A Balancing Act: Finding Time to Read for Pleasure as a Student
Allegra Diamond
This article gives tips for keeping up with reading as a hobby without sacrificing your academic or social life. Tips include making use of audiobook, making reading social, always having a story with you, etc.
As a kid, I could lose myself in a book for hours, often devouring an entire series over the weekend. I read under my desk at school, in the backseat of the car on the way to soccer practice, even while walking (which, admittedly, led to me head first into a pole and resulted in me losing my first tooth—so, I can't recommend that in good conscience). But when I got to university, finding time to finish even one book became a struggle. The constant stream of assignments and readings for my degree left little mental energy for anything else. Fast forward two years after graduation, and I decided to pursue a master’s in journalism. This time, I was determined not to let my love of reading fall by the wayside. Over the next two years, I managed to juggle coursework with my passion for books and hit my reading goals. Here are some tricks that helped:
Reading is reading is reading
Don’t let anyone tell you audiobooks don't count as reading. One of the biggest game-changers for me in reaching my reading goals was learning to make the most of every available moment—whether I was on the bus, on a walk, at the gym, or even in the shower. Audiobooks became my secret weapon. They not only fit seamlessly into my busy schedule but also provided a much-needed break from the academic reading I was doing for class. Listening allowed my brain to absorb information in a completely different way, making it feel less like a chore and more like a creative escape. I preferred to avoid heavier genres like sci-fi or fantasy on audio, as world-building and plots can be hard to follow without a physical book to reference.
Always have a story at your fingertips
I’m always amazed by how much "in-between" time I have throughout the day. Whether it's waiting for a friend who's late to dinner, arriving 10 minutes early to class, or killing time while waiting for coffee at a café, I’ve learned to seize those moments to read. We’re lucky now that we can carry a library in our pockets. Apps like Libby, Hoopla, and OverDrive make it easy to download books straight to our phones. While I’m not a huge fan of reading on my phone, I’ve made it a habit to always have my Kindle or a physical book in my bag. It’s a small thing, but it makes a huge difference. Plus, it’s a game-changer for those solo lunch breaks—nothing makes me feel more comfortable dining alone than having a good book in hand.
Replace screen time
Do you catch yourself scrolling for 20 minutes when you wake up or an hour before bed? Or maybe you reach for your phone during every commercial break? I fell into those habits too, but after a few weeks of seeing my screen time stats shame me, I knew I had to change things up. So, instead of grabbing my phone to kill a few minutes, I started picking up my book and reading a page or two. It wasn’t just a clever way to sneak in extra reading, it also minimised my doom scrolling (and did wonders for my sleep schedule).
Revisiting old favourites
There’s nothing wrong with falling back on an old standby. Sometimes, my brain just can’t handle diving into a new story. That’s when I turn to my favourite books; rereading them helps me ease into a different world without needing the mental energy to create one from scratch. I’ve noticed that I get something new out of a story every time I revisit it, whether it’s the first read or the fifteenth. Allowing yourself to enjoy the comfort of a familiar story can even spark the motivation to pick up something new eventually.
Make it social
It can be tough to give up those precious pockets of free time we have as students to read, especially when it means sacrificing time with friends. But there are ways to make reading social. Buddy reading, joining a book club, or even listening to an audiobook with your significant other or roommate can turn reading into a group activity. For a fun and easy date night, I often found myself listening to an audiobook with my partner while cooking dinner or working on a puzzle.
Be aware if it's feeling like a chore
Don't force yourself to read. Sometimes, when I’m out on a run, all I want is to blast some early 2000s rap, and other times I just want to curl up with friends for a good old-fashioned Harry Potter marathon. And sometimes I even get lost scrolling through my sister’s childhood best friend’s boyfriend’s Instagram. There’s no shame in wanting to switch off for a while and enjoy some downtime without feeling guilty about not reading.
Bonus: show your library some love
As a student, time wasn’t the only thing I was worried about running out of. Even though I bought most of my books used, the cost could still add up. A great way to get your hands on books, especially new ones or titles you might only want to read once, is by using the library. Apps like Libby and Hoopla let you access your library virtually, and it’s always a little adventure to explore a new local library when you're in the mood for a change of scenery.
