Finding time to read as a parent can be a challenge. But not impossible. Learn how to get back to being a “reader” again!

Do you remember when you were 16 and you could read a 300-page book in a weekend? And you devoured the latest novels from Dean Knootz, Christopher Pike, or R.L. Stine. (I know I’m dating myself here with these authors.)

Or how your favorite space to be is wandering through a bookstore or library, carrying more books than you can read (or afford). I bet we’d bump into each other, right?

But now that you’re a parent, getting through a book is almost impossible. Because you can’t stay awake long enough to read more than a page at night since your baby keeps waking up every 2 hours.

Or when you do find a moment to read during the day, your kids decide to start an epic battle over the green truck no one cared about yesterday.

But taking time to read as a parent is a form of self-care.

So with some simple mindset shifts in how you look at your time and taking advantage of the time you have, you’ll reclaim the joy of reading again.

The steps to finding time to read when you have a baby or kids.

Gamify reading by signing up for a reading challenge.

Whether you do this through Goodreads, with your local library, or at home, there’s something magical about making reading a game.

When my daughter participated in the library’s summer reading challenge, they gave her a poster she colored in each time she finished 20 minutes. It was super motivating! Every day she’d ask how many books she could color in.

You could make your own “reading poster” and color it in as you go. There are loads of free printables on the internet.

Goodreads has a yearly reading challenge. And as you log in the books you’ve read, it’ll tell you how close you are to achieving your reading goal. You can even look at past challenges to see the number of pages and books you read!

Have a handful of books ready to read.

Always have books on standby. These can be hard copies, digital, or a combo. Whatever you prefer.

There are several ways you can do this without spending boatloads of money. 

First, your library is your friend. Put several books on hold so you have a group to choose from. Or make use of your library's digital collection.

If trying to read books in the 2-week checkout period is too much pressure, buy books. But you don’t have to spend your entire paycheck on books (though it’d be so easy).

Thriftbooks or Amazon for used books. You can also check out your local Goodwill (some even sell used books on Amazon!) or a local used bookstore like Half Price Books.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get one free digital book through Amazon First Reads. I’ve read some great books from these free promotions and discovered new favorite authors.

Don’t take days to start your next book.

I don’t know about you, but if I love a book, I like to bask in the afterglow. Sometimes to mourn the characters I no longer get to read. Sometimes to think about plot lines or read what others had to say online.

And then I’d try to find a book that was similar. And it could take me a week (or more) to settle on my next book. But then I’d lost all that momentum.

No more! Instead, choose your next title and Just. Start. Reading.

And give the story at least 50 pages to catch your attention. If you don’t like it, it’s okay to close the book and try out a new one. Don’t waste your precious time on a book you don’t love.

Always have your book nearby.

There are 2 ways to do this.

Have your reading app on your home screen.

Have you ever tracked the time you spend on social media? I have. And when I did, I realized what a time suck it was.

Now, I’m not bashing social media. As parents, we all need moments where we can disengage in a way that doesn’t require much brain power.

But would you rather spend 2 hours a day on social media or 2 hours reading a book?

To trick yourself into scrolling less and reading more, have your top reading apps front and center on your phone. Mine are Kindle and Medium.

And every time you reach for your phone to have a mental break, you’ll jump into reading a new article or your new digital download instead.

Keep your book next to your phone.

If you’re reading a physical book, keep it near your phone whenever you’re home. 

Every time you grab your phone, you’ll see your book. And then you’ll have the option to read instead. 

Now, I don’t always grab my book. Sometimes I make deals with myself. 10 minutes of reading and then 10 minutes of social. And then I set a timer. But I read first because we all know how easy it is to get lost watching videos of cats or toddlers dancing.

Embrace the time confetti.

I know you want to sit and read for an hour (and that day will come again). But if you have little kids or a baby, your life is time confetti.

Lean into it and find time to read in the little pockets of time:

• Have 10 minutes while the kids play in the bath? Read your book (while you sit away from the splash zone). 

• Have a baby? Read your book out loud. It’ll be good for their language skills.

• Find yourself early for school pickup or wandering the toy aisles with your kids? Read (this is when having a digital book is super helpful!).

• Kids watching a show? Read. Seriously, there are only so many episodes of Wild Kratts you can watch.

• Have an older kid starting chapter books? Read together! You now have a mini book club.

Everything is progress when it comes to finding time to read.

Even a few minutes here or there COUNTS!

Let me know how these tips work out for you in the comments. 

And if you have your own tips for finding time to read, let us know. We want to learn from you too!

(And if nothing is working and you just need a space to complain because your kids are time-stealing gremlins and life is “lifing.” That’s cool too. We’re here for you!)

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