Welcome to Bookish Blatherings, a Bad Bird Reads feature where I ramble about bookish or bloggerish things and hopefully you will join in on the discussion.
So, obviously we all have lives outside of book blogging. Some of us have more time to blog and read than others. Our lives change, our reading habits change. When I was just going to school, I read everyday. At least 2-3 hours on weekdays and 6-8 hours on weekends. Then I was jobless for a bit after finishing school and read pretty much 8 hours a day while looking for a job. Then I started social media consulting and doing some web design and my hours got cut back. Now I am back in school and working for the school at the same time. Each semester is different, but I have primarily become a weekend reader. I literally don’t go anywhere on the weekends anymore (Okay, sometimes I do, but not often) and just read for about 6 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday, with some Fridays mixed in too. I want to read, so this is no chore for me. I prefer reading to most things. But with my schedule, I just can’t read during the weekdays anymore.
However, I have started to use my Kindle’s Text to Speech feature. In the mornings and the car ride to work, I listen to my books. That only adds up to about an hour all together, but it does help. I know most of you might not like hearing a robotic voice read out each word of a book. It can be odd at first, but I am use to it now. Obviously, I don’t get out as many reviews each week as I use too, that’s why I started doing my A Look Back reviews. I love reviewing the books I read before I became a book blogger. It had to be done eventually, and now they fill the spots of those extra books I don’t have time to read anymore. I am averaging about 2 books a week now. I use to do about 4 books a week.
Life changes and that’s great, but our reading habits have to adapt. I have seen a huge influx of bloggers reading audio books, which is a great idea. I was thinking of turning towards that too. I use to read audio books a lot when I had a longer commute to work, but it only takes me 20 minutes now.
We all have a lot going on in our lives. Some book bloggers are married with kids, just had a kid, have two jobs, go to school full time, the list goes on. Which leads me to wonder…
When do you squeeze in the time to read between kids, marriage, school, work, etc?
Are you a weekend, night, or weekday reader?
Do you read audio books to get more reading done while accomplishing other tasks or do you still find the time to read on your e-reader or even a physical book?
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Ashley
I used to read all the time. On the train to school, when I got back from school, sometimes after dinner, and every evening before bed.
Now I read less often. I think it’s a combination of me being busier with work, and I’m feeling discouraged with reading. I’ve DNF’d more books in the last 3 months than I did in the first two years of my blogging. I think that’s put me off reading for a while. 🙁
Now I mostly only read in the bath and if the book is really good I stay up extra late in bed reading.
Jennifer Bielman
Wow, that does suck. You need to buckle down and maybe be more selective. You know? Just pick the books you feel really good about.
sherry fundin
I read whenever I have a spare moment. I can be while I am waiting to have tires put on my car, I’m standing in line for something, my hubby is in the grocery store (gottat love that he does the shopping and cooking)….you get the drift. :-0 Have a super weekend, Jennifer.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, that is smart. I use to do that, but it seems like I don’t even have time in those short bursts anymore.
Finley Jayne
When I started my blog at the beginning of the year I was also reading around 4 books a week. But this fall, with all the craziness of life happening, I’m averaging 1-2 a week now. I usually read at night after the kids are in bed and hubby is playing games on the computer 🙂 I also bring a book to all of my kid’s sporting events and read then.
Jennifer Bielman
That’s smart. I use to read at night but I am so exhausted from the day, I usually fall asleep right away.
Manisha
College leaves almost nill time for reading. Which has me trying to fit in few pages here and there. I never used to read E-books on my phone but now I do, so I can switch to it whenever I’m free at college. I find no time on weekends too! I usually read for an hour just before I go to bed.
As for Audio books. I feel they require the same attention as reading a book does. Which is why I don’t prefer them. Reading helps retain more of the book than listening to them. And we read not just to finish a book right? 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
I agree, I feel like I retain more when I read a book instead of listening to one.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
I squeeze in reading any way I can! Some weeks more than others which helps me keep a buffer of scheduled review posts for when life gets really hectic. I usually aim to read an hour before bed each night, and audiobooks are mostly reserved for chores like washing dishes, and laundry. I also use Kindle’s Text to Speech feature occasionally, the voice isn’t great, but it’s better than nothing when you need to be hands-free. I always have my eReader with me, that way when an opportunity presents itself regardless of the situation, I can take advantage.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, keeping your e-reader with you at all times seems to be the best option.
laura thomas
I read wherever and whenever I can. I was reading a book while waiting for my son at the dentist and never heard them call my name to say he was ready. The woman came over and tapped me on the shoulder! Quite embarrassing. LOL
I always have several books going at once and keep my kindle stacked with the print copies by my bed at night. I manage about an hour at night and read much more on the weekend. Heading out to the pool and sit and read this morning. Got an unexpected day off! Happy reading and have a lovely weekend Jennifer.
