During Thanksgiving, my brother was staying at my house. One afternoon, my sister in law was holding the baby and my brother was playing with my toddler. I went into the kitchen to grab a glass of water and saw my book sitting on the counter. I picked it up and started reading. My brother came into the kitchen with a surprised look on his face and said,
Oh my word! When I become a Dad, when am I going to have time to read?!?
I laughed so hard. And I dedicate this blog to you, dear brother of mine. This is how you will read books when you have kids:
1. Write it on your to-do list
Anybody else a huge fan of to-do lists? I write everything down on my list and have such satisfaction crossing it off. The thing is, if I don’t write it on my list, I don’t ever get around to doing it. Maybe you aren’t a to-do list person, but the thought is still the same: make it a priority.
2. Put down your phone
I cannot even tell you how many times I say, “but I don’t have TIME to read a book!” Well, if I have time to scroll through Instagram for two hours, or if I have time to watch a Netflix marathon, or if I have time to know exactly what has happened on Facebook for the last three hours, then I have time to read a book.
Moms, if you want to read more books…put down the phone. It’s amazing how much time I can find in the day to read little bits and pieces of my book. Just think of all the moments we whip out those phones. Use those moments to read instead.
3. Establish reading time
This one is really hard, because it takes work. But establishing family reading time or even “quiet time” is an excellent way to get reading time in! Our daughter is 16 month, and we will put her on the couch with a pile of books and pick up our own book to do some reading. She doesn’t last long, but it’s enough to get a few pages in! As the kids get older, this should get easier. Everyone grabs a book, a pillow and a cozy spot and you all READ! No tablets, no phones, no laptops, no TV. Just books.
4. Night light
Every night before bed, I read. Sometimes I do regret staying up later those last few minutes, but it’s so worth it to get lost in a book. Trust me, the more you read, the more you will love it. In fact, reading more has resulted in me wanting to turn off the TV sooner, so I can climb into bed and enjoy that book! It’s a hard habit to form, so just start with 10 minutes. Read for 10 minutes, and then turn off the light. No phone checking, no Netflix in the background, just you and the book as your last conscious thought for the day.
5. Choose wisely
The best way to find time to read as a busy Mom is to pick books that you don’t want to put down! Everyone is different, so the books that someone else recommends may end up being very boring for you. Find your style and go with it! I find my book lists through bloggers, Pinterest and by browsing the shelves at the library! Find something that you WANT to read, and you will make the time to read it!
What about you? How do you find time to read as a busy Mom?
