How I Make Time to Read As a Mom
Motherhood means the end to our hobbies, right? No! I think that’s garbage. Of course, we might have to be more strategic about how we pursue our hobbies, but we don’t have to give up on them altogether.
If you know me at all, you’re probably aware that I love to read. I always have. And I didn’t want to quit reading just because I now stay home to care for my daughter.
I recently had a friend ask how I manage to read now that I’m a mom. This friend is also a mom, and I think she was having a hard time adding reading into her life in the ways she used to, so she felt a little stuck.
I shared some tips with her, and I wanted to share them with you, too!
Not all of these tips work in every season or for every person, but hopefully you can find some that help you!
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What things helped me read more after having my baby:
Listening to audiobooks on walks.
Listening to audiobooks while driving to the grocery store, appointments, coffee dates, play dates, church, etc.
Listening to audiobooks while doing the dishes or cleaning the house.
Listening to audiobooks while grocery shopping (or doing any shopping).
Listening to audiobooks during nighttime nursing sessions (bonus, this kept me awake better!).
Reading ebooks on my phone while I’m waiting instead of scrolling social media or checking my email.
Reading ebooks on my phone or Kindle while nursing during the day.
Reading ebooks on my Kindle after my daughter goes to bed — nap time and at night (though I also use some of that time to watch tv; it’s a balance ;).
The biggest resources to make this happen were the following tools:
The Libby app on my phone, connected to two regional library systems, both for ebook and audiobook borrowing.
My Kindle Fire (2nd generation, gifted to me in 2012 from my parents; I’m finally about to replace it, but it’s been going strong!)
Wireless headphones for all the audiobook listening; I like having just one in at a time to maximize the battery life and also make sure I can pay attention to what’s going on around me.
Goodreads to track my reading. I know there are lots of ways to track reading, and this is just what works for me!
And a few other tips that will likely improve your reading life:
Don’t be afraid to DNF (do not finish/did not finish) a book: Many people feel obligated to finish what they’ve started, and that can extend to books. But life is too short to worry about powering through a book that isn’t for you in this season. This is your permission to put it down if it’s not working.
Look for books that are compelling to you, whatever that means. Pay attention to what you like, and then look for more of that. A certain time period, writing style, location, romance trope, genre, or other descriptor can help you find more good books for you.
Find good sources for book recommendations. I love listening to Anne Bogel’s What Should I Read Next? podcast, and I know there are other podcasts and resources out there, too. You also could get recs from friends and family!
Consider borrowing books to reduce your spending and any associated guilt. Does anyone else feel guilty for buying a book they didn’t finish? It’s one of the reasons I have transitioned to almost exclusively borrowing books instead of buying them. I love the Libby app for both ebooks and audiobooks, and I enjoy borrowing books from friends as well. It widens my reading without emptying my bank account.
There you go! 8 simple tips I used for reading more as a new mom. I hope you found them helpful!
