As you may be able to tell from my previous posts, I love quotes. I find them in books, by listening to podcasts, and scrolling through Pinterest. One quote I found through one of these avenues that I love is, “Instead of saying ‘I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,’ and see how that feels.” This quote was written by Laura Vanderkam in a Wall Street Journal article about busyness. I often think of this quote when I am feeling busy and overwhelmed. It helps me narrow down what in my schedule is important to me.
I have determined that spending time with my family, education, health, and rest are my current and top priorities. A way that I am able to rest and relax my mind is by reading and this is why I make time to do it. I am going to share with you the ways I plan time to read.
- Listening to books in the car
Audiobooks are a lifesaver for my ears on my hour-long commute to school. Listening to books using my phone is a way for me to intake a book without physically reading words on a page. I am able to combine two time consuming activities, commuting and reading, and do both at the same time. I particularly enjoy books that are narrated by the author themselves. My favorite audiobooks are Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes and Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham. The author’s voice reading their own words is so authentic and create an interesting listening experience. I use Audible and Overdrive as platforms to listen to audiobooks.
- Reading while waiting
I pack my kindle in my bag or backpack wherever I go. At school, I will pull out my kindle to read before class starts or in between my morning and afternoon classes. I enjoy doing this because I otherwise use that time passively looking at my phone or worrying about schoolwork. Instead, I am able to feel productive, yet calm before my next class.
- Waking up 10-15 minutes earlier
This semester, I have a two early morning classes and I do not like waking up and rushing to campus. My day is always better if I am able to wake up even a few minutes earlier than needed to have time to drink a cup of coffee and read a few pages of a book. This is when I will typically read my devotional type books that are only a page long for each day.
- Going to bed 15-30 minutes earlier
I usually will watch a television show to unwind before I go to bed. The problem with this is that it is far too easy to pair watching TV with scrolling on Instagram, Tik Tok, and Twitter. What was once calming, is now another overstimulating activity. Instead, I am trying to go to bed earlier and spend that time reading.
I understand that not all of these methods will work for everyone, but implementing even one of these ideas will help you to add some reading time into your day. With that said, what are some ways you fit reading into your life? I am always looking to learn new tips and tricks. Happy Reading!
Emily's Bookshelf 