Discussion Series: How I Balance Books, Blogging and Life (Part 1)- My Book Blogger Routine

Last week, I put a call out for any burning questions about how I balance my blog, the amount of books I read and general life (you can check that post out here). I got so many questions!  Thank you!  I will be putting together several posts discussing the answers, but, to start, I figured I would talk about My Book Blogger Routine.  Annie at The Misstery asked this question (and decided to start her own post related- you can check that out here!).

Like Annie,  I decided to split this into two different routines: one for weekdays and another for weekends.  And, to simplify, I do not have any children.   I do work full time.   I am a teacher, so basically, at this point in the year, I am struggling hard.  One more week until summer…one more week until summer; I teach at an alternative school so technically I work throughout the summer too, but it is a lot lighter.  So I am looking forward to the break!

Without further ado, keep reading to check out my blogger routine and to get a glimpse into my blogging balance!

WEEKDAYS

Raise and shine!  Four days a week, every day except Mondays (because I just can’t on a Monday), I wake up at 5:15 am and head to the gym. Three of these morning gym days, I do a half hour of cardio.  I read while I am on the elliptical/stairmaster or treadmill.    I used to read celebrity gossip magazines, but now I usually bring whatever I am currently reading; sometimes, I set aside a “gym” book and leave in my car so I never forget it.  It is the only way I can get through my cardio.   Usually, I can get through about 100 to 120 pages during this time.   Then I put my book down, do my weights and drive home!

 

My book on the field trip to the gym

After my workout, I make and eat my breakfast while I read. I am notorious for reading while I cook.  Then I get ready for work and start my morning commute!

I work 8 to 4.  I always spend my lunch break reading or, if I am having a rough day, I head to the bookstore!  After work, I head home and start making dinner.  Usually, I do some reading during this time.

After work, I head home and start making dinner.  Usually, I do some reading during this time.  My fiance works until 5 pm, so when he gets home, we eat dinner, discuss our days and then we sit down to watch some television.

Now, my fiance is not a reader.  He doesn’t understand books, or why I like books, but he loves sports.  I am talking a complete sports nut.  He is obsessed with Chicago sports teams and a majority of our time is spent planning things around whatever team is playing at that time.

Meet my fiance!

So, when I say WE go watch television, I mean HE goes to watch whatever sport is unfolding for his fantasy sports team and I read next to him.   He very much knows reading is my stress reliever so he never gets upset as I devour a book and pretend to watch “the sports”.   Sometimes, depending on my day, I take a bath and I read there as well.

While I am reading, I take notes on my phone of what I am thinking and general things going through my mind as I am reading.  This way, once I finish my book, I can change those into coherent thoughts and it makes writing my reviews very easy.

So at this point, between the pages, I read in the morning, whatever I was able to read on my lunch and the reading I have done during the evening, I have finished a book!

I usually head to bed around 9:30 or 10:00 (since I do wake up so early for the gym!) and I usually spend another little while reading whatever is on my Kindle since I can read that in the dark.

WEEKENDS

My weekends are usually bumping.  I wake up on Saturday morning around 8:00/8:30 and head to the gym for my morning workout.  I usually read during this time, unless I decide to take a class like Zumba or Yoga.  After this, I head to the grocery store and run my errands.   Usually, I spend a few hours in the afternoon reading or preparing photos for the week for my blog.

Sunday morning is similar; I go to a Yoga class and then do my food prep for my week. Sunday afternoon is when I am most likely to binge read a book.  Especially during the winter months when football is underway.  I also try to spend a few hours on Sunday afternoon planning my posts for the week and setting up to my reviews to auto post.  I try to have a majority of my reviews for the upcoming week finished on Sunday so then I don’t have to worry during the week!

So that is a glimpse into my blogging routine and the first part in my dicussion series!  If you have questions, be sure to ask me so I can incorporate them into upcoming posts!