5 Ways to Incorporate Reading Into Your Busy Everyday Life

Let me guess...you would LOVE to read more but just never seem to find the time. Does that sound familiar? Reading is truly one of the best hobbies that you can partake in. It’s convenient, affordable, and keeps your mind active and learning. Now, if we all had unlimited time on our hands, I’m sure we all would read more, especially reading for self-care but since most of us have jobs, side hustles, and personal life, finding time to read can be challenging. So, let's jump in and talk about finding time to read and your big question, how to read more books.

Here are 5 ways to incorporate reading into your busy everyday life

Find Unused Pockets of Time

We all have small pockets of time throughout our day where we’re waiting in between meetings or have a few minutes before we need to log on to work for the day. Instead of always reverting to social media, small blocks of time like this are great to use for reading. To make this even easier, always have a book on your phone or iPad ready to go so that you never need to wonder what to read. And, if you’re on a tight budget or just love to save money, try downloading the Libby app on your phone. With Libby, you can read or listen to e-books or audiobooks from your local library. All from the comfort of your phone.

Plan Reading Time into Your Day

Having a plan is one of the best ways to make sure that you reach your goals and dreams. Maybe you’ve never thought of planning your reading time or hobbies, but realize that by planning and thinking ahead, so you are much more likely to follow through. A reading planner will help you to track your reading and also write book reviews and write down your favorite ideas and quotes. You never know when you’ll want to look back and remember your thoughts on a particular book or remind yourself of what you’ve learned. Our brains are amazing, but we can’t expect them to remember everything!

Add 5 Minutes of Reading to Your Morning or Evening Routine

If you already have a morning or evening routine, adding in a few minutes of reading is perfect! For example, you might try reading for 5-10 minutes first thing in the morning as you’re sipping on your coffee. Or, once you’ve eaten dinner and finished the dishes, you could light a candle and spend a few minutes reading as a good transitional activity before you work on your side hustle. Maybe you like reading as the last thing that you do before heading to bed. I’d suggest you start with a small goal like “reading one page” or “reading for 5 minutes.” This way, you’ll have less resistance to getting started. Once you get started, it’s likely that you’ll be having so much fun that you’ll probably keep on reading beyond the bare minimum.

Listen to an Audiobook While Cooking or Running Errands

Audiobooks are a great way to add some extra reading time to your day. Personally, I love listening to an audiobook while I’m getting dressed in the morning, cooking dinner, folding laundry, or running errands throughout the day. Having an audiobook going in the background can make monotonous activities more fun and will also give you that productivity high of feeling like you’re making the most of your time. I’d also suggest starting with novels or something that you don’t have to pay super close attention to. If you have an old favorite that you’ve always wanted to re-read, this would make a great “multitasking” activity since you’re already familiar with the plot or main ideas.

Join or Create a Book Club for Added Accountability

If you have set reading goals in the past but never follow through, you might need to find some outside accountability. Whether in person or virtual, a book club is a great way to feel motivated to read, and possibly expose yourself to new books that you might not choose otherwise. Plus, you’ll get to connect with old friends or even make new ones. And, if you can’t seem to find a book club, you could even start one of your own! All you need is a book, at least one other person, and you’re good to go. And, you can meet as often or as little as you want to. Some book clubs meet every week and others meet once a month or every few months, it’s totally up to you and your group members.

Reading is one of the best hobbies and habits that you can add to your life! Look through these tips one more time, and commit to starting with one. Find the one that looks most interesting to you and see how you can incorporate it into your life today, or at least this week. Remember, learning is great, but taking action is even better. Pick out your next read, and you will be ready to flourish!