It's that time of the month again, to share some of my life and join in with the other Share Our Lives bloggers. This month the prompt is: Habits to make time for reading. This one seemed difficult for me at first as I am not a big reader of books until I started to think outside of the box, I read blogs and lots of them so thought I would go with that.
Life is busy and it’s amazing we have time to do anything fun but I always seem to make time to sit down each day and read some of my favourite blogs! There’s something so comforting about blog reading. It’s like catching up with a friend who always has something interesting, helpful or funny to say. Whether it’s tips, parenting stories, movie reviews or just someone’s weekend recap, I love it. It is sometimes it's hard to make time to read our favourite blogs but I came up with some ideas to help you out and get your blog fix!
Start your morning with a blog instead of social media!
I know I am sometimes guilty of scrolling on social media at the start of my day. Instead you could use that time productively. Try swapping that five or ten minutes for a blog reading instead. It’s a simple habit switch and it can make your morning feel calmer. I like reading blogs that inspire me or make me feel productive first thing on a morning. It’s a nicer start to the day than being bombarded by news stories and ads.
Use a blog reader app!
You can use blog reader apps like Feedly or Bloglovin’ so all your favourite blogs are in one place. You simply add the blogs you love to your list and whenever those sites post something new, it appears in your Feedly or Bloglovin feed. I prefer Feedly over Bloglovin. Feedly looks a bit intimidating at first but once you sign up and start adding blogs to your list it is quite simple to use. I have used Bloglovin it in the past and only stopped when it went down for a while a few years ago.
Set a time slot and treat it like an appointment!
This one sounds a bit formal but if you can carve out even 10 or 15 minutes a day and actually protect that time it makes all the difference. For me, I’ve claimed mid morning, everyone’s doing their own thing and I feel like I've earned a sit down after doing jobs around the house.
Use blog reading as a mini break!
Instead of reaching for snacks or doomscrolling when you’re feeling bored or need a sit down, read a blog post instead! It’s a quick mental reset that can leave you feeling inspired or at least a bit more cheerful.
Comment or Share!
When you read a blog and really enjoy it, leave a little comment or even share the post with someone you think would like it. It turns reading into a more interactive habit and you're more likely to remember what you read, go back for more and feel connected.
Declutter your blog list!
Sometimes we don’t make time to read blogs because we’re overwhelmed by how many we’ve bookmarked or followed. Give your blog list a little tidy up. Keep the ones that make you smile, teach you something or leave you feeling uplifted. When your reading list feels lighter you’ll be more inclined to dive in.
Pair it with something you already do!
If you want to read more blogs pair it with a habit you already have. Maybe you always have a cup of tea mid morning or like to unwind with a bath in the evening bring your phone or tablet and catch up on a post or two. When you link blog reading to a habit you already enjoy it becomes second nature.
Let go of the guilt!
Don’t feel bad if you don’t read every blog post by every blogger you love. Blogs are there to dip in and out of when it suits you. Some weeks you’ll read loads, other times none at all and that’s OK! The point is to enjoy it and not turn it into another item on the never ending list of things you should do.
I love reading posts from people all around the world and because of reading blogs and commenting I can now call some of those bloggers friends.
How do you manage reading other blogs?
I am linking up with:
Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.
Dara from Not In Jersey.
Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.
Joanne from Slices of Life.
Sarah from Toronto Sam.
I have implemented this kind of rythm, where I (have to ) read after dinner every night. That works reasonably well. It's not that I don' t love reading, because I really do. It's just that I often feel so restless.
ReplyDeleteI love this post Kim it's brilliant and full of useful tips. I did try Feedly but I couldn't seem to add any blogs to it, I do have a bookmark list full of my favourite blogs.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to catch up with what everyone is doing or even to see a new country or experience.
I do sometimes feel bad when I don't have enough time to read them all but I do what I can.
I find reading blogs very relaxing and I devote about 20 minutes each morning to reading and commenting. Then later at night I might read again. Nice post - thanks.
ReplyDeleteEverything you said here about blog reading is true! It's always fun to read about blogging and blog habits in a blog post :). Fun and meta!! Seriously, I agree with you on everything. Obviously I blog and enjoy it or I wouldn't do it. But as much as I like to write, I really like to interact with my favorite bloggers and get to know more about them and their environment. I've read so many novels based in England and feel that I've picked up a lot about the culture there from books but it wasn't until I started reading your blog that I've learned so many little things that I didn't know and am glad that I do!
ReplyDeleteGreat take on the prompt! I read blogs as part of my morning routine. I use Feedly, but sadly it's not pulling my blog anymore, so most people aren't seeing my updates!
ReplyDeleteAhh! I have noticed that with Feedly with some blogs, yours included I don't get your posts for about a week but then it will send them all in one day. It's weird.
DeleteI do actually read books - usually when I go to bed but other times as well if it's a good book. But I also love blogging although I struggle to make time for it some weeks. Plus it can be like going down a rabbit hole, one blog leads to another and another and.....I'm sure you get the picture lol. Some good tips in your post though. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi, I agree, I have been blogging since 2012, I love it! I have made so many friends. And continue to make new friends, like you. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy blog friends rallied around me during my son's deployment to Africa.
Great post Kim, thank you!!
Carla
I thought Bloglovin' had shut down years ago! I will definitely be adding some new blogs to my Bloglovin' feed-- it will save me so much time and memory from trying to visit those I want to read each day. I tend to have certain times of the day I read an comment--- usually first thing in the morning and then again mid to late afternoon.
ReplyDeleteA great post with lots of good advice, Kim! I use Feedly, and have for years. I often don't get to most folks until later in the day, but here I am! Sending a hug!
ReplyDelete