Here’s Where to Find Time to Read

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. ~Dr. Seuss

I’m a word lover. I love to write and I love to read. But it’s hard to fit in time to read into my already jam-packed schedule. And, unfortunately, due to the volume of daily life, reading is what usually gets pushed down farther on my to-do list as the day fills up.

There was a period of time that I only read when I was bored and there were large chunks of time available. But I’m better, happier, more relaxed when I’m reading, so I have started to be intentional about doing it, because that period of life when I have loads of extra time is over for me. (Hello, motherhood.)

The problem is life is busy, right? We know this. No need to hash more on how to make life less busy, because I hate to say it, unless we make some major life adjustments, it’s not going to be less busy.

However, we can find the best time inside our busy time to do what we love to do.

I have found four different spots (or pockets of time) that I found are best for reading as a busy woman. I usually read anywhere from 2-4 books per month, so I know these work. I’m already on my fourth book for this month.

Here are 4 places hidden away in your day you can use to read:

*If reading isn’t your thing, what is? Listening to podcasts, drawing, sewing, writing music? You can use these tips for quite a few things you may enjoy, but don’t feel you have time for. 

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1) In the SCROLLING is time to read.

Replace social media scrolling with page turning. It really wasn’t until I gave up Facebook for Lent that I realized how much mindless scrolling I do online. It’s not just on Facebook either … I’m guilty of the same on Instagram, emails, blog posts, and so on. I even fall down deep YouTube ravines in mindless click throughs.

This one is hard for me. Social media is a part of my work, so when I log in to check it, I often don’t even realize when my scrolling because mindless, so I have to be intentional and proactive in how I monitor this for me.

2) In the WAITING is time to read.

Keep your Kindle or a paperback in your purse and/or in your car. Because did you know that the average person waits anywhere from 45-60 minutes a day? Do you know how much reading you can get done in that amount of time? So keep a Kindle, the Kindle app on your phone, iBooks or audiobooks with you to fill this time. (Be careful that this doesn’t become your scrolling time!)

I find pockets of time standing in line at the grocery, sitting waiting for a gas pump to open at the gas station, in line at Taco Bell behind the person who ordered the whole menu and at the school in car line pick-up or waiting for the bus.

3) In the CAR is time to read.

Audiobooks are my jam. I drive a lot between work, carpools, church, small groups and errands, so this has upped my reading amount quite a bit over the past year. If the kids are loud (which they always are) I pop in my earbuds and tune into my own little audiobook world for a little while.

Audible is what I use and I can’t recommend it enough! You can often find a great deal if you download the Kindle version and the audio (for just a couple extra dollars!), and then you have the book on both audio and in your Kindle to jump back and forth between! #winning It’s worth it to try for one month (that’s three free books!) and if you don’t like it, simply cancel. 🙂

4) In the CHORES is time to read.

Chores. Gross, right? Well, whenever the option is do-able (which it isn’t always), I choose to read during chores to make them more fun. Personally, I think the easiest option is – again – audiobooks. I can put my ear-buds in and fold the heck out of some laundry or scrub sinks or vacuum. However, I’ve been known to hold a book or my Kindle in one hand while blow-drying my hair or stirring spaghetti noodles on the stove. Carrying the laundry and taking the trash out are both one handed options too.

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Where else do you find the time to read?

Leave a comment and let me know where else some reading time may be hiding. 🙂

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