It doesn’t take knowing me long to figure out that I LOVE books. From The Culdesac Kids, to Nancy Drew, to young adult distopians (ugh, embarrased to admit this phase!), to marriage and motherhood, I’ve had books piling on my nightstand since my earliest memories. There’s no experience quite like losing yourself in the pages of a book. My person has been shaped by much of what I have read throughout the years. I believe I am a better person because of it!

A question I get asked ALL the time is, “How do you read so many books?” To be honest, I don’t feel like I do! I have friends that read WAY more than I do, and I know how many times I choose other things over reading. But I have formed habits that allow me to keep moving forward towards achieving my book goals. I’ve set a reading challenge over the past few years, and 50 books a year seems to be my sweet spot. This presents enough of a challenge all while giving me wiggle room for life.

“50 books?!” you ask in wonder. Yes, 50 (and I secretly have a goal to blow way past that!) How do I make it happen? In the midst of ministry life, mothering 5 littles, homeschooling, and more, how do I carve out the time to devote to something I love? If we get to the most foundational part of this answer, it is because I truly do LOVE reading. I make it a priority (more on that in a bit). Now, I have other priorities that come long before reading. But when the day draws to a close, and I find myself with a few minutes to myself, reading is what I choose.

Here are several ways I, as a busy wife and mama, have made time for reading:

Create a Habit

“The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.” -James Clear, Atomic Habits

If you desire to create a new habit, you simply need to start! Make a decision that you are going to commit to reading more. This is a commitment you might have to renew, or at least remind yourself of, often. The more you work to make reading a habitual rhythm of your life, the more it will weave itself into the fabric of your days.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says the best way to form a new habit is to habit stack. That means if you are wanting to make something new a habit, attach it to a habit you already have established in your life. This will look different for every person and every schedule. My reading times are often connected to my devotional time or my quiet afternoon time. My husband and I have also created a habit of wrapping up all loose ends with work and home by 9pm, then we spend the rest of the evening together. Sometimes, this time is spent playing a board game, but it is often spent reading. We enjoy reading a book aloud together as well as individually reading and sharing key quotes and thoughts as we do.

Set an Attainable Goal

There are a million different ways you can set a reading goal. My favorite is challenge myself to read a chapter each day. You are always welcome to read more than that, but one chapter each day lets you read about 30 chapters each month. Most books range from 10-15 chapters. That puts you reading 2-3 books each month which comes to 24-36 books in a year!

Use Pockets of Time Wisely

When you analyze your day, you’ll find that there are pockets of time scattered all throughout! At least I found that to be true. In a busy culture that avoids boredom at all costs, I’ve found sometimes it is good to just be. But there are other times where I can use the empty pockets for something worthwhile.

Some empty pockets I found as I examined my days…

-When I’m taking a shower (turn your phones volume up and listen to an audiobook)

-When I’m waiting at an appointment- hair, doctor, chiropractor. (tip: always have a book in your purse/diaper bag!)

-When I’m waiting on my grocery pick up order

-When I’m driving in the car (audiobook here, not physical! Be safe!)

-When I’m blow drying my hair (pop in an ear bud and listen to an audiobook)

Make Reading a Priority

“We make time for what we feel is important to us. If you haven’t made time for it, it’s because you haven’t convinced yourself that it’s important enough.”

This can be tough to acknowledge, but it is true. We make time for what is important to us. If your marriage is a priority, you’ll make time to connect with your spouse. If your relationship with God is a priority, you’ll make time to spend reading His Word and praying. If reading is a priority, you’ll give up _______________ (insert social media, TV, etc) to make time for books.

Reading isn’t a priority for everyone, and that’s ok! (I mean, I’ll try to understand that choice, but my personality will make it difficult. Wink!) If you do find it a priority, find the time. It doesn’t have to be a top priority; it shouldn’t be! Many things come before this area of my life. But it is much higher on the list than other things, so high that it is often some part of my day.

Audiobooks

A blessing to the life of a busy woman who wants to read more are audiobooks! I mentioned above several times throughout the day when I try to use pockets of time wisely by listening to audiobooks. Below are a few other times when I utilize audiobooks.

-While I’m preparing dinner

-While I’m tidying the house after the kids go to bed

-While doing evening chores

My oldest, Eden, LOVES when I let her stay up late and listen to an audiobook with me while we do chores together. She thinks it’s great because she gets to stay up late. I think it’s great because I get bonding time with her all while teaching her how to take care of the home and family. It’s an added bonus that we get inside conversations and jokes from the books we read together!)

-During afternoon quiet time

From 1:30-3:00pm, we have quiet time at our house. The little ones take a nap while the older ones read or do a quiet activity. If I have homemaking tasks to catch up on, I turn on my audiobook. Sometimes, Eden and I will relax together and get in a few more chapters of the book we are listening to together.

These are a few different ways I have found time to read as a busy mom. Even implementing one of these things will give you more margin to make reading a part of your life! I would love to hear from you. How do you find time to read? Which of these ideas was most helpful?

Happy reading, friends!