In 2020, I decided to embark on a personal journey to read 52 books in 52 weeks. What seemed like a lofty goal back in January has slowly come to fruition with only 5 books left for the rest of the year. How did I maximize my time to get as much reading in as possible? Check out a few tips and tricks below to maximize your reading time. You should read…
Before you sleep!
As much fun as it is to scroll through TikTok before you sleep, it’s best to put the phone away and read instead. In general, being on your phone before you sleep isn’t good for you. It stimulates your brain and makes it more difficult to fall asleep. By reading instead, you’ll be able to wind down and fall asleep easier. It’ll not only help you sleep better but it’ll be a great way to get some extra reading in before you finish your day.
In your car!
For those of you who do not get motion sickness…this is a great way to maximize your reading! I have heard of a lot of people taking road trips during this quarantine time and it presents a great opportunity to read. If you’re the only one driving, play an audiobook! Audiobooks are a great way to maximize your time with a new book, especially if you find audiobooks to be entertaining.
Right when you wake up!
One of the best ways to start your day is by reading. Some of the most successful people incorporate reading into their morning routines, even if it’s just for a few minutes. If you decide to read before you go to bed too, you will have reading time built into your days. It’s a great way to start and end your day. You can’t go wrong if you start your day with a fabulous new book!
Schedule it into your day!
If you’re feeling like you can’t find a specific time or motivation to read, try scheduling it into your day like a meeting. If you block off time in your calendar, it’ll be easier to commit to it. For example, try scheduling time for reading from 5-6 pm on Wednesdays. When you have something in your calendar, it will definitely motivate you to follow through on it! And it’ll only work if you follow through. Make sure to commit to your weekly times!
Anytime you can…always have a book on you!
If you can fit a book in your bag…bring a book with you wherever you go! Or buy a Kindle if you want to have an easily transportable book. If you always have a book readily available, you’ll be much more likely to read. You never know when you’ll have a spontaneous break throughout your day where you could open a good book.
Start with one new way to incorporate reading into your day and go from there. Once you get into a routine with reading, you’ll be reading way more than you think. Even if you read 15 minutes in the morning, that’ll add up. Then it’ll turn into 30 minutes, then an hour and then you’ll be an avid reader before you know it!
How do you maximize your reading time?
