For me as a writer, it’s even more important to find time to read, since it helps me keep current with my genre. What’s hot and what’s not, who’s got it and what are they doing, that sort of thing.

If you’re struggling with finding time to read, here are some things I’ve tried in the past that I found helpful. They don’t all work all the time, but having options to pick and choose from is always a good idea, right?

Take advantage of your commute

This one only works with reading if you’re a passenger for your daily commute, but it worked very well for me for a long time when I had a two-hour bus/train commute. I was teaching high school government and economics at the time, and this was the only phase in my life when I was consistently able to catch up on foreign policy articles that I could use with my class. I had two things working for me in this case: my email, wherein I received the headlines from my magazine subscriptions, and my kindle app. Both on my phone, so I didn’t have to carry anything extra.

Audio books

Audio books are a big thing these days, many people listen to their books instead of reading them. If you’re someone who can process what you hear while doing other things, this is a great option. Listen in the car, at the gym, on your break, limitless possibility! Unfortunately for me, this never worked even though I really wanted it to. I can’t listen to something effectively if I’m doing other things. Whatever task I’m on takes up too much of my focus.

Have a bedtime routine

This one was probably the best for me, but I’m inconsistent with it. Plan on taking an hour before you go to bed to wind down. No phone, no TV, no tech. Just prepare yourself for bed and relax. Reading is a perfect way to finish out the evening.

Alternately, you can schedule a few minutes in the morning to read if that works better for you. This didn’t work well for me because I feel too pressed for time in the morning.

Love your library

Lastly, I want to point out an often-forgotten option, the library. I drastically cut down my book purchases several years ago because a) it was expensive, and b) books are heavy and I travel/move kind of a lot. Luckily, my local library is HUGE, so I can find almost anything I want there. I sometimes have to put myself on the wait list for a title, but this is usually no big inconvenience. My library also has many ebook titles, so even when I’m away I can still take advantage of my cardholder benefits. It’s been great! This also gives me a built-in deadline that motivates me to get the book read before I have to give it back.

Reading is a luxurious pastime that all of us should be able to indulge in if and when we want to. For those of you who are struggling with it like me, I hope these ideas were helpful. For those who have the reading time thing nailed, comment to let the rest of us know how you do it!