Finding Time to Read
Lots of people come into the shop for a quick look. We’re new to the community and they’re interested in seeing what we’re up to (you’re always welcome!). But many of these people talk about how they don’t have time, or struggle, to read. I do wonder if these people are saying that to prevent the inevitable sales pitch, but it got me thinking about how you can re-engage with an important and wonderful hobby. So, I thought I’d share some tips on getting back into reading. These won’t work for everyone, and it might be trial and error, but hopefully you’ll find something useful.
Dedicated time
Reading requires time. In the fast paced world of working, supporting a family, seeing friends and some amazing shows on Netflix, reading can slip down the priorities list. If you’re really keen to start reading again, make time for it with no distractions. Treat it as YOU time. Whether that’s 15 minutes at breakfast, or during your lunch - this small amount of time can help you read without it taking over your life. Small amounts of time will add up, and you’ll find yourself getting through your TBR in no time - if you don’t add more to it!
Read in the format that suits you.
Now a days there are lots of ways to read. Its not just a physical book that you have to lug around. There’s no judgement from us about how you choose to read (or in fact what you read). Ebooks are a wonderful way to carry books around on your smart phone or e-reader. For those who really struggle to find time to read, audio books are a fantastic way to enjoy a story while on your commute or cooking the dinner. I will listen to an audio book as I do the house work. For those wanting to support their local libraries, download Borrow Box. It’s an app on which you can borrow both ebooks and audio books - it also helps save some money.
Try a different genre
We’re in a golden age for genre’s. Books are more and more frequently crossing genre boundaries, making them so much more exciting. If you’re struggling to read, maybe you’re not enthused about your ‘go to’ genre? After all, there’s only so many times a ‘whodunit’ can keep you gripped. I will always suggest that if you’re finding it difficult to read, that you try a Young Adult book. YA books are fun, fast paced, deal with some immensely relevant subjects and don’t take a three chapters to get you hooked. Some people can be put off when I suggest they read a YA book, but what I say to them is that it’s about reestablishing your reading habits, and this is a gentle way to ease into that.
Re-read an old favourite
Re-reading an old favourite is like going home, you’re revisiting characters that you might consider friends. You know the story, so it doesn’t take all your brain power to get through it, which for me is sometimes half the battle with a book, particularly when I’m stressed. Sometimes when your brain is too full, reading a new story, no matter how excited you are about it, can seem daunting. This can put you off from reading anything, but this is when an old favourite can save the day.
Shared story time with your children
Encouraging children and young people to read is something I’m very passionate about. Reading, quite often, is a learned behaviour and I think it’s vitally important that children experience story time with their grown ups. I know that grown-ups will prioritise stories for their children and will put their own reading on hold. So, what about a shared story time? This might work better for children who can self read, but if they see you reading, they are more likely to want to read themselves. For older children, why not read the same book? Then you can have a discussion about the book together, a shared time that they will cherish when they’re older. Children’s books are so diverse; it’s not all Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl, although you can’t beat the classics, and some wonderful stories can be found in the children’s section.
I hope there’s something here that helps you to try reading again and if these help, why not share amongst your friends and family who also want to get back into reading?