I once knew someone who used to wake up at 4:30am to read. During the summer that was probably very tranquil, but in the dead of winter it may have been a different story entirely!

I’m often asked how I find time to read. With a full time job, a reading group and family responsibilities, it’s a reasonable question. With so much weight already on our shoulders, reading can feel like an unaffordable luxury.

But it is possible to enjoy reading when you’re short on time.

Here’s how:

Find a book you think you might enjoy.

No one is suggesting you tackle the classics head-on, and spend countless hours reading Gravity’s Rainbow or In Search of Lost Time (I’d be the first to suggest you don’t).

Simply choosing a book you like the sound of is a good start. That can be anything you like – there are no rules. It doesn’t have to be too deep! My advice would be to choose a book about someone (or something) that interests you, whether that’s a musician, a period of history, a public figure or even a series of events.

Carry a book on you when you go out.

Every day comes with natural lulls in activity, and I’m always finding spare pockets of time to read. It’s a great way to pass the time. For you, that might be at the doctor’s surgery or dentist, on your lunch break (be prepared for colleagues to ask what you’re reading though!), on your commute, or even while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Keeping my Kindle in my bag saves on space, and is handy when I have a few spare minutes.

Ditch the distractions.

Put your phone down. Turn the TV off. Making time to read may feel difficult, but when you cut out the numerous distractions in your day, it becomes much easier.

Trust me, a good book is better than any amount of doom scrolling!

Read in small blocks of time.

Reading sprints, for ten to twenty minutes each day, are a great way to read in short bursts. Reading is a great self care technique, and reframing it in this way is a good way to motivate yourself. Or just try one chapter at a time!

Don’t bypass those small pockets of time in your day when you’re waiting around – they’re good opportunities to read a few pages.

Try an audiobook.

Audiobooks are great because they can be combined with other activities, e.g. housework, driving or cooking. They’re also great during your commute! Some are read by a famous voice, and if you enjoy autobiographies or memoirs, they are often read by the author. I find this makes them more enjoyable as you feel the writer’s emotions more than you would just reading the book – you get to hear the parts that made them laugh, the parts that made them cry, and if you’re reading a book by a musician, very occasionally they burst into song too!

And finally…

Read at bedtime!

Reading before bed is a non-negotiable part of my nightly routine, and one I never skip. It’s arguably how I get most of my reading done. Head up to bed 30-45 minutes before lights out, grab a hot milky drink, and give that book you’ve been meaning to read a try.

Start with a chapter or two at a time and go steadily. Finish at a comfortable point, and see if you don’t get the urge to pick the book up again the following day.

Anything I’ve missed?