listen to an audiobook while working out. As I’ll discuss later, the hands-free nature of an audiobook makes it perfect for multi-tasking! (I appreciate this so much more because it leaves my hands free to lift weights, and I can take my book with me while running outside and gazing at the scenery.)
9. Read with a friend!
My roommates and I once spent some quality time reading aloud together. We had a lot of fun, and we ended up giving each other code names based off the story.
Reading with a friend doesn’t have to be done aloud, however. You can start a book club or talk books over a meal. Sharing something you love not only provides accountability but socialization. I read a lot in my late high school and early college years because my book blog opened doors for me to share what I love with others.
10. Multitask with an audiobook (super effective!)
I love listening to audiobooks while doing a variety of tasks. While silence is beautiful and refreshing in its own way, there is also a time and a place for my brain to process something while my hands and feet are at work.
Plus, I can “read” faster with an audiobook than I can while reading a hardcopy. (Partially because I enjoy rereading beautiful sentences in print, but I don’t like rewinding audiobooks.)
Following are some activities where audiobooks can be appropriate:
- Household chores (laundry, cooking, gardening, organizing, cleaning…)
- Doing morning and nightly rituals
- Playing with the puppy
- Exercising (running, at the gym…)
- Commuting (to work, school…you name it!)
When you stop to think about it, there are so many little pockets of time that can be spent doing something we love. Time that we can too easily spend on social media or stressing over the next big project that’s due.
I do not believe that we were created to spend all of our days working. Nor can we keep saying that we’ll work today to enjoy tomorrow. While we most certainly shouldn’t spend today slacking off, we can still spend a portion of today taking delight in the good things in life.
While I discuss these various methods of creating pockets of time as a means for reading more, many of these methods may be used to create time for other activities that you enjoy. I hope that you find these tips helpful!
What are some ways you use to create more time to read?
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Anne @ The Reading Life says
I actually don’t agree with the sleeping one, because for me personally if I read right before bed, there is NO WAY I can fall asleep because I would want to keep reading, and would not be able to stop reading and stopping thinking about it. Also, I bring a book wherever I go (and I mean EVERYWHERE), so even if there are seconds to spare, I am going to read. Great post!
Crystal says
I love how you bring a book wherever you go. One of my judges of a good purse is whether a book can fit in it!
I completely understand why you don’t read before bed. Back in HS, I would sometimes stay up until 3 a.m. lol. I usually get so tired by 11 p.m. now, though, that staying up reading is rarely a problem for me.
Kimberly @ Book Swoon says
These are all terrific ideas for busy readers! I personally am one of those individuals that no matter how tired I am, I need to read before sleeping in order to unwind. I love going to the library and checking a stack of books out as well. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Crystal says
Reading in bed is so relaxing. I love being able to read without interruption at the close of the day 🙂
The library is also a good friend of mine. Thanks for dropping by!!
Angie @ Ba_BAMB says
Great tips! Listening while I am getting ready in the morning is when I get most of my audio minutes in. I also like to grab my headphones and pop them out to tidy up once I get home from work and am making dinner. And driving…sometimes I take the long way home just so I can listen longer. LOL
Thanks for sharing!
Crystal says
Thanks, Angie. I love how you’ll take a longer way home sometimes just to listen longer. Also your tip on listening while getting ready in the morning. I might try that the next time I do my makeup! (My only worry would be losing track of time listening to the audiobook.)
Angie @ Ba_BAMB says
That does happen! LOL
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight says
Multitasking with audiobooks is definitely a great way to get more reading in for anyone who is busy or has a long commute to work or school! When I used to be really busy, like in high school, I just almost always had a book with me, and I’d carry it in my hands, so I’d squeeze in time whenever I could, even if it was just five minutes of waiting for class to end or something. Those little bits of time add up! Setting aside a small bit of time to read each day is great too. I also like to read for 30 mins or an hour (or sometimes more if I get hooked on my book!) before bed 🙂 Great tips!
Crystal says
Thanks, Kristen. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts as well. I used to carry a book on me in high school as well. I remember there was always time somewhere in the day to read, be it before class or after finishing an assignment. Nowadays, it’s a bit more of a fight to find time to read, but I agree that those little bits of time add up!
Sophia Rose says
Very good tips, Crystal!
I have found that audiobooks have opened up more book time for me, significantly. Chores, walks, and even trips are now book time. I’ve always been one to read at the breakfast table if I’m eating alone, in waiting areas or long lines, when I get home from work for some down time, and a little before bed. It adds up and before you know it; you’ve finished a book. 🙂
Crystal says
Love your tips, Sophia! Especially the point about how it all adds up before you know it.
I also read during wait times outside. My judge of a good purse is if I can fit a book (or at least my Kindle) in it.