7 Ways to Find Time to Read
by Stephanie Faris
As I write this, I’m laughing at the irony. Just moments ago, I read a few pages in the current book I’m reading and felt guilty with every word. How could I set aside even five minutes to read when I have so much to do?
But I do. I try to read a little every day, even when life is super crazy. Here are a few ways you can squeeze writing into your busy schedule.
· Dedicated Time—The best option is to simply set aside “reading time” every day. My mom does this just before bed. Some people read during their lunch break or while eating dinner (if they live alone). Find a time that will be easy to stick to each day.
· Multitask—Before my treadmill died, I used to read while walking every day. You can also squeeze in reading time while blow drying your hair or waiting in the pick-up lane at your child’s school.
· App It—There are times when you’ll wish you had your book on hand. If you read on your Kindle, there’s an easy way to do that. Download the Kindle app for your phone. When you’re stuck in the waiting room at the doctor’s office or waiting in line at the post office, you can pull up your app and go to the last page you read on your Kindle.
· Set a Daily Goal—You don’t have to read 100 pages a day. Simply tell yourself that you’re going to read a chapter a day or 20-50 pages. Whatever works for you. Over time, those small daily pages add up.
· Learn Speed Reading—I’ve never taken a speed-reading class, but I know people who have…and they can power through a book! These small techniques can help you get through your pages much faster.
· Audiobooks—When I commuted to an office every day, audiobooks got me through rush-hour traffic. I actually started looking forward to my “alone time” every morning, where I’d sip a cup of coffee and listen to the latest bestseller. If you can’t afford an app like Audible, you can likely get audiobooks free from your library’s website.
· Cut Something Else—If you need extra time in the day, the best thing to do is eliminate something. Find an area where you’re wasting time—such as arguing with people about the presidential election on Facebook—and channel that energy into reducing your to-read pile.
These tips may not be the magic fix you’re looking for, but hopefully they’ll help you think twice when you say you don’t have time to read. Everyone can likely find at least 15 extra minutes a day to read, but if you can set aside an hour or more and relax, you’ll likely be happier and healthier.
Blurb
When Piper Morgan has to move to a new town, she is sad to leave behind her friends, but excited for a new adventure. She is determined to have fun, be brave and find new friends.
In Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, Piper learns her mom’s new job will be with the Big Top Circus. She can’t wait to learn all about life under the big top, see all the cool animals, and meet the Little Explorers, the other kids who travel with the show. She’s even more excited to learn that she gets to be a part of the Little Explorers and help them end each show with a routine to get the audience on their feet and dancing along!
In Piper Morgan in Charge, Piper’s mom takes a job in the local elementary school principal’s office. Piper is excited for a new school and new friends—and is thrilled when she is made an “office helper.” But there is one girl who seems determined to prove she is a better helper—and she just so happens to be the principal’s daughter. Can Piper figure out how to handle being the new girl in town once more?
Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside and play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing.
Stephanie is the Simon & Schuster author of 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses. When she isn’t crafting fiction, she writes for a variety of online websites on the topics of business, technology, and her favorite subject of all—fashion. She lives in Nashville with her husband, a sales executive.
Links:
Choose a book you can't put down. I remember in college reading the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series. I told myself not to pick up another book. It was like a disease. I would read late into the night.
ReplyDeleteNow, I try not to spend too much time surfing the web reading fluff. I give myself a time to use the internet and then no more. Thinking about what is important to yourself is key. Otherwise we tend to blow our time.
We waste so much time every day and don't even realize it. A lot of it is clicking over on some stupid link on Facebook to an article on "Things You Never Knew About Your Favorite Reality Show Star." We have to resist the urge to click!
DeleteThis is often hard for me to resist, yet I still find time to do some reading.
DeleteThank you so much for hosting me today, Murees. I had a great time writing this!
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure. You are welcome back anytime.
