I am officially caught up on posts – well, all except Mockingjay but I am waiting to write that for several reasons. I already posted my Inside Michelle’s Brain segment for the week. So what is a girl to do when she wants to write but has nothing about which to write?
This got me thinking. Why is it that I am out of books to review? I blame it on my new working hours. I finally was able to negotiate cutting back my hours to coincide with the lack of daycare. Great for the kids but I don’t get my long lunch break anymore. Then, I’ve been superseded at soccer practices by my husband, who wants to help at practices. This means that there are 90 minutes twice a week that are gone too. Then, we’ve been so busy entertaining and heading to the lake this summer, that I haven’t been able to read over the weekends either. This adds up to a severe cut into my reading time. I have a 900-page book to finish this weekend for a blog tour for Monday. The review copies are flowing in at a pace faster than I can read them. Honestly, I’m getting a bit concerned.
I want to read. I want to read a lot. My RIP V book list is just the tip of the iceberg of books I want to read. I have 200 books on my bookshelves and on my Nook that are calling my name. Yet, how can I possibly fit in more reading time into an already full schedule? What can I do better?
I’ve already cut down on blogging time and time spent on my Reader. I have no homework anymore. I am home earlier, which means that I should have more time to read, except the kids require me to help with homework and want to tell me all about their day. We have activities every weekday and now on weekends. Seriously, how am I supposed to read a book in a timely fashion? Gah! It’s so frustrating!
So, here’s a plea to fellow bloggers: How do you do it? How do you read so much? Do you have any recommendations for how I can eke more reading time from the day?
LOL! My kids are rapidly growing up, so this really is a short-term problem. Thankfully, both of my children are readers too, so I don't feel so guilty burying my nose in a book all the time!
Phew, I can't even imagine! Good luck fitting in more time, but really, I don't know how you do it all! I'm forever grateful to still have no kids – and even more grateful that wonderful women like you have them so I don't have to 😀
My recent post Review- Dark Song by Gail Giles and Dust by Joan Frances Turner
I do need to get off the computer more than I do, but it is definitely walking a fine line between wanting to read and wanting to blog. I suspect that I am going to rely on audiobooks more than I already do.
Aths, I think you are right. All avid readers want more reading time!
I wish I could read more too, and I don't have a husband or kids either! Somehow I still read far less than I wish I could. I think it's a perpetual problem for all readers.
My recent post September – the month of shelf cleaning
LMAO! Sure! And if you happen to figure it out, please let me know! 😀
I am used to doing at least two books a week. Going three weeks without finishing a book is driving me batty! I agree though that family time is non-negotiable. So, I guess my reading will suffer until things settle down a bit.
LOL! You sound like me, minus the babysitting part, unless you count watching my own kids. I'll be working on a remedy. My goal is to sit and read one of these weekends…
The kids get two hours after school to decompress before their activities, which helps a lot on that end. The only problem is they want my attention, which means that Mommy gets no time to decompress. By the time bedtimes roll around, I'm so keyed up, I can't read. I know this is just a phase, but it is rather frustrating.
Thanks, Lisa! I have audiobooks, my Nook, and my smartphone, but I still cannot seem to concentrate long enough to read these days. I'm wondering if it isn't the books themselves…
I don't have the answer but when you figure it out, will you let me know? Thanks.
My recent post Books- August 2010 Recap
Much as I love to read, when my kids were your age, and I didn't even have blogging or the internet to take up time, I was lucky to finish a book a month. But even so, I have no idea how some people out there get through 3 or 4 books a week! I often wonder what I could give up. Can't give up work or cleaning. Have all but given up t.v. in lieu of reading already. The only thing left is family time and no book is that important!
My recent post The Crying Tree
Oh my goodness, I have this same problem! Now that school has started (I'm a teacher) and my kids are involved in dance and soccer and violin and piano, not to mention the kids I babysit after school, getting well-balanced meals on the table, baths and reading to my kids (this is an hour every night), I have found it hard to find the time as well. I was reading a book a day during break and now I have taken 6 days to finish one book. I look forward to seeing how you remedy this 😀
When my boys were young we took them to lots of activities, like you every evening we were busy with something. I decided to cut back, there was no point doing things just because everyone else was doing them. The boys ended up tired and what with schoolwork too, they had no time just to be themselves at home. But all families are different, that may not suit you.
I have the same problem! But here's my bit of a solution I have for myself.