“I don’t have the time.” Nonsense. Sure you do.
In the past few weeks the biggest response to anything I have spoken about with others is about reading and time. Too many say they don’t have the time. Sure you do, we all have the same amount of time every week, it’s all how you decide to spend it. If YOU make the time, you have the time.
No time to read? Try this idea..it’s working because people I have spoken to have been messaging me to let me know it is.. and they are thrilled to be back reading again, or maybe doing consistently it for the first time in their adult lives. Business philosopher Jim Rohn says, “If you want to reach the higher shelves in life, you must stand on the books you read.” The catch is you have to READ them.
Here’s the excerpt from a blog I wrote back in February, called The Good Light, which outlines the process. It’s so simple, it’s scary:
Had a conversation with a friend the other day who was caught up in the total chaos of life. Raising a young family, work, health challenges, financial worries, exhaustion, lack of “me” time. Does it sound familiar? Author and speaker Brian Tracy writes, “Life is a continuous succession of problems. They never end. They come in like waves of the ocean, one after another. The only thing that matters is how effectively you respond when things go wrong.” Sounds about right.
Sunrise, Sunset. The Good Light. The Magic Hour. Constant. Ever try to live it? It happens, no matter what happens to you. So do the same. Bookend your own days.
What I mean is take control of what you do when you wake up, and when you go to sleep. Make those times in your life a ritual that brings light and purpose to your life. Get up before that morning light and read 5 pages of a good book, a book that educates, inspires, or motivates. Make a plan for your day. Write it down. Think of your “why” and what your ideal life might look like. Then, when the sun first hits the horizon and day breaks, look for the reinforcement of that dream. Even if you can’t see the colors that morning, you’ll see the day beginning to brighten. Light in your day, light in your life.
At sunset, stop for thirty seconds to appreciate this Magic Hour. Then, that night, appreciate a whole lot more. Read five pages of that same book that got your day going. Then think back on your day and take a few minutes for gratitude. It doesn’t take long. Appreciate the events of the day. Even if you had the worst day of your life, think of three things that happened that day for which you are grateful. It’s there, and if you focus on it, and not the other noise and chaos of that day, it can change a lot. Suddenly your mind relaxes and it’s easy to get to sleep and prepare to welcome tomorrow. Sunrise will happen no matter what, so why not be ready? Try this for awhile. Trying might just change your life.
Just five pages in the morning, five pages at night and a bit of reflection. That’s 10 pages a day, five days a week, (you can even take off weekends :)). That’s more than 200 pages in a month, one solid book each month, 12 books a year!! Now you can claim you read EVERY day and you are taking action to expand your mind, your horizons, your possibilities, your life. (And if you need a good book to read, I have a suggestion, see below ;))
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark
Mark Brodinsky, Author
It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story
#1 Amazon Best Seller
www.spouses-story.com
markbrodinsky@gmail.com
“STRIVE FOR FIVE.” A.M. & P.M.- GREAT IDEA!!
As one of the people who discussed this topic with you in the last month, I feel compelled to comment. Basically … I agree with you. You are correct. Make reading a priority and lo and behold you too will soon be reading books! One modification though: my morning routine is already committed to exercise, so I try to get 10 pages at night. Not always easy because my eyelids get real heavy real quickly after 10:00 pm. Thanks for the great words of inspiration!
Thanks Rich. So read five before the morning work out and five more at 9:55pm!
Fair enough!
Great Advice as always Mark. Can I read after my 6 am spin class on Tuesday am’s? Don’t think I can physcially get up prior to 5 am.
Whatever works Chuck. Just do it. 🙂
I love this – 10 pages a day=perfect! Reading is so important. It clears your mind of everything else and allows you to learn something new…even if it is romance or science fiction. Allowing your brain to wander and imagine is powerful!
Thanks Rachel…maybe even spend your minutes reading an inspirational and entertaining blog like #backngroovemom.