Share Our Lives: November 2025

Hello and happy Monday!

Well,, we went from fall to winter around here with temps now in the 30’s and a chance of snowflakes. Thankfully, it won’t last long.

It’s already the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting Share Our Lives with some of my favorite bloggers.

This year, we’ve discussed…

• Saving time on chores in January
• Tips for falling asleep in February
• Day in the life, an average day in March
• Creative outlets/free time in April
• How do you spend your birthday in May
• Unique things about where you live in June
• Best vacation memory in July
• How do you take a break in August
• 5 things we do each season in September
• Go to snacks in October

This month’s topic is…habits to make time for reading.

Well, whether you’ve read my blog once or one hundred times, you probably know that one of my favorite things to do is read a good book…

I grew up with parents who read and trips to the library often, and, to me, reading is such a gift!

Some of my favorite memories as a parent are the times I took my kids to the library for story time and to check out books in the summer, on a Saturday or a snow day from school.

My kids aren’t big readers now, but I hope one day they circle back and find the joy in books again.

Anyway, on to our topic for today…here are a few tips I have for making time for reading.

1. Routine

Making reading a part of your routine. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t read for even a few minutes. Most of the time, it’s at bedtime, so I end up drifting off, but just having a book or my Kindle on my bedside table or coffee table makes it easy for me to read for a few minutes.

2. Lists

I love when others share what they’ve been reading, and then I add book titles to my TBR (to be read) list. For years, I had a note on my phone with a running list of what I wanted to read and what I read, but three or four years ago, I started using the Goodreads app to track my lists and my reading. It’s fun to follow friends and see what they’re reading and how they rate books.

I also think it helps to read a variety. For years, I love chick lit, but now my favorite genre is historical fiction. That being said, I still love a good mystery as well as a memoir/bio/autobio. I think reading a mix of genres keeps reading interesting.

3. Reading Goals

I’m a pretty goal oriented person, and I’m somewhat motivated to see how many books I can read in a year. So, I’ve done the Goodreads challenge the past few years. There are a variety of challenges, but I just set a goal for the number of books I hope to read, and track that way. My goal is typically 40 books, and I come close to achieving the goal most years.

4. Maximize time

I used to exclusively read books, but now I’ve owned a Kindle for probably seven years. Now, I mostly read on my Kindle, but I still love to hold a book in my hands. The Kindle is just more convenient for me. I keep it in my purse to read when I’m waiting on my kids to finish a practice, and it’s easier to download a few books before a vacation than to lug books in my carry on.

Also, I’m still somewhat new to audio books, but they are another way that I maximize my time. Now, I can listen to a book when I workout, go for a walk, or while I’m in the car. I’m really starting to like listening to books, but I do find it hard to finish one in the two week library check out window…sometimes I have to listen to them on 1.75x speed! (Of course, some books can be renewed if they aren’t on a wait list, giving me more time)

5. Reduce distractions

It’s easy to get distracted, but when I’m reading, I do put my phone away or turn the television off. It’s just good for me to have a few moments of quiet to read for a bit to unwind. Reading is definitely a stress reliever for me and something I truly enjoy doing.

What good reading habits do you have?

Next month, we’ll have our last topic of 2025…staying connected with kids/spouse/significant other. As always, we hope you’ll join us.

I hope you have a great start to your week.

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