No time to read?

NO TIME TO READ???

Several weeks ago I met with a friend that I haven't seen for 9 years. We had a great reminiscing and catching up on what was happening in our lives. After a while she told me that she had my book, Mark of Royalty, but that she hadn't read it yet. That's okay. I'm not offended by a long shot. After all, there are several books on my list that I've "been meaning to get to". But then she continued to tell me how busy she was and that she never finds time to read. In fact, it's been years since she's been able to read a novel. I had a hard time keeping my jaw from dropping to the floor at her declaration, and I felt sad. No time to read? I can totally relate to being busy, but surely there can still be time to read. I found myself really wishing I could find some time for my friend. What I did find was some great articles on the subject.

Kenny Silva posted an article: Leaders are Readers. He states that the average American reads 3-6 books a year. That same average American will also watch about 35 hours of television… this week! Hmmmmm, that's interesting. He also suggests making a reading plan. It's easy to do once you consider these facts:

• The average adult reads at about 300 words per minute.
• A 200-page book comes in at right around 80,000 words.
• Using that standard, it takes the average adult reader about 4.5 hours to read a book.

Let’s be liberal with the numbers and say it takes you 7 hours to read a book. That gives you plenty of time to slow down, reflect, take notes, etc.

Take a look at your schedule and see how much time you can carve out for reading each day.

• A half an hour a day comes out to 2-3 books a month/26 a year.
• 15 minutes each day means 1-2 books a month/13 books a year.

That’s right. 15 minutes of reading each day will put you on track to read 4 times as many books as the average American reader.

I've mentioned before that I try to read 27 books a year, or about 1 every 2 weeks. I usually go over. But I admit, sometimes I go in waves. I have a dry spell and then suddenly I find myself completing 2 or even 3 books in a week. But, sadly, that bliss cannot be repeated every single week. Eventually my kids will need fed and the laundry can only be piled so high before it hits the ceiling. In a perfect world, there would be more books and no laundry. I can daydream, can't I?

Okay, kidding aside, I just sucked myself into the "I don't have time" excuse. But life and laundry aren't so pressing that I can't manage to carve 15 minutes out of my day--even during my dry spells. 

But what if you were REALLY busy--like a CEO? They're busy right? Did you know that the average CEO reads 4 to 5 books a month? I'm telling you--leaders are readers.

“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, 

or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”

^{- Confucius}