Finding Time to Read - Top Tips - How to Read More Books

TOP TIPS

How to Read More Books

On the 1st January 2023, my resolution was to read more. My goal was one book a week which seemed achievable on paper, thirty pages a day would probably do it. Easy...right?!

It was easy. For the first couple of days, while I was off work and we were still in the post-Christmas and New Year funk at least. Then reality hit. The dog needed walks, the floors needed sweeping, the dishes needed to be done, and attendance at work was mandatory (who'd have thought it!). It was a struggle to keep up with my thirty pages a day. Failed at the first hurdle. 

When I found the time to read, I was immersed, relaxed, finally had something to discuss, and quickly realised that reading was my self-care. Perseverance was key. Trial and error occurred, to find what worked for me. It got easier to slide a book into my routine, and despite starting college full-time in August last year, adding another twenty-five hours of things to do and places to be to my week, I gobbled up seventy-nine books in 2023. 

Here are my top tips for finding time to read:

FIND THE GAPS IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

I felt like I didn't have time to read, that my days were full but I discovered a mass of "gaps" in my routine. Early morning coffee in bed, 30 minutes usually taken up by Facebook scrolling or random YouTube videos were replaced with a book (still some scrolling, old habits die hard!). The half-hour before my shift started, or before class started at college. Half-time during the football (and sometimes during the actual football if nothing was happening, which turns out to be quite often!).

You can gain a couple of hours a week without sacrificing something else (or feeling like you are) by using the natural gaps in your day-to-day life. 

MAKE IT KNOWN

Letting my family in on it was such a simple thing, I told them I was really enjoying reading again, that reading was giving me some self-care time and they quickly got on board. My partner was delighted to disappear to his Xbox if I was in the zone (he practically skipped away and actively encouraged me to read more, I wonder why?!). My adult son would ask me about my latest book and we even read some books together. 

You'll be surprised how much extra time you find when your people are active in your journey. 

AUDIOBOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, MORE AUDIOBOOKS

I'll admit, I struggled with audiobooks initially and sometimes still do. I would zone out and focus on something else before realising I had missed a key point (wait, why is everyone sad, what's happened? Who's Bob and when did he get here?). It's a skill for sure and took a little trial and error. I can't listen to audiobooks when cooking from a recipe or trying to crochet. Commuting to work, mopping the floors, and walking the dog is another kettle of fish entirely. 

Good audiobooks draw you in, engage you, and can often enhance the story. They say tone is everything and when the narrator nails it, you're pulled into the world. I cannot recommend audiobooks enough especially when busy lives get in the way of reading. Word of warning - if you're listening while cleaning, you may end up laying on the bathroom floor, scrubbing brush in hand, ugly crying to Kristin Hannah's The Women like I did. Hit me right in the feels. 

If you haven't tried audiobooks before, Audible has a free trial including one full-price book (two if you're a Prime member) and unlimited access to their "Plus" catalogue. Another option is your local library, which may offer loans of some books on audio, though there may be a wait for some popular books to become available. 

BUILD TIME INTO YOUR SCHEDULE

I'm a meticulous planner, I can't help it. I am a terrible procrastinator, nothing would get done if I didn't schedule it into my day. The easiest way to find reading time without feeling guilty was to plan. I have a "self-care" colour in my Google calendar and I schedule 3x30 minute slots each wee. I shuffle these around based on what else is happening in my diary. Some weeks it gets thrown between getting home from work and prepping tea. Before heading out on date night. In between doing the ironing and putting the clothes away. When it's booked into my calendar, it's an appointment, there's nothing in the way. Some weeks, yes, lots is going on and I manage all 3 sessions. Other weeks are miraculously appointment free and I can extend the odd session to an hour instead. 

This one may not work for everyone, but if you're a planner, like me, dedicating time to your schedule could be a simple and effective solution to help you achieve your reading goals. 

Will any of these tips work for you? How do you find time to read? Share your tips and thoughts in the comments, I'm always keen to find other things that help me squeeze out some more pages. 

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