How to Make Time for Reading
To me, one of the biggest parts of self-care is not getting so wrapped up in work that I forget about my hobbies. I love reading if you can’t tell. But, sometimes I get so busy working or going to school, that all the things I enjoy end up taking a bit of a back seat. So, I wanted to take a minute to talk about how to find more time in your life to enjoy your hobbies, particularly reading.
Audiobooks
Honestly, the easiest solution to this problem is audiobooks. I personally haven’t taken the dive into it yet, but I’ve seen many people who swear by audiobooks.
Not ready to pay for an audiobook yet? Trust me, I get it. But, recently I found that a lot of local libraries carry audiobooks on Overdrive or Libby. So, check with your local library and see if they support either of these apps.
Podcasts
Podcasts aren’t just news or comedy sketches, there’s plenty of audio dramas out there for all my bookish people! My plan is to check out Wolf 359 soon if you need a suggestion.
The best part about podcasts is that they’re free to listen to. So, if you’re not exactly sure whether you’re someone who’s going to enjoy audiobooks, you can always start with podcasts.
Bring Your Book to Work
I’m not ashamed to admit this. Sometimes, I would bring my book to work and read in the car before my shift would start. Or, I would read during my lunch hour.
For me, this is a great way to destress during the workday. I sometimes feel that when I go on social media during my break instead, I never actually take a break (this might be due to the fact that I work in marketing and social media is actually my current job).
Read During Dinner
Do you remember when you got really into a book and you would only take small breaks to make some meals? You would stay up all night, reading and usually not really regret it as much as you probably should. Well, channel that because we’re talking about reading through dinner.
This is something I did a lot as a kid. I would specifically choose meals that we’re easy to shove in my face while my mind and hand were occupied with reading. My food suggestions for this: mac and cheese, sandwiches, cut in half, that aren’t full of sauce, and popcorn as a snack.
Schedule Reading Time
I’ve done this for writing and working out, but I haven’t done it for reading yet. Essentially, I schedule a part of my day, say thirty minutes or an hour, to something I enjoy. My day tends to be pretty scheduled, so I find a time that works best for me, which is usually about seven, and designate that as my time to write, or in this case, read.
I truly hope that this helps you all get back to your passions, even though this post is specifically about reading. I truly understand how hard it can be so I wanted to take the time to make this post with some of my suggestions. Happy reading, everyone!
By the way, if you want to join an online book club with some truly wonderful people, come check out the Barely Book Club on Facebook! We’re going to start reading Jackaby by William Ritter on December 2nd, so it’s the perfect time to join! Come check it out by clicking here.
Looking for a new book or podcast? Check out all my reviews by clicking here.
