Can’t Find The Time To Read Books? Try This Instead.

Can’t find the time to read?

Do you wish you could read more but don’t know where to squeeze it in?

At the time of writing this, I’ve just begun book number 16 in the space of 11 weeks.

Before this, I was barely squeezing in one book every six months. I so badly wanted to learn but I just had no idea to how to go about it.

Then, lockdown began.

I could no longer go to the gym in the mornings, and since I was injured, I also had to scale back running and begin walking more.

As much as I like walking, I don’t love it. I wanted to find a way to make it enjoyable and it was through a conversation with a some friends, that the idea of trying audio books came up.

Yes, they’ve been around for the longest time, but it’s something I never thought I would enjoy as much as reading.

Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong!

I starting listening to books on my morning walks and I was hooked immediately!

Can’t find the time to read? Listening to books is not cheating.

In one sense, I guess I always thought of listening to books as cheating. I thought I wouldn’t get the same benefit in listening to them as reading them.

But, if anything, I would argue that you probably get more from the book by listening to it over reading.

Think about it. We’ve been listening to stories far longer than we have been reading.

Written communication is by comparison a relatively new means of taking in knowledge.

Listening has been around far longer.

If you look at the research, there’s so very little difference between the benefits of reading versus listening that it truly doesn’t matter. It all comes down to personal preference.

And I say, don’t knock it until you try it. Ultimately if you’re learning, it shouldn’t really matter the means by which you learn.

The book I’m reading at the moment is called ‘Limitless’ by Jim Kwik which is all about increasing your brain power. To quote him:

“If knowledge is power, then learning is your Super Power.”

Jim Kwik

Now, I will say this, I don’t think listening to fiction will be for me but I will certainly give it a go.

All the books I’ve listened to so far have been non-fiction and those I would say are idea for listening to on a walk.

If so far this sounds like something you would like to try, in order to find the time to read, then here’s a few things I’ve learned doing this daily which may prove useful to you.

Use good quality headphones

I recently brought a new set of Airpods Pro to replace my older Airpods. On my older set of original Airpods, listening to books wouldn’t have been practical. This was because the volume just wouldn’t be able to go high enough.

The Airpods Pro have the noise cancelling feature, and have the in-ear design, making them more practical for listening to books.

You will therefore be able to hear the words when it’s noisy, and pay attention to the meaning.

Make notes on your return.

Once I finish my morning walk/run and I return home, I make any notes that I want to remember for use later.

I memorise as much as I can on my walk and then recall what I can later on.

It’s actually and additional hack as it forces me to use hone my memory too. More tips here – https://www.missiontolearn.com/remember-what-you-hear/

Increase the speed.

The best thing about audio books is you can increase the speed.

You can probably listen faster than you can read (unless you are particularly adept at speed reading), which makes this option practical for quick learning.

I use Audible, which has the feature to increase the listening speed. I’m sure other audiobook platforms have that too.

Set it to the speed that you feel is just right for you and you’ll be able to get through an an average length book in around a week.

This way, if you previously couldn’t find the time to read, you will be able to squeeze in more.

Get dirty and do it anywhere.

Listen to books while you do the dirty laundry.

Listen to books while you do the dishes. While you’re cleaning, grab your headphones and learn.

Listen to your books while sat in traffic or driving along.

You can literally do it anytime, anywhere. Use those moments in your day, where generally the time gets wasted, and use them wisely.

Listen to non-fiction

I haven’t tried to listen to fiction books but I’ve listening to a few biographies and they were so enjoyable to get lost in while walking.

I’ve also listened to several personal development books too and they were empowering and made me feel energised.

A friend asked about that as he feels charged by energetic music. I would say, I felt equally as pumped by listening to a good book, as I do by music.

Can’t find the time to read? Get listening instead now!

Not being able to find the time to read shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the incredible gift that books will bring to your life.

I can’t tell you just how much I’ve not only enjoyed these past 10 weeks, but also how much I’ve learned too.

So if you’ve not been been able to find the time to read, give audiobooks a go, and don’t knock it before you try it.

I was totally sceptical but after the first book, I was hooked!

I even now listen in my car, on the way to the studio and even when I’m out shopping.

Are you ready to give it a try? Have you felt like it’s cheating? Share your thoughts below in the comments.