Welcome to August and another awesome Create Your Future post. This month and next month we are slowing things down. We are focusing on self-care for busy moms. One of the statements we hear over and over again is, “I love reading, I just don’t have time to read.” Sound familiar? I have always challenged that statement because it simply isn’t true. The truth is that you aren’t making reading a priority. You may know that I carry a book with me everywhere and fit in reading when I can. Today, I’m going to show you how to embrace a habit of reading and let you in on why it is my habit goal this month.

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{The Boys Room Update posts will continue next week in case you are searching for that.}

How to Fit in Reading

There are many times that you can fit in reading that you might currently be overlooking. To utilize them, I recommend downloading a free reading app to your phone or carrying a book in your purse like I do.

Kids’ Practices – I love watching my kids have fun playing but I do not need to watch the same football drill 1,000 times. This is a perfect time to enjoy reading a book.

Waiting – Any time that you are at the doctor’s office, Starbucks, or the like and you have a long wait, pull out your book and read.

Facebook – Speaking of Starbucks, a lot of people pull up Facebook while they wait for their coffee. Any time that you are free to play on Facebook is time that you are free to read. Try to start small and replace one time of day that you would normally surf Facebook feeds with reading.

Kids Playing – I am a huge fan of spending time with the kids. Laughing, playing, and creating with them on a regular basis is important. It is also important to let them play independently. Take them in the backyard on a sunny day and let them play while you read on the deck.

[bctt tweet=”Find out how to embrace a habit of #reading with these awesome tips and tricks!” username=”diyadulation”]

Why Reading is My August Goal

As I said above, I love reading and do so frequently. If that is the case then why do I need to form a reading habit? This is actually a lead-in to next month’s habit of a set bedtime. My plan is to read, in bed, 30 minutes prior to sleeping. Reading before bed will help train my body that reading in bed is a trigger for sleep. More importantly, like many work-at-home moms, I am exhausted at the end of the day. I want to form a new way of decompressing after the kiddos are in bed that doesn’t involve Netflix.

Tips to Keep From Reading All Night

Have your ever been so enthralled in a book that you end up staying up until it is finished or sleep takes hold unbidden? This has happened to me more time than I care to admit. That is why I got out of the habit of reading before bed. So how can you stick to that reading time-frame and still get sleep? Here are 3 tips to help you:

1. Alarm – Set a very quiet alarm on your phone that will play soft music or soothing sounds. You want it just loud enough to get your attention without startling you.
2. Sticky Note – Determine where you will stop before reading and mark it with a sticky note. It won’t fall out while you read and you can see how quickly you are approaching it (making it easier to accurately mark in the future).
3. Light Timer – This one is great because it forces you to stop reading however you won’t have the opportunity to get to a good stopping point (like the end of a chapter). Put your bedside lamp on a timer so that it automatically turns off when it is time to sleep.

Now you know how to embrace a habit of reading in your life. Feel free to share these tips with any friend that claims not to have time to read. Think of how many amazing stories you can experience when you are reading every day! You can always reach out to me if you ever need recommendations. I am currently reading “In the Woods” by Tana French and it is fabulous. What book are you currently reading? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

See where I’m linking up!

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