Reading has always been a passion of mine. During certain times of the year, I find myself busier with work and so many tasks. Sometimes it’s hard to keep my TBR list shrinking and not growing like Jack’s damn beanstalk. Any good bookworm will know exactly what I’m talking about and how that feels. I have such a large home library of books and can honestly tell you it seems like I’ll never actually read every single book I own. Lately, I have been following a structured schedule to get reading done, and it has definitely changed my work for the better.
I used to tell myself that if I had to schedule time to read, then it would feel more like a job instead of something I’ve spent my entire life loving and enjoying. I was wrong. Once I started scheduling reading time into my daily calendar blocks, life changed for the better! Every afternoon, some days varying, I schedule an hour of reading time. This doesn’t necessarily mean I only read for an hour a day, just that I can guarantee scheduled time to get several chapters read. Being the quick reader that I am, this guarantees me at least two books per week.
Most nights I get another hour (or two) of kindle reading in bed. This is another way that helps me get in reading time. I also travel with my kindle. It goes everywhere with me. After finally giving in and buying one last year, I can’t believe that I went this long without one. You never realize how much time you spend waiting and could get a few pages in, until you actually have a reading device with you at all times. I have several appointments weekly and this is a huge lifesaver.
One last tip I have for reading more is listening to audiobooks. I ALWAYS have an audiobook on in the background, no matter what. I spend a lot of time in the car and a lot of time behind my desk. Audiobooks have become background music for me that I can’t go without. While I love silence, I find it comforting to have someone narrating a good fiction book at all times. If you are able to comprehend what is happening in the book while getting other work done, then I would totally give that a try. I am able to listen to two to three books a week, which makes me SO happy!
