5 Days of Making Time for Mom – Time to Read

Thanks for joining me today for my 5 Days of Making Time for Mom series. This week we’re looking at different ways to make time for yourself so that you can avoid burnout. Yesterday I talked about how to make time for work. Today we’re talking about making time to read.

Time to read? Really? I'm exhausted of reading by the time I finish working with all of my kids!

Read for Yourself

Some days I laugh at those reading programs. You can get the entire Six Flags Read to Succeed program done in a week. Even though it might seem like you're always reading, unless you choose books outside of the "required reading" you're going to be drained of passion for reading, learning, and discussing very quickly.

Reading expands your horizons, deepens your thinking, and enriches your soul. Don't believe me? Check out these 101 reasons why I think ever mom should be a reader. Reading provides ideas to talk about. I love this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:

If your family conversations are solely focused around discussing people and events, you're missing out on the richness of discussing ideas. If your kids are too little, discuss ideas with your husband. Where do you encounter great ideas to discuss? Great books.

Quality Not Quantity

A couple of years ago I attended a CiRCE Conference with my husband. Andrew Kern was sharing an idea that he'd been contemplating from a book he was reading. It was a fascinating concept. Then he shared that he'd only read the first page of this book.

I can't tell you how freeing this idea has become in my life. While I do enjoy finishing books, I have since found that savoring morsels of good nutritious food is much more valuable than consuming large quantities of empty calories. Don't let the idea of making time to read overwhelm you. You don't need a ton of time for actual reading. If you spend your time well, you'll have a feast to contemplate even after the book gets put down.

When to Read

Here's a little math on what a little reading each day amounts to:

10 minutes of reading a day = 60 minutes a week
= 4 hours a month
=48 hours a year

When is the last time you've finished a book? If you read 10 minutes a day, you could finish on average 6 books a year. Can you find 10 minutes in your day to pick up a book?

10 minutes in the morning. I try to read my Bible in the morning, but if I had a little extra time, I might add my 10 minutes in the morning.
10 minutes at night. Sometimes this one is tricky because by the time I get to bed, I'm so sleepy that it's hard to read.
10 minutes in the bathroom. Let's be honest. Sometimes the only quiet moments of my day are in the bathroom, and even then, I usually have someone yelling through the door. But I could disappear for about ten minutes with a good book.
10 minutes while cleaning up after dinner. Who said you have to have the book in your hand? Audible Subscriptions are a great way to have access to books while your hands are busy with mindless work. Put your ear buds on and slip away into a great book.

How do you make time to read for yourself?

Join in the fun!

Betsy

Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.

5 Days of Making Time for Mom – Time to Read