How I Read 100 Books a Year With Kids

When people find out that I’m able to read 100 books a year, most of them are pretty surprised that I have the time to make that possible. I am not a single guy that has all the free time in the world. I am a parent with two kids under the age of 8, and work a full time job that has nothing to do with reading. In other words, reading is something that I do in my free time for entertainment and to learn.

The only way that I am able to read that much is that I make reading a priority in my life. I don’t watch much TV at all (generally just sporting events now and then). I don’t waste time on social media. I make sure to multi-task whenever I can to get as much reading completed as I can in a day. One of my favorite ways to relax and disconnect is by reading a great book.

For some, 100 books in a year is a lot. However, for me that’s a pretty small number compared to what I was doing before I had kids. There were a couple of years right before I had my first child where I was reading nearly 300 books a year - all of my free time was spent reading books. There were days on the weekend where I would get through two books in a single day - it was quite crazy as I think back on it now. I now read about a third of what I was reading then, and I’m reading smarter.

The number one way that I’m able to get through 100 books a year is with audiobooks. I average an audiobook a week. That gives me 52 books simply from listening to audiobooks all the time. Whether I’m working out, driving in the car, or doing chores around the house, you’ll almost always find me listening to an audiobook. I generally don’t listen to anything else on my headphones (although I do listen to music usually while I’m working).

I get my audiobooks from two primary sources. First off, I have an Audible subscription that I use. I wish they had an unlimited subscription model, but it’s probably for people just like me that they don’t. I supplement Audible with books from my local library. This is simple to do, and I don’t have to leave my home to get the books on my device. You simply choose your books and you’ll be able to get them right on to your phone.

With more than half of my books being read to me, that leaves me with another 48 books to get through by actual reading. I use my Kindle for basically all of that reading. Every now and then I need to read a physical book, but these days you can find basically any of the new books that are coming out. If you’re looking for an older book, you can simply borrow it from your local library. I’ll read maybe 2 physical books a year, and everything else is on the Kindle.

In terms of finding time to read, I usually read 1 to 2 hours a day. When I’m with my kids in the evening, I will play with them for a while and then get them playing on their own. While they’re playing, I will pull out my Kindle to read. I will also spend a bit of time before I go to sleep each night to read as well. On the weekends, there is generally more time to read as well. Very rarely do I need more time than that to get through a full book in a week, but I’ll spend time in the mornings reading as well if I’m really into the book I’m reading.

Reading a lot as a parent requires that you make it a priority in your life. You’re not going to read 100 books a year simply by waking up each day. You’re going to have to integrate reading into your daily routine and really want to actually read that much. Ultimately, whether you read 100 books in a year, or 10 books in a year, reading is a great way to relax and disconnect from the stresses of life.

Read as much as you can. Reading is a great way to keep your mind sharp.