Why Timing Can Be Everything

​       Have you ever completed a book and thought any of the following?

• I still am not sure who this character is…
• Why is this event important?
• It’s not that the book wasn’t enjoyable, but I don’t think I liked it…

       If you have, then you are probably suffering from an ill-timed read (Diagnosed by Ashton Smith Re.D. [Doctor of Reading lol]). Sometimes you start reading a book that is supposed to be REALLY GOOD, but you happen to start it at a

​time of your life when you only read ten pages at a time. Maybe work gets busy, or finals are coming up, but you get about halfway through a book and still don’t feel like you’ve been immersed in the story yet. I think every reader can understand this problem; all you want to do is sit down and read, but you can’t.
       The struggle for me is real with this issue, since my final exams are this week, so I thought I would share a few tips on how to combat the “Bad Timing Read.”

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1. Schedule in a Specific “Reading Time”

       Life can get busy in a hurry, and sometimes you look up and all your reading time has been washed down the drain. One of the easiest ways to get some time to sit down and read is to actually schedule it on your calendar. If you set aside a chunk of time and tell yourself that it’s only for reading, you will be able to fully submerge yourself into the story and enjoy it a little bit. It's also a perfect activity if you want to take a break from a work or study session.

2. Buddy Read

       If you know you’re about to hit a busy patch in your daily life, and you know someone who has been wanting the same as you, consider buddy-reading a book! When I’m busy, and I do get a free moment, I usually end up doing something mindless like scrolling on my phone or watching YouTube. I have found, though, that if I am reading a book with someone else, even if we only plan to read a little bit of the book each day, I still make those few pages a priority. Even though I’m not reading a bunch during a buddy read, I’m reading more than I would otherwise.

3. Start an AUDIO BOOK

       Busy comes in two varieties: the one where we have to use our brains, and the one where we don’t. If you actually have to think about what you’re doing, like problem-solving or studying, then this tip isn’t the most helpful. However, if you are busy doing something mindless or have a time in your day when you listen to music, replace the music with an audiobook. It’s a perfect way to read if you are stuck doing a mindless task. If you don’t do anything that doesn't require your full attention during your busy schedule, but you workout or drive at some point during your day, you can also use an audiobook then. You’ll be amazed by how much you can read by just listening.

4. Set it Down

       Sometimes, life gets too crazy. You look up, and it has been a week since you have even touched that book you were reading (and that’s okay). If you’re only a few pages or chapters into a book, it might be worth your time and effort to set the book down for a while until you have the time you need to enjoy a story. While you’re waiting for things to calm down but you still want to read something, you can always pick up a small book or something you know you will be able to read in small pieces. I recommend short story anthologies, small nonfiction books (I recommend The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy for all you nerds out there), or poetry books. If you needed an excuse to get to these books, here it is. You’re welcome.

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       I hope that you can incorporate at least one of these tips into your busy life. If you have any other advice that you use to get books read, be sure to leave it in the comments below!

Your busy reader,
Ashton

No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.

— Atwood H. Townsend