If You Are Too Busy to Read, Try These 3 Things

The normal pace of my reading is about 2 books per week. When people say, “That’s crazy,” or “I could never do that,” I typically think about my Dad who could read a book a day at certain times of his life. And I also know that reading 50-60 pages a day can get you to the pace of 2 books per week.

I love to read, and I am increasing in my love for reading. But reading takes time.

I understand that not everyone has the kind of flexibility in their day to read as much as I do. And I understand that a part of my vocation as a pastor requires reading. And, not everyone has that kind of flexibility at their job.

So, the comment, “I am too busy to read” is legitimate. But it is not insurmountable. If you think you are too busy to read, there are some steps you can take to free up more time for reading.

First, spread your reading out throughout the day. If you want to read 30 minutes per day, find 3 slots of 10 minutes and read in those slots. Don’t feel that you must read in 30 sequential minutes. I enjoy spreading my reading out throughout the day (especially my Bible) so that I can better and more often meditate on what I am reading. It allows me to keep coming back to what I am reading. If I read everything in the morning, I may not be thinking about what I have read later that afternoon.

Second, pray for God’s wisdom in what and when you should read. We get frustrated with bad books and that doesn’t encourage the habit of reading when we don’t want to read what we are reading. Choose good books and ask God for wisdom in what you should be reading. Don’t even read a mediocre book. If you pick up and book and it is boring, put it down and replace it with something else.

Third, find a mindless activity that is consuming your day and replace it with reading. Maybe you scroll Facebook 30-45 minutes per day. There are far more sanctifying effects in reading books than tweeting or posting or stalking people on social media. Replace a less thoughtful activity with a more sanctifying one.

To become a better and more avid reader doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen by accident. You must work at it.

Tolle lege!