As parents, we spend a lot of time rushing around making sure that all of our kids’ needs are met. But what about us? What do you do to make sure that you’re fulfilled?
Today we’re working with Doctor’s Best to explore what it means to be living #MyBestLife in the midst of kids and chaos.
When I asked our contributor Janssen to name one thing she prioritizes for herself in order to live her best life, she instantly responded, “Reading!”.
This wasn’t a big surprise being that she’s a former children’s librarian. But still, I was curious about how she manages to pull it off with three young girls and a fourth on the way!
Read on for Janssen’s 5 tricks for fitting more reading into your life and be sure to stick around at the end for info. on how:
You could win $1000 of funding from Doctor’s Best to start living your best life!
Here’s Janssen…
As a life-long reader and librarian, books have played a huge part in my life.
And yet, with three little children (and another on the way), plus homeschooling, and running my house and a blog, it won’t come as any surprise that fitting in my own reading has become increasingly challenging.
Of course, I read a lot with my children, from a pile of board books before my toddler goes down for a nap, to an afternoon stack of new library picture books with my three-year-old, to a chapter of an elementary novel with my first-grader at bedtime.
Reading books on my own, however, takes significantly more effort to make happen. This past year, I’ve made some changes to my routines in order to spend more quality time reading since living my best life means making time for a good read.
Plus, with fall in full swing and winter around the corner, there’s nothing cozier than cuddling up with a great novel or a non-fiction title you can’t put down.
Here are five tricks for fitting in more reading, no matter how busy your life is. Bonus points if you read with a mug of hot cocoa.
#1 Ditch a book you aren’t enjoying.
I know so many readers who find it almost impossible to give up on a book (I feel that same guilt about closing a book unfinished), but nothing will kill your reading groove faster than a book you have no desire to pick up.
Better to return it to the library or put it back on the shelf and pick something else that actually makes you want to read. Reading is supposed to be fun – no shame if you’re reading a current bestseller instead of The Brothers Karamazov.
#2 Keep a couple of options readily available.
Even if you are enjoying a book, sometimes you need a change of pace. While a non-fiction title might be great, some days you just really want a novel that whisks you away from your everyday life for a few hours.
I like to keep a couple of options on my bedside table so that no matter what mood I’m in, I have a book that fits.
#3 Leave your phone in another room.
This was a game changer for me. It usually takes me about 5-10 minutes to get really immersed in a book, so if my phone is right next to me, it’s easy for me to pick it up after a few pages and then get sucked into things I didn’t really want to spend time on.
If my phone is in the kitchen while I read in bed, I’ll usually get drawn into the book much faster and read for a longer period of time. Similarly, if we walk to the neighborhood park in the afternoons, I’ll take my book and leave my phone at home so that I sit on a bench and read rather than scroll through Instagram while my girls dig giant holes in the sandbox.
#4 Read first.
You’ve probably had the experience of thinking, “I’ll just do a few quick things and then I’ll read for thirty minutes before bed.” But then suddenly it’s eleven and you’ve spent the whole night on your laptop.
Instead, once my girls are in bed, I try to read for at least 15-20 minutes before I do anything else. The dishes or laundry can wait a few extra minutes, and that email doesn’t need to be answered RIGHT now. Plus, once I’ve tasted reading for the night, it’s much easier to whip through things that need to be done and return to my book because I’m anxious to get back to reading.
#5 Give audiobooks a spin.
This is my absolute best secret weapon for squeezing in more reading. I download tons of audiobooks from my library or pick out a bestseller from Audible, and then I listen when I’m driving by myself or while I do laundry or dishes or some other mindless task.
Try listening at 1.5 or double speed, and you’ll be amazed how many books you fly through (and how much more motivated you are to clean the bathroom so you can listen a little longer).
Doctor’s Best #MyBestLife Contest
I hope Janssen’s words got you thinking – what could you do a little more of to be living your best life?
One thing we all know helps us live our best life is to take our vitamins and stay as healthy as possible. Physician-founded in 1990, Doctor’s Best is a science-based nutritional supplement company, offering more than 200 products that are thoroughly researched and tested to the highest quality standards.
That’s important, because not all vitamins and supplements are created equal.
I’ve started taking a multivitamin as well as fish oil and probiotics daily, and I really appreciate that Doctor’s Best isn’t interested in fads, trends, or quick fixes. They’re interested in science-based nutrition. They want to know what works, how it works, and why it works, well before they decide to manufacture or sell a product.
They collaborate with nutritional scientists who are developing new ingredients and study their clinical findings to determine the most effective way to provide the desired results.
And speaking of results…
Doctor’s Best is excited to announce their #MyBestLife Contest.
Ready to share a photo of your “Best Life” for a chance to win a customized Grand Prize package valued over $1,000?
To enter, simply upload a photo that represents your “Best Life” via Twitter or Instagram using the designated #MyBestLife.
Additionally, four runners-up will each receive a Doctor’s Best vitamin package worth $100.
See full contest rules and restrictions here, then get that camera out and show us what #MyBestLife means to you!
*This post is sponsored by Doctor’s Best, all opinions are 100% our own.
Get Your Free Printable
Subscribe to our newsletter today and get our free printable... No More, "Mom, I'm Bored!"
Janssen
Latest posts by Janssen (see all)
- Top 10 Parenting Books for Raising Boys - July 22
- Honk! Books for Your Truck/Train/Car-Loving Child - March 25
- 10 St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids - March 10