Book Ponder

Do you know what good habits you want to implement in your life but can’t find time to do them?  Individuals face this common problem when trying to make positive life changes.  I will use reading as an example of a habit that people want to implement in their lives because they keep hearing how beneficial it is for them. 

Prioritize Your Habits

The mistake you are making is not prioritizing the habits you want to do.  Life will always find a way to take up all of your time,  unexpected circumstances will prolong certain activities, and the unpredictability of life in general will always have you wanting for more time.  For the most part, you are still accomplishing your essential tasks though, like going to work, eating, spending time with family, etc.  The key is to implement your reading habits into this list of essentials.

Make Reading Essential

If you make reading a part of the activities you do every day then you will stop relying on leftover time to do it.  This is easier said than done because you feel that on most days all the time is booked up to your already pressing activities.  This is when you need to sit down and scrutinize your day to see where exactly your time is going.  

Track Your Time

Since smartphones are the most common form of distraction, it’s a great way to start when looking for any time we can free up.  An easy way is to install some sort of screen time app that tracks your usage on your devices.  After a few days inspect how much time is going to what and I can almost guarantee you that at least 30 minutes of your day are going to apps that aren’t making you more productive and aren’t essential to your day.  Once you can pinpoint these windows of opportunity you can begin to schedule your reading time. 

Schedule Your Reading Time

The best way to become a great reader is to schedule a set amount of time each day to read.  This can mean getting up 30 minutes earlier and having a reading session before starting your day.  Another alternative is to elect to read a book instead of watching TV or scrolling on your phone when on your lunch break, this can both be implemented at home or work.  Switching to reading instead of using my phone at work has been the biggest game changer in increasing my reading time.  On an average 12-hour shift I get 90 minutes of break, and outside of eating and using the restroom, I get a solid hour of reading done every day I’m there. I know everyone’s job is different and perhaps this isn’t an option for you, but this is just an example of opportunities you can find to implement reading by tracking your time.  Many of us are on the go from the moment we wake up and our only option may be to read before bed, this is great opportunity to schedule your reading and also a more beneficial bedtime routine instead of watching TV or being on your phone.

Listening To Audiobooks

Another way to get more reading done even though I don’t think it’s as efficient as sitting down and giving a book your full undivided attention is listening to audiobooks.  The great thing about audiobooks is that they can be listened to while doing other passive activities at the same time.  Mowing the lawn, driving, and folding laundry are great examples of moments that can be spent listening to an audiobook.

When beginning to use audiobooks try it on novels or easier books first because it’s likely to get distracted and lose your place when first consuming books via audio.  Over time you can get better at them and find yourself able to stay focused on the book without getting distracted.  I exclusively use audiobooks for “fun” reads or rereads.  Whatever path you decide to take, the important part is that you are spending more time reading, the choice is yours. 

Final Thoughts

These are a few simple tricks that can increase your reading time and make it a part of your everyday life.  I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes on reading by Naval Ravikant,

“Read what you love until you love to read.”