Reading -- 10 Ways to Find The Time

Why Read?

It's been said that there are three kinds of knowledge:

? What you know ? What you know that you don't know, and ? What you don't know that you don't know.

What you know is an asset.

What you know that you don't know isn't too difficult to handle. You can go out and find out!

But what you don't know that you don't know could be dangerous -- to your life/health/career/business etc. It's information that you don't know exists. It could cost you your job, promotion, business, or something worse.

What you don't know can, and often does, harm you. In fact, unknown to you it could be holding you back this very minute.

However, if you develop the habit of reading for self improvement, you set yourself up to be "found" by such knowledge. It comes to you each time you open a book, even though you never knew it was there.

Imagine this: you're walking along innocently, "in the line of fire" of some great information, and all of a sudden you are "hit" by a new discovery! If you will just stay in the line of fire (by reading, reading and reading some more), you will keep on getting "hit". And there's something about this habit that causes you to attract just the information you need!

I am an avid, voracious reader. I read anything that's written in English, online or offline! A while ago, I needed some info about marketing one's services. I set a weekly goal to read up on the subject, though I had no idea where I would find the material, or the time to read it either! Lo and behold! Being a habitual reader, all week long I was "found out and followed" by books, articles, pop-up boxes and spam mail on marketing your services. Every where I turned, it was there!

If you develop the habit of reading, you will never be at a loss for information. You will either know what you need to know, know where to find it, know some one who knows it, or it will come looking for you!

Over time you will become a resource person and a magnet for information. Now how beneficial could that be to your career or business?

I once worked with colleagues who often came to me when they were looking for information. If a problem defied solution they made sure to ask me. I didn't always have the answers, but if I didn't, I knew where to find them! My boss wrote in my appraisal that I was "an asset to this establishment." To get ahead in today's world you must develop a reading habit; stay in the line of fire of good, wholesome information, and get "hit" each time there's an update!

Is time a problem for you? Here are

10 tips for finding the time to read:

1. Take a book with you wherever you go, make use of time in the traffic, waiting in receptions, even time in the loo!

2. Cut back on TV viewing. What does it profit a man (or woman) to watch TV all day and suffer from a dearth of information?

3. To find time for new things you must throw out some old ones. What pastimes are no longer profitable? Or less profitable than reading? Ditch them!

4. Make friends with people who read. Their good reading habits will rub off on you.

5. Join a reading group. You'll be kept busy with reading assignments, and will somehow have to make the time. No reading groups near you? Create one!

6. Delegate as much work as you possibly can, whether it's office work or house work. Use the free time to "get in the line of fire" of some good information! 7. Set goals for self-improvement. Make reading part of your strategy. Then you will read to reach your goals.

8. Set up a corner of your home to be the perfect reading corner ? rocking chair/reading desk and chair, good lighting, peaceful and quiet, soft colours, gentle on the eyes, out-of-bounds to kids ? you know what I mean! Just looking at the place will draw you to sit there and read!

9. Block out 30 minutes to one hour of your day (or whatever suits you) for reading. Tell everyone you cannot be disturbed. Switch off all phones. Go where no one can find you. Do whatever it takes to have that time uninterrupted and just read.

10. Get organized; be a better time manager. It's amazing how much time we throw away chatting on the phone, hanging out with friends, lingering after a meeting or waiting around for one thing or the other. You could kill two birds with one stone by reading while you're at the hairdresser's or the mechanic's. Examine the way you spend your time. You'll find plenty of it not properly utilized.

I hope you are inspired to begin reading, whether for pleasure or self-improvement. There is no such thing as spare time. If you need time you've got to create it. And now you have no excuse! So go on out and get some books, and get "hit" with some new information!

Copyright 2005 Oma Edoja

Oma Edoja is a writer, motivational speaker and infopreneur. She writes on a variety of topics, but mainly motivational/inspirational/self-help. She is looking to work with editors and publishers who need writers. Oma may be contacted via her motivational ezine at http://up-mobile.blogspot.com

---

Four Steps To Make Your Day Dynamic!

There are two ways to start your day. The first... Read More

7 Reasons to Take Breaks at Work

My job in Chicago began with three months of probation.I... Read More

Busy, Busy, Busy

?busy, busy, busy, busy, busy?busy, busy, bus? OK, slap me... Read More

Expand Your Time

In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More

The Keepers of Time

I give presentations on organizational skill building as it relates... Read More

Effective Time Management Techniques

TIME MANAGEMENTWith the creation of the universe, God gave humankind... Read More

Realistic Time Budgeting Tips

I'm sure we've all had the experience of having a... Read More

Focus on One Thing at a Time to Get the Job Done

All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More

Time Management -- Urgent vs. Important

"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More

Discover Your Procrastination Personality

Determine Your Procrastination PersonalityBrook Noel is the author of The... Read More

Controlling Family Chaos - Time Management for the Family

Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More

If Only Your Brain Was the Size Of That Of an Ant You Could Easily Implement Habits

A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More

Time Management: Eliminate Time Killers to Gain More Hours Every Day

There are two types of time killers in everyone's life.... Read More

Could you use a ?Stop Doing? list?

One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools... Read More

Time Management - Keeping a Clean Desk

I have worked with so many people over the years... Read More

Beyond Time Management ? Seven Ways to Leverage Your Time for Greater Results

Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More

Webmaster or Web Slave? Time Saving Tips for Cyberpreneurs

Time is money in your online business, just as in... Read More

Your Most Important Appointment

An appointment is simply a mutual agreement to meet with... Read More

TIME, The Undervalued Resource

We are all born equal! We all have the same... Read More

How Are You Viewing Your Time?

In working with and coaching people across the country, one... Read More

Do You Put a Value on Your Time?

As a small business owner, does the following paragraph sound... Read More

Time Well Spent

It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More

5 Time Savers You (Probably) Havent Tried Yet

1. Do tasks less frequentlyClean house every 10 days rather... Read More

Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life

Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life... Read More

Work at Home Moms: Time Management Tips

"How do you DO it?!" If I had a dime... Read More

Priorities: Dont Dry Your Dishes

Do your dishes really need to be dried, or could... Read More

9 Business Time Management Skills You Need To Succeed

Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More

Vilfredo Paretos Principle: The 80-20 Rule: 80% of Results are Produced from 20% of Efforts

Vilfredo Pareto's Principle, or The "Pareto Principle," is more commonly... Read More

Emergency Living

There are times, when I am driving in my car... Read More

Get More Done at Your Office: Focus on These Eight Areas for Increased Productivity

Your productivity depends on good tools and effective environments, and... Read More

How to Minimize Trips to the Grocery Store

Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue),... Read More

Time Management Doesnt Exist! So What Can You Do?

There is no such thing as time management. You cannot... Read More

Talkin About Chicken

Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More