2019 is my year to read more novels. I need more depth and less social media to feed my creative muse, and reading is my go-to strategy. But I’m a single mom with two jobs, a house, pets, and a high school senior to take care of, so time is at a premium.
I’ve gathered some tips and ideas to make myself do more reading, but I’m looking for additional ideas. So, if you comment with a way you’ve found to fit more reading into your life, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card. And you’ll be helping other busy souls find more time to read.
Motivation
Most people reading this blog are pretty motivated to read. Nonetheless, we face challenges from even-more-motivating distractions: family members who need us, undone housework, and social media algorithms that manipulate our brains into scrolling our newsfeeds long after it’s stopped being rewarding. We need tools to fight back!
- Set a goal: Last year, I kept track of all the books I read on Goodreads. I set the goal of 52 books, and I made it… barely. Their “one book behind schedule” notices helped me stay on track.
- Research the benefits of reading. Did you know that readers have more empathy, better concentration, and (in the case of romance readers) better love lives? If you find yourself surfing the internet rather than reading a book, google “benefits of reading” and learn about the many more benefits bestowed by reading.
- Influence a child. Modeling is an important way children learn. Kids who grow up surrounded by adults who read are more likely to become readers themselves… a habit that will help them succeed in all areas of their education, not just English class. The stereotypical good parent cooks fabulous family meals and attends every sporting event, but in reality, reading in front of your kids is equally beneficial to them.
Finding Time
Okay, you’re motivated, but how do you find the time to read? Here are a couple of things that have worked for me:
- Schedule it in. Add “reading” to your to-do list and plan to do it at a specific time each day. And be smart about when. Ideally, I’d read at night before bed, but the truth is that by the time I climb into bed, I’m way too sleepy to pick up a book. For me, reading for twenty minutes in the morning keeps me plowing ahead through my current novel and sets the tone for a bookish day. You might find your lunch hour or after dinner works better, but the key is to be consistent about it.
- Audiobooks. Listening is the new reading for the vast number of Americans who commute, work out, or do housework while listening to a book. Audiobooks are often beautifully narrated, and there are deals and packages that make it affordable (Audible’s romance package has a free trial month, for example). Most libraries offer audiobooks to borrow free.
Choose the Right Books, and Dump the Wrong Ones
- Have you ever encountered a “bottleneck book”? It’s the book that you ought to read–you paid good money for it, or it’s supposed to be spiritually uplifting, or your best friend insists you read it–but though you start with good intentions, it just doesn’t grab you. There it sits, making you feel guilty and keeping you from starting the book you really want to read. The solution? Dump it, and carry on with the book you really want to read right now. You can always pick up the bottleneck book later–or give it to someone who’d appreciate it more.
- Be true to yourself: do you really want to read the top 100 classic novels of all time? There are books we feel like we should read, but what really gets me reading a lot is the book that grips me and won’t let go. Occasionally that’s a classic–hello, Jane Austen–but more often, for me, it’s an emotional, intense, relationship-focused contemporary novel in one of the popular genres.
- Read InspyRomance authors! You could easily find a year’s worth of reading just by going down the list of authors who blog on InspyRomance. You can be sure all of these books are spiritual and upbeat, with happy endings. Many of us offer free or inexpensive introductions to our series. So head over to the “books” page and try a new-to-you author.
If you’d like to check out my emotional, angsty-but-upbeat love stories, head over to www.leetobinmcclain.com and sign up for my newsletter. You’ll get a free romance novella as a thank you.
How do you make more time to read? Give the rest of us a good tip in the comments, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
Hi Lee, congrats on the 52 books last year:) I love to read- I often read just before going to sleep, somehow it slows my mind down to fall asleep. I am in the habit of taking my kindle (or a book) with me so that if I have waiting time- I can read. I am a teacher and our first lesson after lunch begins with 15 minutes of silent reading- I take advantage of that!!
I am blessed that my boys like to read too- they will often lay on the floor reading- so when I can, I join them.
