How do you find time to read after becoming a mum?

[Hopefullyhopeful1]

Just that really. I have an 11 month old and work full time. What used to be my favourite hobby has slipped off the radar. When I do manage to get a minute (usually after DC in bed), I struggle to keep my eyes open.

Has anyone managed to keep up their reading after becoming a mum and working full time?

Wait 8-9 years, you’ll be fine 😂

audible whilst cleaning/cooking/driving.
whilst breastfeeding
whilst ignoring the kids...
...not intentional but apparently I completely zone out when reading...
...I realised how annoying this is when my eldest started doing the same...
...they are both teens now so ignoring them is allowed if not positively encouraged at this stage...

Audible - makes the drudgery more bearable too.

When they were tiny, it was on my kindle; one handed while they were feeding - during the day or in the dark hours of the night.

Now they're older I read while they're around (they've grown out of trying to kill themselves the second I'm not watching them) but also I'm as likely to read my book once they're in bed as I am watch tv. Ultimately you will have limited leisure time and it's a choice what you do with it, yours will be extremely limited now but it does get better.

I love reading. I'm an English teacher. But sadly I had a good 18m after each kid was born where I just couldn't. I did get into reading serious magazines like The New Statesman though during those periods where I couldn't properly read books though, so maybe play about a bit with what you're reading.

I used to read kindle books on my iPad when breastfeeding. It saved my sanity with night time feeds.

Audible too, at every opportunity. The only time I get to read is at bedtime and I can't last more than a few pages without nodding off!

Kindle paperwhite. Mine also has a case so I can stand it up so sometimes read when I am doing other things with my hands, and I only have to swipe to turn the page. Very useful for breastfeeding.

Read on lunchbreak at work.

I didn't get on with Audible and thought it wasn't good value. Alexa can read your regular e-books for you, but it is a bit robotic.

I try to actively choose reading over TV.

Kindle app on phone so if I get a few moments anywhere and don't have my Kindle with me I can still read.

When dd was a baby I read while she breastfed sometimes & most days while she napped. And at night in bed or in the mornings with coffee while dh took her downstairs.

We read to her every night & worked through all sorts of books over the years.

My own reading goes through phases. I have found my phone / social media etc has had a negative affect on my concentration which worried me so I decided to make an effort.

I read a lot of non fiction - history & biography usually but am also reading some fiction again now too. I'm reading Joyce at the moment.

Our house has thousands of books & I couldn't imagine life without reading.

Me either @OldHouseLover books make me so happy, I'd give up many things before them!

I've got back into reading once my son was 5-6. Absolutely knackered before then. My routine now is to always read in bed for 1/2 hour a night, you could try it but I bet you'll fall asleep!

Another trick is to read 20 pages before switching on the tv on an evening?

I have a 1 year old. I have the Kindle app on my phone. Read for 10-15 mins every night before bed and then through the night on night feeds if she wakes (which she usually does). Would happily sacrifice the overnight reading for sleeping through but DD has yet to oblige!

When mine were that small I couldn’t really read that much. Normally when my older two were at school I’d put the younger two in the buggy and go a long walk so they’d nap. Then I would sit on a bench and read for an hour or so. But sometimes they wouldn’t both nap/the weather was too bad to sit out reading/I didn’t get a chance. When they were older, about 3/4, they could sometimes play more independently and then I could read while they played. But it’s difficult when they’re tiny! I guess you could sometimes go to bed when the baby does and read then.

I'm reading while I nurse. I read when she sleeps. Happy days!