Jennifer Bielman
Thanks for sharing. I have totally been that distracted by a book too, so no worries, you are not alone.
Melliane
I’m so slow with audiobooks I confess so I tried once and well it’s the end!!!! Never again, it took me one month. It was nice but too long. Otherwise I read a lot at night, behind the TV on before sleeping. It’s nice like that.
Jennifer Bielman
I often read while everyone else is watching TV.
Cassidie Jhones
Last year, I had a really easy year at high-school so I read a lot. On the bus and tram/metro to school and back home, in breaks, during some classes even. Then this year, the real learning started and so the times I used to read a most turned into studying opportunities. So now, I read on the way home and in the evening as most of my afternoons are dominated by my computer.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, studying always gets in the way, lol.
Nikki!
I read if my kids are doing something that is keeping them busy or when they have gone to sleep for the night. I also read in bed. I basically try and read whenever I get a spare minute. Sometimes it’s pages and sometimes it’s a paragraph =)
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, yup, those just paragraphs times suck.
Jaclyn Canada
My reading time fluctuates a lot. I work full-time and am a single parent so I try and spend a lot of time with Zane. Especially since he’s hitting 12 this year and won’t be my ‘little’ boy for much longer. I try to read most nights when he’s gone to bed, and sometimes during the week I read during breaks. I’ve gotten into the text to speech as well and will listen to books in between that time. I read probably 2 books a week now, which is a lot less that most bloggers, but I make due.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, getting use to 2 books a week was hard for me, but we can only fit in what we can fit in.
braine
I read whenever I can. Not as much lately, stupid work getting in the way you know. So I have at least 5 hours of reading time a day, more over the weekends.
Jennifer Bielman
5 hours a day is pretty awesome! that’s why your produce so many reviews. 🙂
Alisa Selene
This is a great discussion. I have the same problem, my work schedule is very tightly packed. Usually I have to ask my husband if I can just have an hour to read in the evenings and usually he accommodates but sometimes there is just no time or energy!
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, evenings use to work for me but not anymore.
Heena Rathore
I used to read all the time after my college. But now with a hubby it gets hard to read till 4:00 am! Still I try and read whenever I get even a 5-minute break.
I haven’t tried the text to speech yet, but I guess I’ll have to soon!
I’m an intra-day commodity trader and I’m on the share market literally all day, it gets a bit difficult to make time for reading and presently I read around 2-3 books a week. which is actually quite a lot than last year.
I really wish there were 30 hours in a day (the extra 6 hrs only for reading) 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
Wow, 2-3 books a week is quite good.
Marni
I love working close to home, but I miss that 45 minute commute to and from because I would catch up with podcasts and audiobooks during that time. Most of my reading is done at night now, after the kids go to bed. They are 16, their dad and I separated back in May, and they want me present, even if we are watching a tv show, they want to know that I have their undivided attention. I’m hoping this starts curbing soon. I love having them around me, but they need to know that just being in the same room with me is ok. Sometimes at work, I’m able to settle in during my lunch break and read, but if a certain coworker is also in the lunch room, she yaps and makes all kinds of noises and I’ve than gone from reading to yelling in my head for her to BE QUIET! And unfortunately, our lunches coincide a lot. So mostly, my reading and blogging and email checking is after 10pm, and soon I find myself falling asleep with my Nook or phone in my hand,
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, yeah, all the action is after 10pm for me too, that’s why I end up doing very little reading at night, mostly I have checking emails and writing blog posts.
Lekeisha
I squeeze in an hour each morning before I start getting ready for work because I don’t have time afterwards. Working 12-14 hour days with maintaining my normal house work leaves me hardly any time. I miss my 8 hour days 🙁 But, weekends are where I read for hours at a time. If I had kids on top of my already busy schedule, I’d be too overwhelmed to blog. I’ve thought about just giving up on blogging even though I just started almost 6 months ago. I’m trying to find that perfect balance and I’m sure it will come soon.
Jennifer Bielman
Awww, don’t give up. Even reviewing two books a week is good. With those weekends, I bet you get two books done.
Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are
I find the balance is quite hectic and I don’t even have kids yet! I work full time, come home need to make supper, spend time with my hubby, exercise (if I find time), clean up, read, write & blog. Now I just go with the flow and take it as it goes. I am happy if I get through 1 book a week now 🙂 but hey that’s ok!!!
Jennifer Bielman
Yup, that is okay. We can’t let reading becoming a chore.
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