Blessings:)
Hi Lee! Excellent tips many which I gave to my high school English students. So I will just will tweak some of yours. Set reasonable goals – while in the busy sandwich years, my reading goal was 20 books a year. Most were read during summer break. I also prefer to read early in the morning, especially non fiction. As a pastor’s wife and teacher when my sons were young – I scheduled a reading day – 20 minutes didn’t work in my schedule. On mom’s reading day, boys knew not to disturb mom unless they were bleeding or dying. Breakfast was on the table, lunch in the refrigerator. This taught my boys that moms need time for herself. My sons still tease me about “reading days.” Couldn’t afford a spa day.
At school we also had times of silent reading, advice to my students. Don’t punish yourself, if you don’t like the book – it doesn’t grab your interest or the style / characters aren’t your thing – find a different book to read. Why torture yourself and make reading a chore. If you don’t want to read the classics, read the cliff notes. There is no law saying one has to read every word. When I am crunched for time, I often skip to the end of the book. Sometimes this makes me go back and read what I missed, but often I just want the resolution to the conflict. Best wishes.
Good morning, Lee!! I have been a reader since a young girl, and have been known to read just about anywhere…lol! These days I do most of my reading at lunchtime at work…I sit at my desk with my sandwich it salad and a book in front of me…. my co-workers all know…”she’s reading, leave her alone” lol! I also read in the evening, not in bed, but while hubs watches his car mechanic shows it whatever, lol! My TV time is basically football, if there’s no football, well, I rarely watch TV then! I always carry my Kindle, phone with Kindle or a paperback with me in my handbag..so, get stuck waiting on line? Read! Waiting at a Dr appointment? Read! Waiting for hubs to pick me up? Read! LOL
Good morning Lee,
I work 2 jobs and I try to read as much as I can so I leave an hr. earlier for work so I can enjoy reading for an hr. to forty-five minutes before I go into work. I try to read some in the evenings too. Have a great day.
Yay for reading more! :)
Your tips are great. My #1 tip is get an ereader. Kindle, phone, iPad, nook, whatever you want, but electronic books are so much more convenient. You only need one hand to read OR you can set it down and it stays open! This means you can read while you brush your teeth, dry your hair, fix meals, load the dishwasher, etc. I find so many pockets of my day where I’m doing a 5 minute task that doesn’t involve my brain and so I can read. Plus e-readers slide into your purse so you always have a book on hand for unexpected waits. (Should I be the one to mention reading in the potty? Cause sometimes that’s a plan too ;) )
I take the city bus so I read then and I don’t watch much tv so I am reading then too. If you live in a city with a bus system and commute that is one way to get reading in.
I have an inexpensive tablet with a kindle app and one on my phone. Whenever I have a few minutes I can read from my phone or tablet. In the evening works for me as well as after lunch for a few minutes.
I always have my phone and a book with me. That way, I can read while waiting – in carpool line, doctors office, piano lesson, etc.
Since my husband gets up really early for work, I’ve been getting up at the same time and reading in the wee hours of the morning until it’s time to get the kids up for school.
I am still looking for ways to get in some reading time. If I stayed off my computer and picked up a book that would be one way. However, I always have my kindle with me, so if I have to wait somewhere I can get in a few minutes.
Since I’m retired, it’s not such a problem to find time to read :-) My problem is stopping reading to fix meals or do other things I need to do :-) Anyway, my husband and I read at breakfast and lunch, unless we agree to talk and not read. Also, he goes to bed earlier than I do most nights, and I get in my unwinding time by reading on my Kindle (with the blue shade on so I’m sleepy when it’s time to go to bed).
This isn’t very original, but last year I started reading books (by IR authors) on my tablet while walking on the treadmill. It took a little while to get used to it but now it makes walking on the treadmill much more enjoyable.
I am an avid reader and always take a book or Kindle along with me anywhere. I especially MUST read after dinner..to get me relaxed for bedtime. I watch VERY little tv.
