Six Simple Ways to Find Time to Read

Finding time to read when you have a busy schedule can be really hard. Even if you love to read and want to find time to do it, books are not usually a priority unless it is required for work or school. There have been plenty of times where I find it hard to find time to read with everything else I wish to do. Plus, everyone needs time to relax and do nothing, even reading. However, if you want to read more, making it a higher priority on the list of things to do is important. Below I have compiled a list of some simple ways you can try and find more time to read.

1. Try Audiobooks

Audiobooks are a great way to work books into your schedule without making many changes. You can listen to an audiobook when you’re driving around, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, or many other activities. If you don’t feel like you’re able to cut any time out of your days for reading, this can be a good solution to read while you do other things. If you’re not sure if you’ll like listening to books instead of reading them, maybe check one out from your local library. There are a large selection of audiobooks at most libraries that can be accessed and checked out completely online. I have a list of the pros and cons of audiobooks if you’d like more thoughts about them.

2. Bring a Book With You Everywhere

I personally bring a book with me everywhere, at all times. It is very helpful that most of my books are digital and are downloaded to my phone or my very portable e-reader. However, whether you have physical copies or digital books, it is always a good idea to bring your current novel with you wherever you go. This allows you the opportunity to read whenever there is a spare moment. You can read on your lunch break at work, or maybe while you are waiting in the doctor’s office. I find I will pull out my book whenever I am sitting and waiting for something or someone while out and about. If you have your book with you, then you will never miss a moment to read while you’re not at home. This won’t work for all activities or errands, but you never know. Maybe plans will change and you’ll be glad to have the book with you after all.

3. When the Power Goes Out

The weather is bad outside and the lights go out. What is there to do now that the TV and internet are out? Well, you could pull out your flashlight, or some candles, and your current book. If you’re book is digital, then even better. An e-reader or a phone or tablet doesn’t need to be plugged in if the battery is charged. Plus, it has its own built in light system. It won’t matter that you don’t have internet because you can just open a downloaded book and read. I find low lighting goes well with reading anyway, so if you find yourself in the middle of a power outage, it’s a great time to sit down and read.

This one might not be as simple since power outages aren’t really planned or often, but hey, it is a great time to choose to read since the alternative activities become limited with no power.

4. Join a Bookclub or Collaborate with a Friend

If you’re having trouble making time to read on your own, maybe join a bookclub or collaborate with a friend to read the same book together. This can help move the priority of your reading up on your to do list. If there is someone else relying on you to discuss the book, then you will be more likely to get it read. Hopefully it will be fun for you to talk about the book with your friend or fellow club members which will inspire even more motivation to sit down and read. Doing reviews and discussions here on the blog as well as in my videos is often why I make reading a top priority in my life. I need to read the books so I can share my love of them with you. Maybe this strategy can be helpful for you as well.

5. Schedule Reading into Your Day or Week

Sometimes the best way to incorporate something into your life is to pencil it in. If you are someone who really schedules out the day or week, reading might be a new item to add. It doesn’t have to be a large time block. In fact, reading for fifteen minutes might be all you have time for. Reading a little bit is better than not reading at all, even if you can only manage to put it in one time for the whole week. Just think of it as scheduling in some time for yourself to do what you enjoy doing. Everyone needs some downtime or ‘me time’. Find a time in your busy schedule that is free and plan to cozy up with your newest read.

6. Create a Habit or Routine

This suggestion is very similar to scheduling in time to read. Making it a full habit or part of a routine might be beneficial to help you do it regularly instead of sporadically. It really depends on how much reading you want to do. Now, creating a habit for it doesn’t mean it has to be an everyday thing. In fact, it could be a once a week for fifteen minutes habit. It just depends on the time that you have available. The best way to incorporate reading into your routine is to find a time that you are constantly free either daily or weekly. Then, you can designate that time for your reading. After a while, you won’t even have to think about it. Instead, you will know when you will be able to read and can look forward to doing it. Of course, if you find the first time slot you selected doesn’t really work with the rest of your schedule, don’t give up. Missing your reading time three weeks in a row doesn’t mean it can’t become a part of your routine. Sometimes we are more motivated or more available for certain kinds of tasks at different times of the day or week. When one time slot doesn’t work out, try and look for a new one that might work better for you. The key is to just keep trying.

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These are my top six tips for finding time to read. I know life can get in the way of leisure time for many people. There are a lot of things to do every day and every week. There’s work or school, chores, errands to run, maybe kids to take care of and run around. Reading doesn’t always make the cut. However, if you like reading, I would like to be able to help you keep it as a part of your life. Hopefully some of these suggestions will help you find at least a little time to enjoy a new adventure or two in the coming year.