Parent Magazine Flagler May 2022 | Page 29

Here are seven ways to make reading work for you today .
easier , but it ’ s like fast food -- it won ’ t fill you up . Be intentional about how you use your time .
1 . Read small . My first mistake after my second baby was thinking I could pick up a novel , turning pages late into the night . I needed to broaden the way I defined reading if I was going to make it work . Initially , magazines became my friend . With the easily consumable sections , I could leave them open on the table and come back to them whenever I had the chance . Finding short things you can put down easily and are easily accessible is key .
Magazines , short stories and blogs you love are great options . Don ’ t waste your precious time reading something you don ’ t love .
2 . Let them see you read . This is the best way to let go of the guilt associated with sitting down and reading . Understanding that your kids seeing you read sets a good example of being a reader and shows that mom can do things she loves too !
Reading in front of your kids will help set them up for a lifelong love of words .
3 . Choose wisely . I hinted at this above by starting small . You are tired . Time is limited . Your brain is on overload and the to-do list is never done . None of this is a surprise . So you have to be very picky . Don ’ t waste your time reading things you don ’ t love . Put a lousy book down . Maybe you ’ ll come back to it someday when your kids are in college . Maybe you won ’ t . Either way , you deserve to love what you read . You don ’ t have time for reading that is less than great !
5 . Set a goal . Sometimes we need a concrete goal to make something happen . Set a goal to read a certain number of books or for a certain amount of time each day . Make a list of books you ’ ve read this year . Make a To Be Read list . Make a sticker chart for your reading . Sometimes we all need a gold star . See how you can motivate yourself .
6 . Stay on topic . If you ’ re struggling with making the time , start by choosing parenting books . You can justify the learning as helping you raise your little people . The only warning with this is not to stay in parenting books forever . Being a mom is a huge part of who you are , and it will forever define you , but it is not the only part . Think of this as a baby step back to reading .
7 . Bring it with you . Keep a book in the car . Or your purse . Or the diaper bag . Or on your phone . It doesn ’ t matter what it is or where it is , as long as it travels with you . Take advantage of those five minutes at preschool pickup or the 10 minutes in the waiting room . Anthologies and devotional-style books work well for reclaiming these lost minutes .
You can find ways to make reading part of your life , even with little ones keeping you busy . Start with one thing and grow from there .
4 . Make it a choice . This is different than just choosing wisely . This is about being intentional with your time . Giving up even 10 minutes of social media scrolling gives you 10 minutes with words that can feed your soul . I know mindless feels
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