I love that image of you and your boys reading together!
Renate, I am going to take up your idea of a reading day! That sounds 100X better than a spa day!
Your lunchtime idea is a good one. Same with your reading while hubs watches TV. You must be good at reading while surrounded by distractions!
That’s a great way to fit reading into your busy day!
Hahaha, someone had to say bring up bathroom reading! I don’t do as well with e-readers. Your points about the convenience are all right on, but somehow, if a paperback isn’t in front of me, I let books slide and don’t finish them.
The commute is a great way! I unfortunately get carsick if I read, but give me a train or plane and I will happily read the trip away.
Enough people have brought up reading on their phones that I’m going to recommit to that. If only I didn’t get caught up in Facebook… or blogs like this one… :)
Morning reading is terrific! But your post made me realize that, since my daughter started driving herself, I have much less “waiting around” time… hence less reading time!
I’m glad you brought up the problem of computers and technology in general. Very distracting!
I would love to hear more about that blue shade, Margaret! I don’t have it but I would like to get it.
Yay for IR authors !!!! And reading on the treadmill is a great idea. I think the kindle would make it easier because you can enlarge the print.
YES–I agree, TV is the enemy of reading! Fortunately, I much prefer a book.
I used to take my daughter to dance class every week so I had 5 hours to read there. (She danced 5 hours twice a week.) Now that she’s graduated, I’m finding it more difficult to set aside time to read. I mostly read right before bed but I’m finding that I’m getting sleepy long before I want to stop reading!
I rarely watch TV, so there are plenty of hours built in to read. If the guys are plugged into TV then I usually read in a quieter place. Quiet is of the essence!
Great tips. I love to read. I leave for work early that way I have time to sit in the car and read before going in. I carry a book with me at all times. I read while in line, on break and any free minute I can find.
I read more when I see the book . Otherwise,it seems to be out of sight means out of mind too.
Hi Lee! I’ve definitely hopped on the audiobook bandwagon. I listen to novels before I go to sleep, but I listen to nonfiction (business, investing and self-help) when I’m walking on the treadmill. An actor I admire (David Hewlett) calls it, “Learn and Burn.” It motivates me to get downstairs and exercise.
If I stay off of FB it helps me to have lots more time. It’s my time eater. But I have gotten where I listen to some books on audible and that makes more time for books while I’m doing laundry or cooking.
Lee, the most helpful tip for me – Audio books!
I spent a lot of time in the car – so time goes faster with the books :) the only problem is complaining kiddos lol
I hear that, Arletta… I am incapable of staying awake to read once the clock strikes nine or ten. And I am nearing the end of my “waiting for the gymnastics meet to end” reading days. Bittersweet!
I am the same way–I like quiet for reading. Sometimes I play quiet music in my headphones (with no lyrics) when there’s a lot of noise I can’t escape.
That’s very smart–you’re the second person who’s mentioned the “leave early for work” tidbit.
Yep–that’s my problem with Kindles. Out of sight, out of mind.
Audiobooks are great if you can stay focused. And that’s funny you like business and self-help books–me, too. I guess we ARE in business for ourselves, and we also have to keep our morale up high through hours of writing alone. Self-help it is!
Hmmm, maybe I’d do more housework if I were listening to a book at the same time! And I’m the same way about FB. I love and hate it.
YES–books make car time fly by! I had a brief, shining period where my daughter and I could listen to books together, but soon enough our tastes diverged. She’s definitely not into the same type of books I am anymore.
I ALWAYS READ OF AN EVENING I LOVE READING A GOOD BOOK ONCE I GET STARTED I DONT WANT TO STOP READING THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN!
My tip, something I do, is to see how many chapters are in said book. Then I decide on how many chapters I can read in a day giving myself 3-4 days to read a book. For example, if a book has 20 chapters I read 5 chapters a day for a total of four days. Of course, some books are quickly read while others may take longer.