Top Ten Tuesday: Things Getting in the Way of Reading

There are so many things getting in the way of reading! Some of which I love to do and wouldn’t change my daily schedule for, while others are must-dos like work, chores, etc. These things I do begrudgingly and would 100% prefer to be reading! And of course, there are days that I ignore the pile of dishes in my sink and find a cozy nook to read in instead. Here are ten things getting in the way of reading right now.

Things Getting in the Way of Reading

Time at the Rock Gym

I started rock climbing almost a year and a half ago and I’ve become completely obsessed! If you had told me two years ago I’d actually enjoy and want to go to the gym, I would have looked at you like you had two heads! Rock climbing is the best of both worlds – it’s a really great activity to increase strength and I love feeling so strong, plus it’s also very much a mental sport that forces you to get out of your head and focus on the wall. After COVID, I really needed something like this that was something I did just for me and I love it. My partner and I go at least 2-3 times a week and climbing is an activity that usually takes a couple of hours each session.

Full-time Job

If I had a nickel for every time someone said, “I’d love to be a librarian and read all day…” I’d probably be pretty rich. Unfortunately, although I’m surrounded by books daily, I rarely spend time reading at work. And as a director, I’m often working extra hours to help cover the desk, waiting for delivery, helping with programming, meetings, etc.

Blogging

I love my blog and in fact, I’m working on a new project that has me really excited (I’m not quite ready to announce what it is yet), but boy does it take up some of my time. I usually spend at least an hour if not more a day working on my blog. And sometimes, all I want to do instead is read!

Household Chores

This is probably the one I hate the most in terms of getting in the way of my reading. All the constant chores – laundry, washing dishes, keeping the house clean, keep me from spending more time reading. I’m thinking about trying audiobooks while I do chores, but I’m not a huge fan of headphones, so I’ll have to figure that out.

Cooking

I love to cook and I know that it’s not a “typical” love language, but it’s definitely mine. I cook probably six nights a week, typically and I truly enjoy the time I spend in the kitchen trying new recipes, but it does take a certain amount of time.

Spending Time with Family & Friends

I don’t live close to any of my immediate family, so when we get together we spend a lot of time together. But, we do have close friends in our area, so we try to get together as our busy schedules permit to grab drinks together, eat dinner, or whatever we can fit in!

TV Shows

My partner and I tend to wind down our day with a little time on the couch watching TV together. It’s not always easy finding something we’re both excited to watch, but when we’re finished climbing for the day, it’s a great way to spend time relaxing. Right now we’re watching Chuck on Amazon Prime TV – an older show about guy with basically a computer in his brain who becomes a CIA asset. It’s got action, adventure, family, relationships – a little bit of everything.

Gardening & Yard Work

Every spring, I get excited for a vegetable garden and by the middle of summer it’s a complete and utter mess! I just spent a few hours on Saturday prepping the soil and planting all my seedlings. I’m hoping that the weather works in my favor this year and I can keep up with it. Plus, the constant mowing of my yard sucks up at least an hour every week! Again, I really need to invest in comfortable headphones and start listening to audiobooks.

Walking the Dog

My dog, Aria, is a demanding pup who gets a walk every morning and every evening. And if we’re not ready at the right time, she’ll whine and complain until we get back on schedule. Again, another time I could listen to an audiobook, but I’m usually chatting with my mom on the phone or just enjoying the outdoor time.

Sleep

And finally, sleep. Most nights, by the time I get into bed, I’m exhausted which usually means that I’m falling asleep holding my book up! But, I’m a person who needs to get good sleep to be functional the next day, so it’s rare that I read past my bedtime. My body usually lets me know that sleep is more important than finishing the chapter!

What gets in the way of your reading time?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.