DeleteThis is such a great post. I always wonder how so many writers still manage to fit in reading in their busy days:) I have a designated reading time now, which is right before bed. Also, I try to sneak a bit in here and there throughout the day.
I'm trying to make more time to read. Not really into audio books, but now that two of mine are available as audios, I need to try some. It would be easier to listen while I'm doing something mundane.
ReplyDeleteYou really get into them. I've found if you listen to fiction, it needs to be either while you're doing something REALLY mundane, like driving on the interstate for 200 miles without distractions, or doing household chores that are so dull you won't need to even think! It might help to start with nonfiction--those seem to be easier to listen to. I'm currently marathoning the Generation Why podcast, which is 100 percent free, so I've put my Audible account on hold. Once I run out of good podcasts, I'll go back to audiobooks! Nonfiction can feel a lot like listening to talk radio.
DeleteI use my phone and tablet apps to read all the time. Many times I read while walking/exercising on an uninterrupted path.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea! I tried the text-to-voice feature on my phone while walking, but it sounded like a robot. It was way hard to read that way!
DeleteHubby and I just make time to read every single day. We read together and it's the very best part of my day.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was working I did a lot of audio books when I was driving from one meeting to another.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Driving around town, sometimes I find it's hard to listen. It was easier when I had a drive of 30 minutes or more. But sometimes I get that book that draws me in and I don't drift with those.
DeleteSometimes I get caught up in a ton of other things, but 2 books travel with me on those long doctors appointments or trips so I can get back on track. You already know my TBR pile continues to grow! Lol
ReplyDeleteBefore I owned a Kindle, I always carried a book everywhere I went for that exact reason!
DeleteGood tips! I wish I could focus on audiobooks, but if I can't see the words, the sound just turns to mush in my mind.
ReplyDeleteTo squeeze in more reading time, I find that there are a lot of TV shows I don't HAVE to watch (do I really think they're going to find bigfoot this week? If they do, I'll catch a rerun).
I was listening to a podcast at the gym today and thinking of that very thing. If it weren't for the fact that walking on a track is so boring, I'd probably be easily distracted. But I can concentrate while doing something mundane and listening to a book helps make that mundane activity more enjoyable.
DeleteGreat tips! The "cut something else" suggestion is my favorite. I think I'll start with housework. ;-)
ReplyDeleteActually, I go to bed and read for 20 to 30 minutes nearly every night. Of course that backfires sometimes when I can't put a book down and end up reading for a couple of hours or more. Not a good idea if you have to get up early the next day.
Yes, I've seen many people post on Twitter that they stayed up reading a book they couldn't put down-and that they had to get up at 6 a.m. or whatever to go to work!
DeleteReading is such an important part of my life that I usually don't worry about making time for it. But I am staring at a busy fall and I may need to be more deliberate about it. I will keep your suggestions in mind.
ReplyDeleteReminds me that I have a reading list I need to finish before the year ends.
ReplyDeleteThese are helpful tips. Thank you!
Another awesome post on Steph's book tour!
ReplyDeleteHi Murees - great to have that wonderful guest Stephanie Faris here with her Piper Morgan series ... and I love Stephanie's ideas for reading ... I do settle down (sometimes - but I'm getting better) to read - then I read and read .. and not much else gets done ... but I quite agree reading is an essential ... cheers to you both - Hilary
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. I discovered audible recently and love it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Stephanie!
Audios are a super way to read when you're short of time. I started reading audio one summer working in my rose garden. I have LOVED them ever since. Like Stephanie said, they are awesome if you have to drive any distance.
ReplyDeleteThoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
If I don't read at least a little bit each day, I get cranky. :)
ReplyDeleteSince we cut cable, I find I watch a lot less TV in the evenings - not flipping around, seeing what's on, getting sucked into repeats, etc - and I often use that time to read, read, read. :)
I don't have trouble finding time to read. It's like breathing. Books are all over my house to grab in a spare moment. I do need to find ways to write more though.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is reading instead of sleeping. Although that does create a problem after a while.
ReplyDelete