One habit that I picked up when I was still in third grade was to carry a book with me wherever I went. Even when my mother scolded that my bags were too heavy, I was undeterred. Case in point, I still carry a book with me no matter where I go.
The Perks of Reading on the Go
1. Fill waiting time
For the most part commuting is made up for waiting: waiting for a bus or subway, waiting for said bus or subway to reach your destination. Waiting means that there’s a lot of time to fill. That time can so easily be filled with reading.
2. Books are great companions
Commuting with friends makes time pass so much faster. When you’re alone, time seems to really drag out. Reading on the go means you won’t even notice where the time goes.
3. Avoid awkward conversations
Say you end up on a bus with an acquaintance. Usually that means forcing awkward small talk. If however, you bury your nose in a book, they’ll probably just say hi and be relieved that they don’t have to actually start a conversation with you.
4. Sometimes that’s the only time left to read
If you have a lot of commitments that make you too busy to read, seize the last shred of time that you still have left thanks to your commutes.
5. Fight boredom
Rather than staring blankly into space, be entertained by a book. Reading on the go means you’ll never be bored again. Unless, of course, you don’t like a book you’re reading. In that case, care a back-up book or load a few ebooks on an e-reader.
6. Save data and phone battery
Reading a book won’t cut into data plans. That’s at least 40 hours of data saved per month, for an hourly commute to and from work/school. That’s also two hours of phone battery preserved every day.
7. Appear smart
Nowadays most commuters have their eyes glued to their screens. When people see you reading instead, they immediately peg you as the smartest person around. And who doesn’t like people to think they’re smart?
Essentials for Reading on the Go
1. A book plus back-up
Needless to say, reading on the go requires a book — preferably paperback, ebook or audiobook. Hardcovers aren’t as handy for toting around. Though if you don’t mind the added weight and bulk, be my guest. If you know that you’re likely going to finish your book or aren’t sure if you’ll like it, be sure to have a back-up book.
2. Comfortable shoes
Comfortable shoes are important too. I don’t recommend balancing on heels while toting a bag and clutching your book. It’s for your own safety and the safety of fellow commuters. I once stood beside a lady who almost lost her balance and stepped on my bare feet in flip-flops. It was painful! And she was holding her phone with both hands instead of holding onto a handrail.
3. Earphones or headphones
I also recommend a good pair of earphones or headphones. Sometimes I plug in my earphones simply to drown out surrounding noise. Of course, when I want to listen to an audiobook, my earphones are critical.
4. Portable charger
Portable chargers probably are a good idea too. This applies when listening to audiobooks or reading ebooks. Don’t let a flat battery stand between you and the book you’re currently reading. It’s extremely frustrating when that happens.
Reading on the go is epic!
I really like reading when I’m done work during class. That or watch Netflix. my teachers are very cool about the whole thing so they don’t mind when I pull out my phone as long as they see that I’m reading and doing something “approved.”
I definitely agree with the charger. I actually keep a battery charger in my backpack for emergencies!
I carry my e-reader with me almost everywhere, especially when I have long commutes. Before I bought my first e-reader, I carried physical books. The ride home from school gives me about half an hour of reading time each day.
Ich hab eigentlich auch immer überall ein Buch dabei und früher auf dem Weg zur Schule habe ich da auch die meiste Zeit lesend verbracht, immerhin zusammengenommen fast zwei Stunden Hin- und Rückweg. Als ich dann angefangen habe zu studieren und mit dem Fahrrad zur Uni gefahren bin, hab ich auch ganz schnell gemerkt, wie viel weniger ich plötzlich lese. Manchmal vermisse ich diese lange Zeit des Hin- und Herfahrens richtig, da bin ich morgens auch immer total gerne aufgestanden, weil ich wusste, dass ich mit einer Geschichte in den Tag starten würde.
I never read when I commute. Partly because I get motion sickness very easily, and reading ALWAYS makes it much, much worse.
Although, if I know that I will have spare time wherever I’m going, then I’ll usually take a book with me. It’s much better to sit at a table by yourself and read, than it is to look like a complete dork doing absolutely nothing. Although, if that is the case, I usually just whip out a notebook to make it seem like I am doing something with my time ;P
I don’t really read physical or e-books while I’m on the go, I’m more of an audiobook person on the go. I think it’s because my working hours are filled with reading other things that my eyes just need a little rest from staring at screen. :D
When I do go on trips though, I tend to bring my e-reader and its charger. It’s a must! O:
I totally do! And I also read my book after class when I have a gap. It prevents me for using my battery on my phone and from staring at nothing haha. Oooh, it’s also a good excuse to not do my homework :P books > homework.
I don’t care how heavy my bag is, I always need to bring some reading material with me. I prefer my e-reader, because that way I’m always sure I have something to read (and I make sure the battery is full before I leave the house.) I have about an hour of travel to school/internship, so that’s the perfect time to read some pages :D
I love this list so much! I used to carry a book with me 24/7 when I was younger but now have sorta grown out of that. I have my phone and iPod now and that’s all I really need! Unless I’m going to school I usually only bring a tiny cross body bag with me so books don’t really fit. I’ve been in a HUGE reading phase though so lately I HAVE been bringing books with me everywhere I go just because I can’t put them down. Throne of Glass has stayed strictly by my side for the last four or five days.
I find reading during my commute to school is the best time for me. It takes about twenty minutes to get to school which is plenty of time for me to get a few chapters in. And usually in the morning, I’m really tired and groggy so reading is a good way to get my brain moving and get me to slowly come to my senses.