Do you feel like you never have the time to sit down and read? Has that book been on your nightstand for months? Do you feel like you need to get back into the habit of reading? Try these seven tips to get back into the habit of reading!
Time Blocking
Sometimes it feels like we’ve got too much on our plate like there’s just not enough time in the day. Time blocking can be a great way to set a specific time for reading. Sitting down with a planner and committing to reading at a certain the next day or even over the course of the next few days can get us back into the habit of reading.
Start a New Book
I know when I’ve been reading the same book for weeks, it can feel like a chore to pick it back up. Especially if I don’t remember what I read last. If you feel like it would be confusing or boring to pick up the same book that’s been sitting on the nightstand or the desk for a while, then pick out a new one! It’s always fun to pick up a new book, and it can get us excited about reading again.
Silence the Cell Phone
Another group text update? Another email? Another notification? Try turning off the phone! It can be difficult when we hear the telltale “Ding!” of another notification to not check on it, so if your phone feels like a distraction from reading, trying putting it on silent mode or even turning it off altogether.
Ask for Help
Maybe there are too many chores to even think about relaxing with a good book. Try recruiting some help! Our husbands are always a good source of support, so just ask! He may be more willing to help than you might realize. Be specific about what you want help with. Are there dishes in the sink? Bottles to be made? Errands to be run? We’re so lucky to have husbands who are there to help and willing to support our goal to read more.
Audio Books
Maybe there’s just not enough time to sit down to read and too many chores that need to be done. Try audio books! Audio books are often overlooked because we’re not “actually reading,” but it can be a great way to meet our yearly reading goal while cleaning the bathroom or sweeping the floors.
Limit Social Media
It’s easy to sit down when our children are taking a nap and mindlessly scroll through social media, and it might be a quick and easy way to take a break, but try picking up a book instead. In the long run, it’ll help us reach our goals faster, and we don’t feel so guilty after we’ve read a book for half an hour rather than catching up on what our friends are doing. I know I feel like I’ve wasted time after scrolling through Facebook rather than picking up a book, so I try to keep a book where I can easily access it after I plop down on the couch.
Habit Tracker
The use of a habit tracker might be just one more thing to do during the day, but it may help finish our reading goal faster. Type up a quick habit tracker and print it out to hang on the fridge. I don’t know of anything more satisfying than finally putting a checkmark on a habit tracker at the end of the day.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the time to read, let alone make it a habit, but hopefully, these tips can help us start to carve out some time to ourselves. There are more than enough good books out there to start meeting our reading goal with ease. Try checking out some of my reviews, here at The Mama Book Bear!
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to share it! You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. You might also like my article, Five Reasons Why It’s Important to Set Aside Time to Read. It’s about making it a priority to read and how to do just that.
