5 Ways to Read More Books

So . . . several weeks ago when I posted the readers survey I received some great feedback from many of you. One thing that I heard over and over was that y’all want me to share more lists with favorite resources. OK, I think I should have already known this but it took me awhile to get it.

The truth is I AM a research nerd and an information junkie. Sounds incredibly boring and yet it’s part of my charm 😉 and also can be incredibly helpful.

Like when friends ask, “Zohary, what books do you recommend on (fill in subject) ? I actually have several recommendations and usually hard copies to loan out.

But I’ll get back to that in a minute.

Today, I want to share few tips for finding time to read more books. Because that’s also something I get asked about quite a bit.

So if you’re a wannabe book nerd like me but just don’t seem to find the time to read, here are a few suggestions that I have found helpful.

1. Keep them handy.

I know that sounds simple but seriously make it easy on yourself and keep a book near you at all times

  • On your nightstand for when you’re having a hard time falling asleep
  • In your purse for waiting at dr.’s offices
  •  On multiple bookshelves in various rooms so you can just grab one where you are
  • In the car (for waiting times like when a kid is at practice not WHILE driving)

2. Make reading a priority by creating a daily or weekly “reading time”.  

I make my kids have a daily quiet time where they can rest, play quietly or read and I often use that time to read at least one chapter of a book. If reading during the day is not feasible you might have to consider waking up earlier or staying up later.

You can also make reading a part of your “Sabbath” experience if you can take a time during the weekend or a day off to read for leisure.

3. Put down the remote.

Honestly I don’t watch a lot of TV. There are a few shows my husband and I enjoy watching together usually on the weekends and we have a family movie night or two each week but I personally don’t spend time watching every day.

I know we all have our favorite shows but do you find yourself mindlessly watching just because? Maybe turn off the TV and pick up a book. Just letting go of one episode could give you an extra 20-30 minutes at least to read a chapter. That can add up to at least a few hours per week.

4. Read with others.

I’ve been a part of several books clubs both online and in real life and they are a great way to stay motivated and engaged with reading. It can be extra fun to talk about what you’re reading with others and discuss thoughts and ideas.

Currently we have a family book club where my husband and I along with our two youngest kiddos take turns picking a book and we all read it and have a weekly discussion.  You can also do a marriage “book club” if you and your spouse both enjoy reading.

5. Listen to audio books.

When I was in grad school I had a commute of about an hour each way sometimes more with traffic and I was able to use that time to listen to a bunch of books on CD from the library. If you have a commute or just spend a lot of time in the car this can be a great option for “reading” more books. Yes, listening to them totally counts. Or you can also listen at home while working on a project of just having some down time. Recently my family has started listening to the Harry Potter series on audible and it’s been a great way to wind down in the evenings before bed.


OK now that I’ve shared how to make time to reading you might be looking for recommendations. So I added a “bookshelf” page here so you can check out some of my favorite books on various topics.

I’ll be updating that periodically with new books and I’ll also be adding a private page with additional resources just for subscribers so look for that soon.

What books are you reading that you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments.

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