Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Ways I Squeeze a Little Extra Reading Time into My Day

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is actually supposed to be Outrageous/Crazy/Uncharacteristic Things I’ve Done for the Love of Books (i.e. skipped meals, camped outside a bookstore, broke up with someone because they don’t like to read, traveled long distances to bookish events, etc.  After sitting here staring at that topic for way too long and drawing a complete blank, I decided to take a slightly different route.  Today instead, I’m going to share some random moments throughout my day where I try to squeeze in a few extra minutes of reading time.  Some are pretty normal, but several of them have been known to garner weird looks from my friends, family, and from complete strangers.  Whatever, people. A bookworm’s gotta bookworm, right?!

 

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10 Ways I Squeeze a Little Extra Reading Time into My Day

 

1. Reading While Cooking

 

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Whether it’s listening to an audiobook or having my Kindle propped up on the kitchen counter,

it’s not uncommon to find me sneaking in a few pages of my current read while I’m preparing meals.

 

2. Reading While Getting Ready for Work

 

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Pretty much every morning, my Kindle is propped up on the bathroom counter so that I can read a few pages while I’m getting ready for work.

Yes, this often leads to me running behind schedule, but it’s totally worth it, lol.

 

3. Reading While in the Bathtub

 

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This one is a little tricky since it’s so easy to ruin a book or e-reader, but what a perfect time to relax and get a little reading done…

Minus the creepy green ghost in the gif, of course, haha!

 

4. Reading While Eating

 

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Okay, so I do behave myself and put the books away while we’re having a family meal,

but if it’s just me eating alone, like for breakfast or for lunch, it’s a guarantee my nose will be in a book.

 

5. Reading While Driving

 

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If I’m in the car alone, it’s audiobook time!

 

6. Reading While Doing Chores

 

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Let’s face it…chores suck, right?  I can’t think of anyway to make them more enjoyable to turn on an audiobook

and squeeze in some reading time while folding laundry, ironing, or doing the dishes.

 

7. Reading While at the Soccer Field

 

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Anyone who has been following my blog for a while knows that I’m a soccer mom and that my son lives and breathes soccer.

We have practice 4 times a week, plus games.  I’m a good soccer mom and pay attention during all of the games,

but I confess to reading my way through most of those practices.

 

8. Reading While Waiting in Line

 

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Lines bore me, so while I’m stuck waiting in them, I almost always pull out a book and read.  It doesn’t even matter what kind of line, honestly.

At the grocery store, the pharmacy, the post office, DMV, restaurant drive-thrus, you name a line and I’ve probably read a book while waiting in it.

 

9. Reading in Waiting Rooms

 

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Along similar lines, I always read when I’m waiting for a doctor’s appointment.  I’ll even continue to read once they call my name

and take me back to the exam room because I know I still have time before the doctor actually shows up.

 

10. Reading While a Passenger

 

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Whether it’s public transportation of any kind or even if I’m just the passenger in a car, if I’m not the one driving, it’s party time!

And by party time, I mean it means I have more time to read.  Woo Hoo!

 

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What are some ways you manage to squeeze in a little extra reading time each day?

52 replies
  1. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz says:

    Great tweak of the topic! I can remember, as a child, preferring to read in the back room at family gatherings. This was NOT-OKAY with my parents, sadly, so I didn’t eventually become the total recluse I might have become.

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      Exactly! Sometimes I even keep my phone out on my desk at work and use the Kindle app to sneak a few more pages in, lol.

  2. Angela
    Angela says:

    The audiobook in the car is a big one for me, also reading while eating lunch. That’s literally two more hours per day I can get reading in!

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      Exactly. Both of those are perfect times for reading. I love the audiobook in the car because it helps keep me from getting stressed out about traffic.

  3. Jo
    Jo says:

    I always bring a book along to doctors and dentists appointments, since you usually end up waiting longer than you think you’re going to have to! I always read in the car, when I’m a passenger and on any public transport, buses, trains etc as it’s a great way to squeeze in reading time. I have to admit, I haven’t done any of the others though!

  4. Annemieke
    Annemieke says:

    These are great ways to get in a few more extra pages. I wish it worked for me but I get very cranky if I get to read just a few pages haha.

