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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2 Responses to “7 ways to find more time to read”
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i’m pretty good at 1-4, but lousy at 5-7. catching public transport to work is great for reading…as is having a hot bath!
That’s a good strike rate. I didn’t mean them as 7 things everybody should do all of, just a few that may work for different people.
Personally the train, having a book with me most the time, and going to bed earlier are my main ones. I watch very little TV but it’s been replaced by sitting in front of the computer and I’ll often get up early to do things, but not reading.