How to Find More Reading Time (PLUS My Summer Book List)

Do you want to read more this summer but struggle to find the time? As a book lover and a busy writer, I get it. Writing and other obligations take over, and reading gets put off... and then forgotten. Here are some of my top tips for getting out of a reading rut and making time for all of those books.

Manage Your Minutes

Let me tell you a secret I realized: I don't have time to read. I have to make time.

That might kind of sound like a no-brainer, but at least for me, it's so easy to fall into the excuse of,

"I want to, but I don't have time." Does that sound familiar?

If so, I have some good news: I bet you have more time than you think. All you need is a strategy.

Start by asking yourself, not out of judgment, but simple curiosity: What are you spending your time on? What could you cut back on to make time for your love of reading?

Once you begin to think this through, I have no doubt you'll be able to find pockets of time you can commit to reading.

For me, it was cutting back on screen time. I would get home from work and get on my phone, replying to emails and text messages or listening to Spotify. I started replacing that time on my phone with reading, and let me tell you, not only have I made drastic progress on my reading goals, but I feel way better as a person.

Set a Timer

Some of you may dislike this tip, but hey, if you're trying to read with a full schedule, it may just be a game-changer. It also really helps with keeping track of those small pockets of free time without worrying if you're going over.

After going through a reading slump (which was as depressing as it sounds), I decided to ease back into it. I would set my timer for 25 minutes and read. It felt like a long time. But now? I have to set a timer for 1 hour so I don't go over and neglect my other priorities (like sleeping, lol).

If reading feels daunting or just another thing on your to-do list, give this a try!

Get Specific

"If it gets scheduled, it gets done." - Michael Hyatt

It's true. I learned that if I continued to say, "Tomorrow or someday I'll have more time to read..." it would never happen. Why? Because a clear vision gets precise results.

Here's how you can get a clear and simple strategy for your reading:

step one

Set a realistic reading goal for yourself with a deadline and write it down (for example, I will read seven books this summer). To avoid overwhelming yourself, don't get too ambitious at the start unless you've carved out the time to commit to many books.

step two

Write out a to-be-read list. Based on the first example, which seven books will you read? In what order? When I felt unmotivated to read, this helped me get excited about it again.

step three

Schedule it in. I'm serious. I've made this mistake far too many times. I would have a great goal but no action behind it, so it never got done.

So, what time are you going to read? Will it be for a set amount of minutes or chapters or until you're tired? Writing it down, your game plan could look like this: Read The Silmarillion for 30 minutes before bed at 9:00 p.m.

My Summer Book List

The Summer We Forgot by Caroline George

I always see this floating around Goodreads, so I figured I should finally get around to reading it. I rarely find an excellent contemporary suspense novel, and I love books like this that have a nostalgic summery feel. I can't wait to curl up in the sunshine and read it!

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

Not surprisingly, this is my second time reading it, and it's undoubtedly one of my favorite books. The beginning can be rather daunting, but it is a breathtaking story. I'm using the Tea with Tolkien book club and study guide, which has made my reading enjoyable and thought-provoking.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I'm rereading this book for top-secret reasons *and because I couldn't finish it over the spring. It's such a classic and one of my favorite books.

Ignite by Kara Swanson

Kara Swanson is one of my writing instructors and an author who has tremendously impacted my life. I cannot express how excited I am to read this when it launches in August! You can learn more about Ignite and preorder your copy in this post.

100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

This is a regular summer read, and I love it to pieces. I did a more in-depth review a while back when I was a fledgling blogger (I still am), which you can find here.

The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson

The world needs more books just like this one. I have a feeling Johnson will be one of my favorite authors! This lovely novel has been sitting on my shelf for a few months, and I'm counting down the time until I can read it (I have to finish the books I started first).

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I've been loving reading classics lately, and this is one of Jane Austen's works that I haven't read yet. I figured this would be perfect for summer, being set in a seaside cottage and all.

LET'S TALK

Do you struggle to find reading time? Are you a seasonal reader like me, or do you choose books at random? What are some of your summer book recs? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Now go change the world,

-Ava