  5. Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads
    Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads says:

    Such a relatable list! All these little moments definitely add up! Audiobooks in the car have become a huge help for me lately and reading does make things like traffic of waiting in lines so much more bearable 🙂

  6. Jordan Rose
    Jordan Rose says:

    I’m glad I’m not the only one who props their Kindle up when doing things! I get a lot of reading in when I blow dry my hair at night and prop it up against the sink… haha. I also sneak it in by reading while working out/doing my daily stretching. I definitely read while eating (if alone) as well! One of the best places I get reading in is at airports/on a plane–I hate airports, but i do relish the extra reading time.

  7. Sam@wlabb
    Sam@wlabb says:

    Audiobooks have been one of the best ways for me to squeeze in more reading time, but I always read in a waiting room, on line, and when commuting too.

  8. Jennifer Tar Heel Reader
    Jennifer Tar Heel Reader says:

    These are all great, Suzanne! I am right there with you on all except I can’t read in the car. I can do an audiobook, or I can read on a plane, train, and sometimes busses, but not in a car- motion sickness. I’ve been guilty lately of having the TV on when I’m doing chores, and this is a great reminder to get back to the audios. Thank you for that!

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      As long as it’s not a super long trip, I can read in the car pretty well. I definitely prefer the audiobook route though.

  9. Di @ Book Reviews by Di
    Di @ Book Reviews by Di says:

    Great spin on this week’s topic!

    And yes, reading while cooking is GREAT. I do it when I’m abosrbed in a book because apparently the fmaily still needs to be fed.. Who knew!

    A lot of ereaders are now splashproof… Just saying!

    I can only audio when we have a long trip and my hubby isn’t with me – since he likes to chat. 🙂 But I struggle now reading while in motion in a vehicle.. 🙁

  10. verushka
    verushka says:

    If I read getting ready for work, I would no way actually get to work — I bow down before your time management in the mornings!

  11. ShootingStarsMag
    ShootingStarsMag says:

    Oh, I definitely read in waiting rooms. I also read at sporting events – usually when they aren’t playing. I’ve read before movies and concerts, etc. Just any time I can really!

    -Lauren

  12. Brooke Lorren
    Brooke Lorren says:

    I’ve done most of them. I can even tell you some of the books (or magazines) I’ve read at soccer practices. Although I don’t read in the bathtub, and if I’m waiting i a line where I’m standing I’m usually on book Twitter.

  13. Brittany
    Brittany says:

    Great list! I have done every single one of these 😂😂 But the most common for me is eating while reading and while in line!!

  14. Jessica at Booked J
    Jessica at Booked J says:

    YESS!!! I do a lot of these two. Life is so busy you have to get a little creative in finding times for reading! Also, love that you read while cooking. I do too and I know there are a lot of people who do but I never actually hear about it! Haha

  15. Daniela Ark
    Daniela Ark says:

    hahah YES! You sound like me! I’m only doing audiobooks at the moment so I’m ALWAYS “reading” Like you, when eating, cooking, doing chores, getting dresses. Even in the shower! I use my Bluetooth speaker to listen to my audiobook in the bathroom 😉

  16. RO
    RO says:

    Great list! I’m usually the designated person who rides along with people to keep them awake, so I get in lots of reading time then, and in waiting rooms when someone is running a little behind. Hugs and happy Saturday! RO

  17. Julie
    Julie says:

    I do all of the above, the only exception is the last one, I got dizzy. Such a great change of a question, it made my smile))

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      I can do it as long as I’m not going too far. Audiobooks are definitely preferable in the car, if at all possible though.

  18. Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight
    Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight says:

    I was like, “Reading while driving???!” but then you said audiobook lol. I can’t read when I’m a passenger cuz I get motion sickness :-/ But audiobooks are super great for multitasking, I listen to them while making good, brushing teeth, etc. Standing in line is also a great opportunity to get a few pages in! I try to read in waiting rooms (esp since I’ve been in so many lately), but I’m usually too anxious to concentrate :-/

    • Suzanne
      Suzanne says:

      I have really fallen in love with the multi-tasking aspect of audiobooks. I was actually just listening to one while ironing and folding laundry and thinking how cool it was to be able to read and do chores at the same time.

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