This guest post is from the fantastic Amanda. I personally find I don’t have as much time to read since I started working and have to set aside a little time each day, make sure I’m reading something that I want to read, and set myself a goal of 100 pages. I don’t always reach it but it does help me a lot. What about you guys? Do you have the same problem?
You don’t find time to read; you make it.
The last few months of 2011, I was basically unemployed and had plenty of time to read, and read I did. But I also managed to burn myself out with reading in the process, and my reading languished at the beginning of January. I struggled to read. Then I accepted a last minute temp teaching job (no, really, I was called on a Saturday and I started teaching the following Monday), and I went from having all the time in the world to having none.
Zero. Zip. Zilch.
14 hours of my time every week went into being in the classroom, 10+ hours was spent simply commuting to work, and I spent the rest of my time preparing for classes. You know that adage that says we always want what we can’t have? Yeah. As soon as I lost time to read, I wanted to read.
But with work and other commitments swallowing up my time, I began to realize that if I was going to read, I would have to carve out a space in my schedule. When you are really busy, time to read won’t magically appear. You have to make a conscious effort to set aside reading time. And trust me, if you love reading as much as I do, giving yourself reading time when you’re busy can make the rest of your life seem more manageable.
Here’s a few ways to make time for reading:
1. Listen to audiobooks. I started listening to books on my commute to work, and with those 10 hours in the car, I’m able to listen to about a book a week. But you’re not limited to listening to audiobooks on your commute — you can do it while cleaning or cooking, or during any other mindless chore.
2. Reward yourself with reading. I really do this in two ways. One, I allow myself to take a break when I get stressed. My reasoning goes like this: yes, I have a lot of other work to do, but I’ll be in a much better place mentally (and possibly emotionally) if I take the break. Reading is like a recharge, where I forget all my problems for the space of a book. Secondly, I use reading to motivate myself to get my work done. I tell myself, “If you finish X, Y, and Z, then you can read a book.” I know this tactic won’t work for everyone, but it has a tendency to get me to focus on finishing work that I’ve been putting off.
3. Set aside a little time every day for reading. Before you go to bed at night, while you eat — whatever! — get a few pages or chapters in. I’m not the type of person who can read a few chapters or pages at a time, but if I was, I would! You don’t have to read a book front to back in one sitting, so why not grab a few minutes of your day to do some reading?
Hi Amanda!
Good post. Making time to read is not something I excel at, but I am a bit of an opportunist reader. Breaks at work, walking places, etc. The main time I do set aside is just before sleep.
I still haven’t tried out an audio book; although I am kind of curious. Thinking about setting some up on my iPod or something, my worry is whether I would actually stay focused or tune out while listening.
Think when you first sign up for Audible you get one free? And do believe you can put them on your Kindle, too.
Yup, when I was listening to Writing Excuses a lot I used to keep telling myself every EP I’d sign up and grab the free one to test it out. Just.. uhm.. never did.
I actually have a post going up on my blog on Friday about my experience with audiobooks. I was really hesitant, too, because my listening comprehension is not my strong suit. I’m much better at tuning noise out than listening to it. But what I basically found was that if I had any kind of writing in front of me, I would read it and not listen. And that was why listening in the car works so well.
Great points, Amanda! I can’t listen to audiobooks personally because my attention wonders and I switch off, but I’m basically reading every available minute of my day, breaks, eating, in bed – you name it
Thanks! And yes, I completely understand how easily audiobooks are to tune out. They certainly don’t work for everyone. But I’m glad that you’re still able to find time to read!
Thanku,its good to know im not alone in how i feel about reading and finding time to do it! I was 39 when i fell in love with reading. Jonathan Maberry and Craig DiLouis are the reasons i started again
I find that the two ways I do it are:
1. Always have a book on you: you never know when an opportunity will present itself!
2. Read during television adverts or- as you say- while travelling (if you take public transport/are not driving).
Yes! I actually do always keep a book on me. Forgot about that. But that is a great way to grab time to read whenever you have it.
Great post! Finding time to read can certainly be hard. Sometimes you just have to make it a priority. I’m glad that the audio books are working out for you! I get a lot of reading in on my lunch break because there is no on else to distract me.
I work in a shared office and I like my coworkers, so reading over my lunch break doesn’t work well. I’ve done it before, though, and it’s great.
Well said, Amanda. Well said.
*huggles you*
I have to agree with Amanda that it is certainly hard to make time for reading but it always works if you reward yourself or try to fit in reading a few pages here and there. I use to hate to only be able to read a page or so before having to stop but having a desk job where I can be interupted at any second has taught me to value the little minutes throughout the day where you can read a page or so. You wouldn’tthink this but those little pages over the course of a week or month can really add up.
here is to the hope that we all find more time for reading!