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Reading Tips for Busy People

Too busy to read? Here are some tips to help you make room in your stressful day.

Samantha Gualito

Staff Writer

Samantha works in the digital textbook world by day and lives in the book world by night and on weekends. She blogs at Book Beat and lives in Chicago. Follow her on Twitter @bookbeatblog.

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While we at the Riot take some time off to rest and catch up on our reading, we’re re-running some of our favorite posts from the last several months. Enjoy our highlight reel, and we’ll be back with new stuff on Monday, January 11th.

This post originally ran October 22, 2015.
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Work. Kids. School. If you have any of those responsibilities in your life, you know that time is precious. There are only so many hours in the day to do what you need to do, and reading is definitely a part of the daily routine. Some people have no problem finding the time to sit down, relax, and read, but other people might not be so lucky.

Personally, I don’t always have as much time as I would like to sit down and read. From working 40 plus hours a week, commuting to and from work, trying to have a life on some weekends, and having to make appearances at family events, my reading time can vary from week to week. But as busy as I am sometimes, it is crucial that I find the time to read. Therefore, I try to make the best of what time I do have to make sure I get my daily reading fix. So if you’re struggling to keep up with your reading, here are some tips to help you stay on track.

Beautiful young black girl, big smile, wearing jeans and purple top, lying on the floor at home, reading a book.

 

Don’t Commit to a Book

If you’re not completely enamored with a book, let it go. Forcing yourself to read a book you don’t really want to read will make reading feel like a chore. And we all know that chores tend to be avoided. There’s no shame in letting a book go back on the shelf for a little while if it means that another book will be read with genuine interest. And you’ll be more inclined to make time for it and actually read it.

Read on Your Commute
Read on the train, on the bus, or in the car (if you’re not the one driving, of course). This is how I get most of my reading done. This is a great time to read not only because you’re sitting there doing nothing, but because it’s the time right before and after work, a time when nothing else but your reading should matter.

Audiobooks
Audiobooks are great when you don’t have time to sit and read. You can listen to an audiobook while you’re at the gym, walking your dog, or the washing dishes. And if you’re driving on your commute to work or school, this is the perfect way to sneak in some book time before you get your day started and after your day is over.

Read before Bed
If you’re not too tried, try to set aside some time before bed to read. Half an hour to an hour should be plenty of time to get some chapters read before you tuck in for the night. By having this time set aside solely for reading, you’ll have something to look forward to at the end of the day. What better way to wind down and relax after a hectic day?

These tips might not work for everyone as day-to-day schedules can vary, but they might be a good starting point for all you busy bees out there!