No Time To Read? Let Me Help You.

I am not gonna lie, people are always telling me how great it is that I manage to ‘take out’ time for reading in a busy life. Just last week, a friend tweeted about me saying, ‘She’s on Twitter and still finds time to read books, she’s awesome!’ which might be because I am on Twitter a lot and sometimes, I tweet 8+ times a day. Yeah.

Anyway, I replied to that tweet with a ‘Maybe that’s my superpower’ and wondered if it is true. And I am really awesome, no doubt about that, because over the years, I have seen how the craziest and obsessive readers (as in, people who refused to go out to socialize or run errands because they had to finish a book) around me have turned into guilty weekend-readers, and yet I have somehow managed to maintain my impeccable reading frequency.

Of course thing are different now with independent clients and crazy (I say it in a good way, in case any client reads this) campaigns and a husband who obviously loves me too much to let me sit alone in peace, sipping cold-coffee and reading a book for more than half an hour – plus there is my so called social life on Twitter which is extremely demanding (this is self depricating humor, in case any of you don’t get it, okay?), among other things, but darlings, where there is a will, there is definitely a way. So for all of you who keep coming back to that pathetic theme of No Time To Read, I’m here to help.

Here are places and situations where I pick up a book and read. Be inspired.

1. While making and having breakfast. I’m serious. I think it’s pretty easy. If no one else can do it, then maybe managing to read is my superpower after all. The thing is, while you fix yourself a quick breakfast, you can easily read a couple of pages of your book. Take for example, when the milk is boiling or when the omelette’s cooking and the coffee is brewing inside the coffee maker – why not pick a book and immerse yourself in the magical fantasy world of Tolkien or Terry Pratchett? So what if your cereal turns a bit soggy or your eggs burn a little? It is all worth it because you are getting some time to read.

2. During mail exchanges. We all work with people who want URGENT mail replies, and sometimes we are these people – staring at our screens, tapping our fingers on the table, waiting for that oh-so-important email. To me, this happens at least once every day. But why waste those precious minutes when you can shed the restlessness by digging into some delicious stories by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni or some Nick Hornby and his dry humour. No harm, right? Also keeps your mind off the work stress for a while.

3. While on the treadmill. Sweating it out on the mechanical bitch? Make it sweet by learning to balance Langston Hughes’s collection of poems against the display and wohoo! Working out was never this fun! I love poetry during my runs because A.) I know it sounds crazy, but it keeps me focused, and B.) this combination puts both mind and body at work. Real fun. Um. Okay, if poetry during a workout is not your idea of reading, then maybe a copy of old Mills and Boons will do the trick for you, if you know what I mean. Now now, don’t you pretend you don’t like them or don’t have any, stashed at the back of your bookshelf. I know you’re a fan of ‘real literature’ and you publicly cry at the death of literature whenever someone mentions the good old M&Bs, but come on, you can’t deny its therapeutic qualities!

4. While watching your favorite show. The show is great and you love it, but why watch the lame commercials when Kazuo Ishiguro is there to sweep you away with his dreamy realism and his emotional tug-at-heart stories? So you miss a few seconds of your show and you feel a little disoriented at the beginning, but you’ll get used to it with some practice. Plus, having to re-read some parts written by your favorite author can’t be that bad, huh? TRY.

Anyway, I work from home now, so no one gives a shit if I casually pick up a book during work hours. It’s quite liberating, actually, if you compare it with the days when I kept books on my desk, staring longingly at them for hours without a chance to open them, and when I finally did get a free moment, I would barely finish a page when my boss would emerge out of her cabin asking for this report or that. Phew. I mean, I love her but letmereadfor5min, you know what I mean? But for those of you who are still in that position of a full-time on-site job, ebooks stored on your phone and/or laptop are a brilliant tool. Go install a good app, download your favorite books, and read them whenever possible. Never say I don’t give you any good ideas.

And I know that my ideas are half silly, but if they gave you a crazy idea of yourself on how to keep reading, my job is done. Also, please remember that reading while at work will only work when you are super attentive and almost perfect at your job. I mean, for the love of God, your work that pays for all these books is always a priority, okay? Them books cost too damn much – don’t be stupid and compromise with your profession. So my actual advice is this: be great at what pays for your books and other passions, and you’ll enjoy the reading even more.

Happy reading!

PS: Follow me on Twitter, heehee.

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Post Author: Aditi Mathur Kumar

Author of 2 books. TEDx Speaker. Travel Writer. Blogger. Addicted to Travel & Books. Digital Media Strategist. Social Media Girl. Army Wife. Mom. Curious. Crazy.

8 thoughts on “No Time To Read? Let Me Help You.”

akanksha

(August 2, 2011 - 6:57 am)

This comment has been removed by the author.

akanksha

(August 2, 2011 - 6:58 am)

That post for so apt for me. I had completely given up on reading for the past year and a half…and last weekend picked up a Sidney Sheldon randomly and I am back on track.

Shockingly, I was able to complete two books within a week(I work full time and can't read at office)

Could you please gimme some more tips
as these are not useful for me because –
1-I don't prepare breakfast.I have it at office cafeteria

2-I don't work out at all.And the good part is, I don't need to…See, I am awesome too!

3-I don't have a TV and watch stuff on the laptop without any breaks.haha 🙂

Also, the joy that a book brings is unmatched and I am on a book shopping spree these days.Flipkart and Coinjoos would be giving me special privileges in a few days for being the customer who buys a copy of each and every boom they have!

11:57 AM

ahighandahalf

(August 2, 2011 - 10:31 am)

🙂 i loovveeee the breakfast idea!!! i am going to try it! the rest of it ye – i survive by too! this is so nice! i don't feel weird anymore!

sritatsat

(August 2, 2011 - 12:09 pm)

I have known you for over 5 years and have still not been able to take my reading score to double digits. Yes, I know its pathetic.

I remember one post of yours- way back, ofcourse – in which you talked about books you could not complete. Robin Sharma books topped the list 🙂 Maybe I started with wrong books and have put up this mental block…suggest something for someone who has major interest but no dedication when it comes to reading books- I mean I want to but I can not sit for 2 straight hours :((((