Comments on: Finding the Time

By: Admin AAR

Admin AAR — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:22:49 +0000

LOL, Robin – my kids get a home cooked meal on Sundays. And occasionally on my other days off. I didn’t intend for them to consume quite this much Kraft macaroni and Stoeffer’s french bread pizza.

By: Robinaar

Robinaar — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:34:13 +0000

Ah this piece rang a bell for me. I also worked for AAR for years while working from home. And I also figured that I was reading in mother’s TV time. For that matter I felt the same way about cooking. I cooked many pots of stew wondering why my kids friend were eating frozen dinners.

Now I have a full time job with a three hour commute. I know exactly why.

I still read a lot but nothing like the 120 a year I once knocked out. I read on the Washington DC Metro –Washington Post in the morning/ books at night. I’ve been known to miss my stop. I also listen to books at night. It’s a great way to stop obsessing about the office.

By: CindyS

CindyS — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:47:41 +0000

I have no kids and no job but I watch way too much TV and am on the computer for large amounts of time also. In the summer we have a pool so we have people over all the time.

I laugh about reading before going to sleep – there is a reason I’m up at night. I don’t know how you put a book down if it has really grabbed you. I remember when I lived at home my mother’s light and my light would be on until the wee hours in the morning – I only read in the summer months because I can’t be without sleep.

I have always been a slow reader also and a normal book will take me 8 straight hours to read. Knowing this, I don’t like to start books too close to bed time because I know I won’t stop reading. I also don’t like interruptions so reading before company comes is always a hassle.

But I knew I had to do something so now whenever I end up at Home Depot with my husband, I sit in the car and read. If the story catches my attention then I’m my likely to keep reading but again, the smallest thing can get my attention away from the book.

My plan this year after the Annual Poll is to go and read the winners from the previous years (that’s how far behind I am in reading) and then try and find new auto-buy authors. I know it’s bad when I see recommendations for authors I’ve never heard of.

CindyS

By: Barbara B

Barbara B — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:04:51 +0000

I have a job that is requiring me to work 10-12 hours a day plus a lot of time on the weekends so reading has really slowed down. This is a short term problem but in order to get some reading in, I do it while on the treadmill. I can read about 70 pages while walking my 2.5-3 miles.

By: Blythe

Blythe — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:18:04 +0000

I’d had the kindle app on my phone for years, but I just never use it. I don’t like reading on such a tiny screen. However, I basically always have a book with me, either a hard copy, my nook, or ipad.

By: LinnieGayl

LinnieGayl — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:06:32 +0000

Like several people here mentioned the way I squeeze in more reading is with audio books. I used to read print (or ebooks) in bed for an hour or two each night. Now I find my eyes too tired lots of nights to do that. So instead I turn on whatever book I’m listening to.

During the work week I try and squeeze in reading when I can. I now try to read at least 15-20 minutes each day at lunch when I work. If the weather is nice, I’ll go for a walk and listen to an audiobook. If the weather is lousy I’ll sit at my desk and read on the Kindle app on my phone (it looks like I’m just checking my mail so no one questions me).

I keep adding the times and activities that I listen to audiobooks. When I first started I just listened while driving. Now I listen while walking anywhere, grocery shopping, shopping in the mall or other stores, cleaning my home, sitting in doctors’ offices for appointments, etc., etc.

Adding the Kindle app to my phone (something I always have with me) also allows me to squeeze in more reading.

By: lauren

lauren — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 14:43:45 +0000

Depending on the size of the book I read at least 2 a week, always in bed at night and sometimes all night long. Its does make for a strange next day however. I prefer the written word to audio but I am trying to use my elliptical more and the audio book does serve a good purpose to getting my butt on the thing.

By: Holly Bush

Holly Bush — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 12:59:11 +0000

I found it hard when my kids were young with a full-time job to read more than one or two books a week and I learned then if I didn't like the book after some reasonable amount of time there was no use wasting my precious 45 minutes a day on reading it. I watch very little TV, but still work full-time and my job requires lots of technical reading and lots of mental work. Truthfully, my eyes are too tired for pleasure reading when I come home sometimes! Never had that problem when I was young. But when I'm on vacation - look out! I'm in my beach chair listening to the ocean reading a book by 8 am every morning!

VictoriaS: George C. Scott in “A Christmas Carol” is my all time fave).

I love George C. Scott in 'A Christmas Carol' although Jimmy Stewart in 'It's a Wonderful Life' is a tie for me.

By: Blythe

Blythe — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 06:17:20 +0000

I am thinking of listening to more books. I went from a seven minute commute each way to 35-40 minutes. I definitely have more time in the car. I’ve been listening to all the Harry Potter books (again) but could definitely branch out.

By: Lynn M

Lynn M — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 04:10:13 +0000

Yes, I got a Nook last Christmas, and I absolutely love it. I’m trying really hard to buy e-books instead of paper copies simply so that I can try to get some control over my overflowing shelves and stacks. And I do love being able to read later at night than I used to because I either had to turn out the light so my husband could sleep or deal with an awkward, klutzy book light.

I am finding one problem with my Nook, though. Now, whenever I read a review of a book I think I might enjoy, I download a sample of it to the Nook so that I can give it a try. But it seems like I end up buying 9 out of every 10 samples I download! It’s just so easy to read an on-line review, click the mouse a few times and have the book on my Nook. At least with paper books, I’d have to order from Amazon or go to the bookstore so at least put some effort into it. My other vice is Paperback Swap. While I do get rid of books, I gain credits that means more books coming in. At least those are used and relatively “free”.