Taking Time to Read

A few weeks ago, I participated in a craft fair at the high school I graduated from – a long time ago. I had a table set up where I displayed my four Malone mysteries, signing and selling them. I very much appreciate those readers who bought them. But, I got the following responses from several people. Words I, and probably every other author in the world, has heard many times.

“I used to love to read but I don’t have time now.”

“I’m in school and all of my reading is text books.”

“I have three young children and no time to read.”

“My job is so demanding. I don’t have time to read.”

Which presented me with the topic for this week’s post: Taking Time to Read.

Here’s a plain and simple fact: We can’t “make” more time. We all have the same twenty-four hours in each of our days and, I will grant you, how we spend those hours is largely dictated by our responsibilities. Life is complicated and demanding for most of us. We need to take care of business first but we also need to take time to do the things we enjoy. All work and no play. . . .  For me and many others, that includes reading in the genre of our choosing.

So, I’ve presented the problem: we’re all busy. Since I believe in focusing on solutions, rather than problems, here are a few suggestions for those of you who want to read but believe you don’t have the time.

1.    Waiting time can be reading time. All of us occasionally go to the doctor and the dentist, places where we usually have to wait. Instead of idly thumbing through a magazine or sitting there tapping your foot, why not bring a book with you?

2.    Schedule time to read into your day. Most of us have a schedule to keep and we somehow manage to do that. What if we included reading time in our schedules?

3.    Soaking in the tub is relaxing and therapeutic. Why not read while you soak?

4.    Turn off the TV at a designated time every evening – and use that time to read.

5.    Another TV option is turning it off when you find yourself flipping through the channels with nothing good to watch. Instead of spending your time that way, you could be reading.

Until next week, Happy Reading!

The Need to Disconnect

When someone asks for my cell phone number and I tell them I don’t have a cell phone, they almost always look at me as if I have two heads. It’s inconceivable to them that, in this day and age, a person would choose not to have a cell phone. Every time this happens, I’m smiling because, to me, it’s inconceivable that anyone would choose to be “on call” all of the time. I know. I know. You can always turn it off. But, how many people do?

This desire, this need, to be connected all of the time baffles me because that’s the last thing I want. Please don't misunderstand; I enjoy being around people and talking to my friends but I prefer to be where I am with the people who are there. If someone wants to contact me, they can reach me at home when I'm home or leave a message on my voice-mail if I'm not and I'll get back to them. Most of the time, it’s not all that urgent. If it would be a matter of life or death, since I'm not God, I probably couldn’t do anything about it anyway.

Several years ago, I went on vacation with a friend who was constantly either making or taking a call on her cell phone. First of all, I thought it was extremely rude but, more than anything, I felt sorry for her. She lacked the ability to disconnect, to leave problems and idle gossip behind and enjoy her time away from work and family obligations. And she wondered why she was always stressed and frazzled.

So much of our time is spent taking care of responsibilities (job, children, elderly parents, etc.) and dealing with reality that I think it’s important – make that crucial – to take time out to escape. Of course, we’re all different. Some people need more time to themselves than others but I think everyone needs to disconnect sometimes. To have uninterrupted time to themselves. I'm not talking about watching TV, listening to music or even reading a book. I'm talking about time to daydream. Time to recharge their batteries. Time to just be. Quiet time without anyone around and definitely without the sound of a phone announcing that someone is calling or texting.

Do you take the time to have “alone” time or do you prefer to be “connected” to other people all or most of the time? Just wondering.