The problem with reading is that there are SO many books to read. There are many that I don’t want to pass by, some which I purchase and never read (though these are much fewer nowadays due to asserting a little self-restraint…very boring I know!) I want to borrow the books, stroke them, read them all and still have time to live my life as well.
I tried to learn to read faster, I am already a fairly fast reader, but this led to me not remembering the story so well, so I stopped that, besides which I wasn’t that much faster really. Aside from giving up working, which causes other issues like the fact that I enjoy working and obvious things like enjoying spending money, I don’t really know how to find more reading time.
I read in all the usual places. I can often be found led on the sofa, kindle in hand for many hours in the evenings and weekends, I read in the bath and I read every night before going to sleep, much to my husbands dismay at times. I feel that I do get a fair amount of reading time each week, depending on work and other activities, but I still want more so I have found some ways to sneak in a few extra pages here and there.
Here are my top five tips for sneaking in a few extra pages.
- 10-minute reads
- Read on the loo
- Read while cooking
- Read at your desk during lunch
- Read while taking a short walk
10-Minute reads
Set aside 10-minutes to just relax and read a few pages, everything else can wait for those minutes, you can set a timer so you don’t overrun but you can probably squeeze a few of these into your day.
Read on the loo
Ok, so I know this is typically a ‘manly’ thing, reading on the toilet but so many people take their phones with them (I take mine to one because of a stupid paranoia that I will end up locked in, this has never happened to anyone in this particular toilet, I have never been locked in a toilet either but there you have it, the not so rational mind!). download the kindle app and read a page or so while there, if you have fairly small kids, you can lock the door and thank me later!
Read while cooking
Now this obviously depends on what you are cooking, the attention levels required and whether you would prefer to be a little more sociable, but I like to slip in a few extra pages while making some food. Waiting for the kettle to boil, waiting for sauce to simmer, heating something in the microwave all give you a precious few minutes to read a couple of pages.
Read at your desk while having your lunch or waiting for kids
Ideally, people wouldn’t eat their lunch at their desks, likewise, it’s nice to socialise with your colleagues or maybe go for a lunchtime walk sometimes but if you are sat at your desk eating your lunch then slip in a few extra pages. Before you know it you will have your lunch finished and another chapter completed.
of course, if you don’t work but have kids to run around then slipping in a few extra pages while waiting for them (when are we ever not waiting for them?!) can be a relaxing and distrating task so you get more reading in and they get a happier Mummy or Daddy!
Read while walking
Now, I know that this probably should come with a warning “don’t try this at home folks” but I love to have a little wonder while reading. In fact, I find myself doing this far too often…just don’t try it when you’re walking the dogs… a sure disaster, well, with mine anyway!
What are your top tips for fitting in a few extra pages around a busy schedule?
