So when I first started University, I dragged a pile of my TBR books with me to my student accommodation. Because of course there will be loads of free time right? Wrong. Whether it’s actually going to uni, doing uni work, socialising, having a part time job, or just you know not doing anything really, there’s not a lot of time left to read. I think I only read about 1 book that year. I was really annoyed about this actually, because I love to read, so during the summer and going into my second year I decided to read more. Here’s how I did it.
1. Carry books at all times
Now, you dont need to carry that massive 600 page book you’ve been trying to read everywhere, but carrying small paperbacks or investing in an e-reader are good choices. I started buying the Penguin Little Black Classics* which are short easy reads to just put in your handbag. I also have the kindle app on my phone, as I dont actually own an E-reader. But this means I always have something I can read on me, so whenever I have spare time between lectures or something I can read.
2. Prioritise your time
So, you think you dont have enough time to read? Do you spend hours binge watching Netflix? Or hours scrolling through social media? Yes? Then yes you do have enough time to read, you just need to prioritise some of this time towards reading. Cut down one episode of Netflix per day and you can get a good chunk of a book read. Or you can do what I do and read while watching Netflix and confuse yourself. Every. Damn. Time.
3. Schedule time
Similar to above but a bit more specific. Schedule your time for when you want to read. If you want to read more, I would suggest telling yourself to read before bed. One, you might actually go to bed at a reasonable hour, as being away from a screen is proven to help you sleep better. Two, you will get used to it as a habit to read before bed, therefore making you read more.
