7 ways to find more time to read
It is with some regularity that library users tell me they wish they had more time to read. They also tend to say how wonderful it must be to work in a library and read books at work all day. I hate to shatter the myth, but although it certainly is great to work in a library, we don’t just sit around reading all day. We still have to slot in our reading time around work, commuting, families, housework, and so on. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to help you find more time to read.
1. Turn off the TV. This is a pretty obvious one but seriously, if you want to read more, just turn off the TV. One episode of NCIS/CSI/Law&Order/SVU/Criminal Intent/Boston Public/House is a solid hour of reading. Do that a few nights each week and you’ll knock of a book in no time.
2. Take a book with you. Whenever you go somewhere, take your book. Read while waiting to pick up your spouse/kids/friend or when you’re sitting in a doctor’s waiting room. If you have your book on hand, you can take advantage of any 10 or 15 minute period when you would normally be twiddling your thumbs or reading a 5 year old magazine.
3. Catch the train or bus to work. This may not be possible for you, but if you can swing it, it can be a big one. I get more reading done on the train than anywhere else. Ironically, for other reasons I am keen to start riding my bike to work which will knock this on it’s head for me.
4. Follow less blogs. Yes, I know, this is a silly thing to say on a blog. However, if what you really want is more time to read books, then something has to give. Do you find yourself wading through hundreds of blog posts everyday like it’s become a chore, then bemoaning the fact that you can’t get through the latest Lee Child book before it’s due back at the library? Then think about it.
5. Get up earlier. Are you a morning person? Buy yourself an extra 30 minutes or even an hour in the morning by tweaking your alarm clock.
6. Go to bed earlier. Do you read in bed at night? Then go to bed a half hour earlier. This might combine with the idea of turning off the TV.
7. Diarize some reading time. Book yourself some reading time on the weekend, an evening, or during the day if you’re able. Make it formal by allocating a couple of hours to “Discourse with Dostoyevsky”, “Relaxing with Rushdie”, or “Hanging out with Haddon”. You don’t even have to alliterate it if you’d prefer not to.
I know that all of these are pretty simple, perhaps even obvious. Sometimes however, it’s the simple and obvious things that can make a big difference.
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- You do not have to finish a book just because you started it
- 2009 reading tip for the year - dare to be different
- Teenagers and reading
- Insomniac linkage
- ReadingHacks poll: Does reading make you sleepy?
Me in pictures
A fun little meme I saw some time ago at thinkingsofalili.
Here’s the deal:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name
Beautiful bookends
These have to be some of the most beautiful and original bookends I have ever seen.
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Some reading suggestions
Leo over at zenhabits has listed “50 amazing and essential novels to enrich your library“. While I’m very wary of one person’s preference being considered essential for everyone else to read, it’s still a worthwhile list to get some suggestions. Have a browse, see if any jump out at you, there are also a whole bunch of comments where people have added their own favourites.
Similar Posts:
- 2009 reading tip for the year - dare to be different
- A couple of recommended reading lists
- Insomniac linkage
- You do not have to finish a book just because you started it
- Teenagers and reading
UNESCO names Melbourne a City of Literature
I feel a bit proud. UNESCO has named Melbourne (my hometown) a City of Literature.
Not sure exactly what that means for us, but we are only the second one in the world. Edinburgh is the other. It turns out that a big part of the bid was the new Centre for Books and Ideas to be opened at the State Library of Victoria next year.
Edited to add a couple of links:
Official statement from the State Library of Victoria.
