There's all these books that you want to read but you may be thinking, “Romi, I've already got a stack next to my bed that I can’t seem to ever get to, and instead of being brain food, they’re just making me feel guilty.”
I get it. I’ve been there. It can be hard to find time to read, especially when you’re trying to build your own empire AND tend to your kids and your hubby and your pets AND get a shower in. And then there are lots of you who also have day jobs on top of it all.
C’mon, you know I wouldn’t dangle fab reads in front of you without giving you the tips to actually fit in the time to enjoy them, do you? (For those of you new to me, the answer is “Hell, no. I’ve got you, girl.) So here are your 5 Tips for Squeezing Reading into Your Day. And you’re welcome.
1. Vow to fit 10 pages at the beginning or end of your day. Depending on the time of year and the kids’ schedules, I adjust my wake-up or turn-in time to accommodate reading. I know the minute I get out of bed in the morning it’s going to be go go go. But in the summer the kids get up later so I have more time for me before it’s all about them. I set my alarm 20 minutes earlier than I need to get out of bed to snuggle under the covers with my book. And during the school year when the mornings start too early for my liking anyway, I get into bed 20 minutes earlier than I want to turn out the light or, if John’s lucky, turn him on so I can have some one-on-one time with my book. Does this happen every night or every morning? Nope. And when it doesn’t I don’t beat myself up, I just make sure it’s the exception and not the rule.
2. Take your book with you wherever you go. I know that we’ve all gotten so attached to our phones that every single spare moment we’re refreshing and scrolling. I promise you that the 10 minutes you’d spend studying Insta feeds that will make you feel inferior can be much better spent getting in 10 pages of reading a book to fill your head with amazing stuff. Unless you need to do something to move your biz forward, get in the habit of putting your phone in your bag and pulling your book out.
3. Read with your ears. I’ve been a huge fan of audiobooks for a few years now, and am able to devour many more titles in a year than ever. Audible is my jam, and not just because they did such an amazing job working with me to record Get Over Your Damn Self. I love it because it’s so easy, and the monthly subscription guilts me into routinely downloading books, just like a gym membership makes me get to barre class. I listen to books while doing dishes or cooking or doing my night-time skin and teeth routine, or any other mundane activity that’s too noisy for me to do a business call with someone. I also listen while working out, which makes me want to do work up a sweat just so I can get back to my book. Try it. Your brain will thank you just as much as your ass does.
4. Say no to Netflix. I’ve learned that the more shows I watch, the less I read. And I know myself: once I get hooked on a show for which an entire season or the entire history of the series is available, I will binge like a woman with PMS in a potato chip factory. I didn’t watch TV for several years while I was building my business into something huge. But even today, there are so many things I want to read and create and do in the real world that I have to severely limit my TV time. I encourage you to trade any TV, YouTube video and Netflix time you’re spending and put it into reading.
5. Make reading a reward. Somewhere along the line, reading likely became a “have to” instead of a “want to”. That means it got put on your already too long to-do list, and you don’t seem to get to it so you end up resenting those books. Take reading off your to-do list and instead think of it as a way to reward yourself. Whether it’s sitting with a latte and a physical book or going for a long walk with an Audible, make that time a reward for getting your must-do’s done or pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to do something scary.
