How to Make Time to Read

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Regardless of your career path—in order to be an articulate writer, speaker, and overall communicator, it’s important to make time to read.

We all know how important it is to read a good book. When I say read, I don’t mean scanning a blog post, swiping left or thumbing through your Twitter feed.

I mean actually sitting down, opening a book and reading several pages at a time. Yeah, remember reading? When was the last time you read a book?

Not only for learning back in your school days, but reading has a significant number of additional benefits that help us in daily life including mental stimulation, stress reduction, memory improvement, analytical thinking, improved focus, and concentration.

Regardless of your business, career path or chosen niche—in order to be an articulate writer, speaker, and overall communicator, it’s important to make time to read.

If you’re a freelance writer, blogger or creative, reading will also help improve your vocabulary expansion. The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to.

In addition, exposure to well-written published work will also help to improve your writing skills. As you read and take in the cadence, fluidity, and writing styles of other authors, the books you choose to read will influence your own work.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Whether we choose to nourish our minds or escape into new worlds, reading feeds our imagination.

No matter how much stress you are going through at work, in your personal life or anywhere else, reading a good story can help you take your mind off these difficult situations.

It’s for these reasons that I’m putting an extra effort into reading more books to end the year off strong. But nothing comes without a little strategy.

Of course, I’ve had to find clever solutions in order to make time to read. If you’re in the same boat as I am—these tips might help you make time to read as well.

Combine Reading with Another Daily Routine

For example, read when you’re commuting on public transit, when you’re waiting for dinner to cook, or when you’re just winding down before going to sleep.

Share Your Reading Goals on Social Media

We share just about everything on social these days. Why not publish a post on Instagram declaring that you want to read at least five chapters of your favourite book this month. Then, after you succeed, you can always publish another post as a mini book review. Why not even tag the author!

Only Get Books from the Library

Since the borrowing period for library books is typically only two weeks, there’s a real sense of urgency. Unless you want to get fined— or worse—keep renewing the same book multiple times, you might find the pressure becomes added momentum to really power through those extra long chapters.

Join an Online Book Club

I’ve come across a few online book clubs recently that have put a light under my arse when it comes to encouraging me to make more time to read. Two of my favourite online book clubs are Girls at the Library and  Belletrist. Check them out and let me know what you think. See any book titles that peak your interest?

Make Time to Read

If you’re anything like me and you’ve slacked off on your once grand reading habits, then join me this Fall in making an extra effort in reading a good book or two.

Visit your local library and bask in the glory of the countless scrolls available for free! What are you going to read this Fall?

Image via Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash