8 Tips for Balancing Personal Reading and a Busy Schedule

I've made a few posts on similar topics, but I thought I'd make a more specific post on another, related aspect. Since, at this point, most students are back in school, and many are back working in full force, setting aside time for personal reading during a busy schedule.

Please remember the following: A "busy schedule" doesn't look the same for two people. Yes, two people can work the same hours at the same job or have the same class schedule. However, there are always activities going on outside of their work or class schedules that keep those two people busy in different ways.

Here are 8 tips for balancing personal reading and a busy schedule.

Tip 1: Write down or type up your schedule and put it in an easily accessible place.

Your schedule can include as much or as little as you'd like - cleaning, cooking, working, etc. However, setting it up, and putting it in a place you'll regularly check (wall, calendar, planner, or another place), will help you see what needs to be done and when.

Tip 2: Review your schedule and see what the best time for reading is.

This is why having your schedule set up in a place you'll check regularly (daily, multiple times a day) will help you figure out when the best reading times are for you. Whether that's the morning at breakfast, right before bed, or sometime in between then, you can consistently read a personal book at the same time each day.

Tip 3: Take advantage of each and every book format.

This really helps once you figure out what time of day works best for you to do some personal reading. If you're reading as you eat, maybe use an audiobook or ebook. If you read after you wake up in the morning or in the evenings before you go to sleep, then a physical book is a good option. However, taking advantage of every book format will help you in the long run.

Tip 4: Set yourself a reading limit per day.

This may seem a bit weird, mainly because you want to read as much as you can every day. However, setting yourself a reading limit per day is one of the most beneficial tips on this list (in my opinion). Before a busy day, you want to relax so you can rest up before your day at work or school. After a busy day, you want to settle down and take it easy. And reading too much before, during, or after a busy day can tire you out even more than you may be.

Tip 5: Don't rush your reading.

This is a similar tip to Tip 4 and is just as beneficial. Not rushing your reading can help you enjoy the book even more. And if you rush your reading on top of a busy schedule, you can mentally exhaust yourself. So not rushing your reading can help you take it easy during a busy schedule.

Tip 6: If you feel like you can go over your reading limit, then you can do it. But don't push yourself.

Tip 4 is very useful, but if you feel like you can go over your reading limit, then go for it. However, you don't need to push yourself to do go over your reading limit on a particular day. Even if it's just a couple of pages over or 100 pages, go for it. But, as I've mentioned quite a few times now, don't force it.

Tip 7: Remember that it's okay to not hit your reading limit.

Similarly, but contrary, to Tip 6, if you're really can't hit your reading limit, that's perfectly okay. You don't have to hit your reading limit. You don't even have to read every single day. You need to approach your reading limit with a touch of spontaneity because every day is different, even with a normal, busy schedule.

Tip 8: Save anticipated reads for any breaks or vacations in your schedule.

You can do what you want with your anticipated reads. However, I do recommend saving them for when you have a lull in work or school, a break, or a vacation. That way, you can thoroughly enjoy your anticipated reads even more.