In his last post, Michael asked if readers of this blog had any tips for finding more time to spend with books. So that started me thinking. And while this is partially in response to his request, it's also something I will be printing out and hanging up somewhere. Maybe everywhere. Because I need to do these things as much as anyone.
photo by Sarah Cates, Cates Imaging
10 Ways to Find More Time for Reading
- Unplug. Seriously. Step away from the computer. Turn off the television. It's a no-brainer, but it might be the hardest thing to do all day. A newspaper story about author James Patterson reported that "he also reprimanded adults who say they don't have time to read: 'People read thousands of pages. No content. No stories. It's called your BlackBerry'."
- Embrace television, but in an old-fashioned way. Drop the Tivo remote. Use the commercial breaks to squeeze in some reading time. Short stories work great for this, or books that have short chapters. I recently read Seth Godin's MEATBALL SUNDAE this way. The chapters are short, but thought-provoking, making them perfect for commercial breaks. If you're still reading when the commercials are over, you can pick up the remote and pause the TV until you've finished the chapter.
- Read aloud to your children, an elderly neighbor or family member, or someone else who would enjoy it. Sometimes we don't really count that as "reading time," but really, it's time spent in an even more fulfilling way. At a recent event, Barack Obama was quoted as saying, ""Over the course of four years I made time to read all of the Harry Potter books out loud to my daughters. If I can do that and run for president, then you can find time to read to your kids. That's some of the most special time you have with your children."
- Take long car rides, and let someone else drive. This works great for me, because my husband can't read in the car without getting nauseous. So he drives (and gets to choose the music), and I read.
- If you don't have a chauffeur, try audiobooks. Audios are great not only for the car and gym, but for doing chores around the house, knitting, or any other time you need use of your hands. I have been known to listen to audios on my iPod at the grocery store, and they have saved my sanity while waiting for my kids at swimming lessons -- I can still watch what's going on, but can listen to a book at the same time.
- Wake up 15 minutes earlier, and go to bed 15 minutes later. Voila, 1/2 hour of found reading time, which shouldn't take too much of a toll on your sleep cycle.
- Join a book group, reading circle, or take a literature class. The added pressure of a deadline might allow you to carve out some reading time without feeling too guilty.
- Give up housework, yard work, chores, etc. for one non-work day. Consider it a vacation -- a "staycation" if you will. Schedule it on your calendar if you must. If you have small children, trade off being "on duty" with your spouse for 2 hour increments. Your spouse will probably appreciate the freedom as well, and 2 hours is enough time to immerse yourself fully into the plot and characters of a juicy novel.
- If you are simply unable to ignore the chores that must be done, take yourself off to a coffee shop, library, or other comfortable place where you can camp out for awhile. You'll be away from the demands of the things you "should" be doing. It's very liberating to read a book without that pile of laundry staring at you accusingly.
- OK, I'm going to just say it. You probably do it anyway. Read in the bathroom. For at least a few minutes, people will leave you alone. Choose your reading material carefully. If you are trying to do this at work, be discreet, and avoid tomes like War and Peace.
If you have other tips, please post them in the comments. We can all use them, I'm sure!
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