The biggest question I get asked as a book blogger is, "how do you find time to read so much?", and its sister question, "so, you read like
all the time, right?"
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You caught us. We have time turners. |
The funny thing is, I really don't. I work 50-60 hours a week, so my biggest hobby is vegging in front of reality tv. I'm a multitasker, but I have a lot of hobbies that I try to make time for. I play video games, (puzzle games,
Guacamelee, and
Sims 4 right now,) I do logic puzzles, I craft, I bake. And yes, I read.
I do set aside half an hour a day, usually after dinner or before bed, but my real "secret" is my e-reader. I'm quick, though not as quick as my coblogger, (2000 pages in a week, what the hell, Jess?) and I can usually read a couple pages in line at the store or on my commute to work. Those little 5-10 minute sessions add up. For the fun of it, I noted my reading for a week, to show how I find time. (I work 10:30 am - 7 pm. Subtract 2 hours from all times to pretend I'm a normal adult who doesn't go to bed at 2 am.)
Sunday:
2:13 - 2:19 - 4 pages of
The Way of Kings on the drive home from brunch.
4:09 - 5:20 - 19 pages of
TWoK while working from home.
6:35 - 7:00 - 92 pages of
The Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul before dinner.
8:52 - 9:08 - 4 pages of
TWoK
12:45 - 1:10 - 18 pages of
TWoK before bed.
1:12 - 1:31 - 11 pages of
The Secret Garden
Total: 162 minutes - 148 pages
Monday:
10:27- 10:35 - 1 page
TWoK on the drive to work
7:15-8:00 - 3 pages of
TWoK
12:20 - 12:33 - 8 pages
The Secret Garden
Total: 66 minutes - 12 pages (It was
not a good day.)
Tuesday:
9:30 - 10:30 - 164 pages of
The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul after dinner.
12:50 - 12:58 - 5 pages of
The Secret Garden
1:05 -2:14 - 54 pages of
TWoK before bed.
Total: 137 minutes - 223 pages
Wednesday:
12:41 - 1:30 - 14 pages of
Lark Ascending while reports ran
2:34 - 2:50 - 10 pages of
LA while printer was down
5:46 - 5:50 - 3 pages of
LA while reports ran
9:09 - 9:45 - 23 pages of
LA
1:11 - 2:08 - 43 pages of
TWoK before bed
Total: 162 minutes - 93 pages
Thursday:
10:15-10:25 - 6 pages of
TWoK on the drive to work.
3:40 - 4:00 - 17 pages of
TWoK on lunch break
8:54 - 9:06 - 7 pages of
TWoK waiting for Project Runway to come on/Google to update.
12:50 - 1:05 - 9 pages of
The Secret Garden
1:11 - 1:46 - 25 pages of
TWoK before bed.
Total: 92 minutes - 64 pages
Friday:
9:02 - 9:13 - 6 pages of
TWoK on the drive to work.
10:07-10:12 - 2 pages of
TWoK during unexpected computer restart
1:50 - 2:05 - 12 pages of
TWoK on lunch.
6:26 - 6:28 - 1 page of
TWoK while a report loaded
8:06 - 8:17 - 6 pages of
TWoK on the drive home
11: 59 - 12:17 - 2 pages of
TWoK during ANTM
12:30 - 12:45 - 9 pages of
The Secret Garden
12:49 - 1:17 - 23 pages of
TWoK before bed.
Total: 104 minutes - 63 pages
Saturday:
10:28 - 10:50 - 11 pages of
TWoK on the drive to the spa.
10:53- 10:56 - 1 page of
TWoK in the waiting room.
12:19 - 12:30 - 7 pages of
TWoK on the drive to work.
3:46 - 4:00 - 9 pages of
TWoK on the drive home.
9:06 - 9:08 - 1 page of
TWoK trying to teach the cat a lesson.
12:53 - 1:15 - 14 pages of
The Secret Garden
1:23 - 2:57 - 75 pages of
TWoK when I should have been sleeping.
Total: 168 minutes - 118 pages
So, between my daily commute and 30-60 minutes before bed, I squeeze an average of 2 hours of reading into a day. In the grand scheme of things, that's a pittance. And yet, even with an awful Monday, I'm averaging 103 pages a day. The secret for me is to always be ready to read. Printer down? Four pages! Cat's being an asshole? One page! Do I
really need eight hours sleep? FIFTY PAGES!
What about you? Do you rigidly schedule your reading time? Take the bus an extra stop to fit in a few more pages? Forgo sleep to torture yourself in fantasy worlds? Tell us in the comments!