Confession time: I don’t multitask very well. I’ve always been a fan of reading but when I was in school I always let reading slide because it wasn’t as important as school. The last year and half has been pretty nice since I wasn’t in school anymore. I could read as much as I wanted!
Soon enough I found a part time job but even then I still had quite a bit of free time. I was still able to read a good amount. Now that I’ve found a full time job, I’m struggling to find time to read (and by extension, blog about my reading). I’m able to squeeze some reading in on my lunch break. I do try to read before I go to bed but I get tired before too long.
How are you able to juggle life and reading? How about book blogging? Any tips or tricks you want to share?
The Cheap Reader 
Since I’m an author, writer/book blogger, and an editor, my time is pretty precious. I’ve found time to balance everything by keeping time sheets and cutting off my computer-time (most nights) after I’m done with work. I read every workday for thirty minutes before lunch and many nights, I’ll read again before going to sleep. I don’t read as quickly as many book bloggers, but I also don’t prioritize book reviews on my blog (since I also post about writing, etc.) I try to do a book review every two weeks. I would suggest that you try to find your reading speed and then allot a certain amount of each day to reading. Perhaps an hour if you can swing it, etc. Try to set a daily habit that is non-negotiable, maybe?
Great advice. Thanks, LM!
Blogging is like a part-time job of its own!!! I actually do a lot of commenting and tweeting at work, so if that’s not something you can do, I imagine it’s really hard to find the time!
I just try to schedule a lot of things in advance, and if I don’t have time to read a book for review, maybe a discussion post to fill the void!
I just try to squeeze in reading any time I can! It sucks breaking it up into such small doses, but I’ll squeeze it in if I have extra time in the morning before work or before I leave for my boyfriend’s house at night. I actually hardly watch TV anymore because reading has taken a priority!! 🙂
Good luck with your balance!!
Wow, I’m jealous that you can do that at work! I can’t. I just catch up on my blog reading on my breaks. Scheduling in advance has been great for me.
I understand exactly what you’re saying here. I went through 8 years of college and got barely anything read until I started listening to audiobooks. That would give me an excuse to “read” AND get something useful done like exercise or clean. 🙂 My job after that was a paid-for-forty-but-expected-to-work-80-hours-a-week job, and I also got almost nothing read. But the blessing was that there were tasks I could do at work that were automatic enough that I could listen to audiobooks while doing that. 🙂 I’ve recently been looking for a nice normal 40-hour-a-week job and THAT seems like SO much free-time (in my imagination). But I’m sure once I get used to it I’ll be mourning the loss of all my unemployed free-time. :p
Audiobooks are a great idea! I wish I could listen to them at work. 🙂
Girl… I feel like saying welcome to the real world of a full time job! But that’s pretty condescending and I hated when people told me that when I started my first “real” job. I think I’m lucky enough that I have down time at work and access to a computer so I can work on my blog. I also can read books online (Kindle and Library) at work, which is nice. But at night, I’m seriously pooped and by 8:30 am ready to sleep! I think what I’m slowly discovering though is that during the work week, if I read (which I usually do) reading a book that I WANT to read, that’s exciting and fun and doesn’t make me think too much, is better than reading something I HAVE to read for the blog. I can leave those books for the weekend! I also take advantage when I can of audio books. I usually have one either on CDs for the car or on my phone. I like to listen to books on my phone while I’m taking a bath, getting ready for work or cleaning house. As for blogging, I think the real key is to understand what your timeline looks like, what you can feasibly manage, and to stay ahead of the game. Set aside an hour on a Saturday (or whatever your off day is) to write reviews, schedule posts, etc. Hopefully some of these help; I think we all struggle with wanting to do MORE for our blogs/reading and work/real life! 🙂
That’s a great point about reading something that I want to read. I’ve noticed that I can get my reading done faster if I’m really into my book. I always try to squeeze some blogging in on my days off. Thanks for the advice, Candice! 🙂
I usually read during breakfast, during lunch, and before I go to bed– I try to get ready for bed at an early time so I have the time for reading. I also usually have time for reading on the weekends, so I still feel like I get plenty of reading in even while working full-time. Blogging is harder for me to keep up with, but the biggest thing for me is to write when I feel like it. I usually can’t do more than two posts a week and if I don’t get them up? I try not to worry about it. I’m sure my traffic numbers suffer from my inconsistency, but I don’t care– I’m just in this to have fun.
P.S. Cute new theme! It has been a while since I’ve stopped by, I see.
That’s a great way of thinking, Elizabeth. I do need to remind myself that I’m doing this for fun so there’s no need to stress if I fall behind in posting!
Thanks! I really like it and I’m able to change things up very easily to keep things fresh.
It is hard! Right now I’m working full-time and taking a grad school class. I have found that I bring my current book with me basically everywhere nowadays so that whenever I have a bit of free time I can read. I also try to get in some reading before dinner (since I don’t want to be looking at a computer screen or any screen really right then). But it’s a challenge! Maybe if you play around with different reading times and schedules, you’ll eventually find out what works for you? Good luck!
I always have my book or kindle in my purse! That definitely helps.
I read during lunch too. And I try to read before I go to bed, but it’s hard. I try to read on weekends too.
I have a hard time, and often fall behind in writing blog posts. I try to remember to write one or two blog posts every weekend, and schedule them in advance, so that if I start falling behind, I have one or two things ready to go. Reading is tricky, but these days I have a subway commute of reasonable length, which gives me some space to read.
Scheduling is amazing for the busy blogger.
Blogging definitely has cut into my reading time!! And I’m in school full-time and I have a child, so sometimes I’m able to read a lot and sometimes it takes me 2 weeks to finish a book!!! I get so mad when that happens! It seems like some bloggers are able to read 3 or 4 books per week… I WISH I could do that! I do what Amanda said she does, keep my book on me at all times so if I have 2 minutes I can read a few pages!
Cool discussion topic btw!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Michelle! I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one who has trouble trying to do it all.
For me I try to read during my lunch break, that is always nice! I do find trying to work in advance is helping me feel less pressured by the blog stuff!
I read during my lunch, too. Sometimes it’s hard because everyone is chatting. Loudly. (Odd, because I work in a library.) I tried reading before bed too, but I always got too sleepy after a few pages and that made me frustrated because I made no progress and forgot the few pages that I read. So I started rereading my personal copies of books before bed. It’s easier because I already know what’s going on, and it’s fun for me to reread my favorites. Plus, it’s usually another book to review.
That’s a good idea to reread books for bedtime reading!