When was the last time you cracked open a book that you really wanted to read? Reading for work or school doesn’t count. I’m talking about that pile accumulating on your nightstand or in an electronic device. I get it. Reading can be hard to fit in. I shared five ways to make time for reading in the May 2021 edition of the Mountain Brook Ink newsletter, and here, I’m sharing five more.
Let’s tackle this, shall we?
1. Designate a Reading Area in Your Home
You’d like to read, but first you need to find your current book. You left it on top of your dresser, but it seems to have walked away. Once you locate the book, the next challenge is to find somewhere to read. The cat is sleeping in your chair, looking so comfortable you hate to disturb her. The television blares from the family room, where your husband is watching a game. The living room might work, but you need better lighting. You remove a stack of folded laundry from the chair in your bedroom and settle down. It’s a bit cold, so you eye the bed. You shake your head. Lying down would make you sleepy. You sigh with equal parts irritation and resignation before heading back to the living room for an afghan. Compared to all that, plunking down in front of the computer for a spare hour can seem easier.
Dedicating a quiet spot in your home to reading can help you decide to pick up a book more often. Who hasn’t drooled over pictures of perfect reading nooks people post online? Don’t let them intimidate you, though. A reading corner doesn’t need to be fancy. All you really need is somewhere to stash reading material, a place to sit or lie down, and adequate lighting.
2. Turn Screen Time into Reading Time
Am I the only one who has told myself that I would just take a quick break on the computer, only to find myself still there an hour later? No, I didn’t think so. Setting a timer helps, and also shutting down the computer when you finish using it. Make logging onto your computer more of a hassle, and you’ll likely do so less often. Why not devote some of the time you save to the books you want to read?
3. Set Reading Goals
Do your calendar pages flip faster than those of your books? Set reading goals to take control of your time. SMART goals are simple, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound. A SMART goal might be to read a chapter of your current book every day. If you would like accountability and/or a way to track the progress of your goals, consider participating in a reading challenge, like the one at Goodreads.
4. Support Authors
Helping authors adds new purpose to your reading, and it’s rewarding. When you share about a book at a social site or review it for an online vendor (like Christianbook or Amazon), you help the author reach more readers. That’s a nice feeling. Most people don’t understand how hard writers struggle to gain exposure. The price of books is so low that they need to sell a lot of them to make any money. Let’s just say that writing is a labor of love for most authors.
Consider subscribing to author newsletters so you’ll know when a new title comes out. You’ll make the most impact if you read, review, and share about the book right away. If money is an issue, ask your favorite authors if they have launch teams or reading groups you can join. Often, you’ll be able to obtain digital review copies prior to release dates. Don’t be shy to ask. Most authors would welcome your support.
5. Choose a Better Book
“I haven’t been able to get into any books lately,” I once complained in an instant message to a friend. “I can’t seem to focus on reading.”
“It sounds like you need better books.” The answer came winging back.
My friend’s words sent me in search of a book capable of captivating me. I’ll admit that’s a tall order. Before my writing career took off, I was a book blogger and literary judge. I’ve analyzed a lot of books. It can be hard to stop assessing them, in fact. It takes a compelling book to make me lose myself in the story.
What people like to read is subjective. A book that fascinates me might not hold your attention, and vice versa. Even so, good writing is fairly universal. To find excellent books, follow publishers with high standards, like Mountain Brook Ink. You can also learn about new releases from book bloggers. Once you find a novel that makes you forget you are reading, subscribe to the author’s email list. You’ll be glad you did.
Final Thoughts on Finding More Time to Read
There’s nothing like traveling into an engaging story-world to melt away your troubles—or at least shrink them in perspective. We all need time to feed our souls. Give reading the attention it deserves. Nothing less will do.
Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales “written” in her head.
Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. The same elements–romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy–appear in all her novels, no matter what the genre.
Learn more about Janalyn Voigt and the books she writes at http://janalynvoigt.com
A preacher’s daughter shouldn’t encourage a troublemaker, no matter what her wayward heart desires.
Liberty has always believed she should marry a man of God, but Jake doesn’t qualify. The promises they’d made at age twelve can’t change that. If only Jake would stop pursuing her, she might keep from falling in love with him.
Jake fears he’ll lose Liberty to Beau, the new man in town. He doesn’t trust the smooth-talker—and certainly not with Liberty. Expressing his opinion sounds jealous and pushes Liberty further away. Jake’s efforts to forget the woman he loves lands him in jail for a crime he didn’t commit.
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