Lately I’ve been wishing
that there are more than 24 hours in a day. In between holding a full-time job,
blogging, spending time with loved ones, eating, sleeping and keeping up with
the Kardashians, there’s just soooo much stuff to do.*wails*
Ever since I can remember,
reading has always been one of the things I absolutely enjoy doing. Nothing
beats curling up in a comfy spot and losing yourself in the pages of a good
book. Unfortunately, these days it’s been quite a challenge to even finish a
page, let alone a book. When a close friend and a fellow book lover said that
she hardly has time to read anymore, I can’t help but agree with her
whole-heartedly.
So
how do we so-called voracious readers manage our hectic lifestyles and still
find the time to indulge in our ultimate passion?
Check
out these tips that have helped other busy people make time for one of life’s
greatest pleasures and you might just fall head over heels in love with
reading, all over again:
Tip #1: Don't Leave The House Without Bringing Some Reading Material With You
This is a very practical tip. I always keep
a copy of The Reader’s Digest (my favorite magazine) in my handbag, or a book
or two tucked away in my car. In this day and age, you can also read stuff from
your smartphone and other mobile devices. You’ll be amazed at how much reading
you can do while waiting for your queue number to flash at the bank or at the
school gates during pickup time.
Tip #2: Spend Your Commuting Time To Read
Obviously
this is not a tip for those of you who drive to the office. But if you take the
train or bus to work, reading during your commute is a productive way to pass
the time. Just don’t be too engrossed in your reading until you miss your stop
and end up taking longer than necessary to get to the office or back
home!*grins*
Tip# 3: Read Books That You Actually Enjoy
If you only
prefer reading business books, that’s great, but if suspense novels are right
up your alley, then that’s fine too. Don’t listen to what others say you
“should” be reading or be pressured by the “Bestsellers List”; just read for
your own pleasure. You’ll find that you’ll make more time to read if what you
are reading brings you joy and excitement.
Tip# 4: Set Reading Goals
Set a daily time or page
limit. Challenge yourself to spend 30 minutes of reading time each day or to
read 40 pages each session before you put your book aside. Once you have set a
target for yourself, stick to it. Then slowly push the bar a little higher each
time and keep yourself motivated to accomplish your goal.
Tip# 5: Read More Than One Book At A Time
I used to be a serial reader – I pick up one
book and read it cover-to-cover before diving into another book. But over the
years, I’ve discovered that some books such as fiction novels are more suitable
for bed-time reading whereas motivational books or books on religion are best
read when the mind is fresh and alert. Reading multiple books enables you to
keep the momentum going – you can easily switch back and forth between a
serious book and a more lighthearted one, depending on your mood and the time
of day.
Tip# 6: Borrow/Buy More Books Than You Can Read (?)
I’m not so sure about this tip though. I have
a stack of books that I know need to be tackled at some point but seeing them
piled up in a corner doesn’t encourage me to actually pick one up. What that
does is just stress me out! Although this tip may not work for everyone, it
doesn’t hurt to give it a try if it makes you read more than what you have time
for.
Tip# 7: Read Together As A Family
This is a great way to spend quality time
with your loved ones and to nurture the reading habit in small children. Try
switching off the TV say after 9:00 p.m. every day so that each family member
reads for at least half an hour. I know that at the end of a busy day, all everyone wants to do is just unwind in front of the TV. But instead of watching two or three shows, just watch one and substitute the other hour for reading time. As cliché as it may sound, a family that reads together does stay together!*smiles*
Tip# 8: Go Book-Clubbing
Join
a reading club or book exchange club to get to know other avid readers. The KL
Book Exchange and the Subang Jaya Book Exchange are great examples in the Klang
Valley. Most of us need a push to get motivated and being part of a group will
encourage you to continue reading. If you do join one, don’t forget to share
these tips with your fellow club members!*winks*
Tip# 9: Try Speed-Reading (Or Not!)
Some people say that if you want to read more
in a short amount of time, you can learn to read faster. There are various
techniques for speed-reading that are easy to put into practice. These include
grouping words instead of reading word by word, making your eyes move quickly
by moving a ruler or pen across the page, or holding your breath and trying to
finish a paragraph in that time. But if you are like me and you want to savour
every written word at your own pace, this tip may not work for you.
Tip# 10: Track Your Progress
There
are many ways of doing this – a Pinterest board, a note on Facebook, a list on
your phone, your GoodReads account or an actual notebook. Keeping track of the
books that you have read and those that you would like to read later on will
help you focus on your reading.
So
there you go, folks, 10 useful tips to help us busy people make more time to
read.
Happy reading, everyone!
Lotsa Luv
