Do You Have Reading Goals?

Every year, at least one person I know asks me how I manage to read as much as I do. I’ll admit, I read a lot. Like a lot, a lot. Usually between 110 and 120 books a year. And that includes long stretches (well, long for me) without reading something. So it’s not as if I sit around glued to the pages of a book. I do, after all, have kids and a husband and a house to clean (though that one, I admit, slips by the wayside very easily), church commitments, and, oh yeah, that little thing of writing. So to say that reading a more modest goal, say 50 books, in a year is doable is, I feel, completely true. After all, that’s basically a book a week.

So, how do I read so much? First off, I’ll admit, I love my Kindle. Having an e-reader (not just the Kindle app on your phone, though that’ll do in a pinch, but an actual Kindle — and really, the cheapest one is just fine!) makes it so much easier. Why? Because you can read one-handed (or no handed! Set it down on the counter while you’re brushing your teeth and the pages don’t flip around on you.) So that is definitely one of the big helps for me. Most of what I read these days is on my plain old, regular, e-ink Kindle. This means that I do read while I brush my teeth (there’s 10 minutes of reading right there, every day), dry my hair, and get dressed. I read while I’m cooking (not while chopping, of course, but if you have to stir or watch something on the stove, you can get a page or two in). Basically, if you find yourself with a few seconds where you know you’re going to be standing still doing something menial, read!

Some people laud reading while exercising. I can’t do that – I get sick to my stomach. But if that works for you, go for it!

I also try to read for about 20 minutes before bed — in bed. It helps soothe and calm me down so that I’m ready for sleep. Since I get ready for bed faster than my husband, this is relatively easy, I just read while I’m waiting for him to get his teeth brushed and so forth.

And that’s really it – no massive feats of reading awesomeness, just taking the drips and dribbles of time that I might otherwise play a round of Candy Crush or check Facebook (though I do still do those things!) to read a few pages.

What about you? Any tips for getting more reading in your day?