Dec14

How to Read When You Really Don’t Have Time to Read [Wow! It’s Wednesday!]

This is my last post of 2011, so I thought I’d leave you with some random thoughts on reading, disguised as a how-to. Here’s how to read when you really don’t have time to read:

1. Cut something out. For me that one thing was ironically my “Dear Thursday” book report. I’ve found that it’s actually easier to read 52 books a year if I do a few group reports during our bi-annual BOOK WEEKs than if I try to fit in a book report every Thursday for every single book I read. Sadly, I won’t officially be taking on the challenge next year, but I will bring back the group book reports for BOOK WEEK 1 & 2.

2. Have something(s) way more important to do. I’ve been procrastinating with books so bad lately, and that’s because I have a lot on my plate. Don’t think of reading as something you don’t do enough of, make books your guilty pleasure. Way more sexy. In fact, I’m resisting the siren call of Q: A Novel by Evan Mandery as I type this. It involves love and time travel, so I already kind of know I’m going to love it, but stay strong, Ernessa, stay strong!

3. Don’t commit to one way of reading. I’m not going to disparage the “I only read physical books” crowd. I’m just going to say that I probably get more reading done than most non-book-industry that insist on holding to this policy. In order to fit reading in between writing, wifeing, and mothering, I take books in any form that they will have me. I listen to them on my Audible app while I’m walking. I download them to my iPad for trips. I also carry one physical book around in my purse for the times when “all electronics must be switched off.” Most importantly, this year I finally trained my eyes to read books on my iPhone, which means, any time I’m waiting for anything or anyone, I can be reading a book. If you really want to read more, don’t put limits on how you do so.