Finding Time to Read When You Just Don’t Have Time

We know firsthand how hard it can be to find time to read when life never slows down. Between the two of us, we’re raising ten kids, juggling a full-time job, homeschooling, running a small farm, caring for an elderly parent, managing dogs (plural!), and coordinating sports — all while keeping up with the million tiny things that come with motherhood, marriage, and, well… adulting.

Reading often slips to the back burner — not because we don’t love it, but because there’s just so much else.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make time to read as a busy mom, we’ve been there too. This post is the first in a series where we’re sharing what reading really looks like in this season — one page at a time.

The Struggle Is Real: Why Busy Moms Struggle to Find Time to Read

Life is beautiful, busy, and a little overwhelming — and finding time to read can feel impossible some days. Between carpools, dinner prep, work deadlines, and all the never-ending to-dos, reading often feels like one more thing we’ll “get to later.”

But even when we’re stretched thin, we still crave that escape into a good story. The struggle to keep reading through the chaos is real — and we know so many moms feel the same.

What Everyday Life Looks Like for Us

Q: What does a “normal” day look like for each of you?

Katie:
Most mornings, I get up about an hour before everyone else for some much-needed “me” time. I drink my coffee, read a few pages, or knock out a little computer work before the day officially starts. Once the kids are up, we head outside for morning farm chores, then come in for breakfast.

After that, it’s off to school for the youngest three. When I get back home, I switch gears to homeschool with my oldest, and we usually finish up around lunchtime. The afternoons are a mix of catching up on chores, sneaking in a little more reading, or tackling work at my computer before heading back into town for school pickup.

From there, it’s the usual whirlwind — homework, evening farm chores, milking the cow, and getting dinner going. Once the kids are finally in bed, I grab one last bit of quiet time. I always try to read at least a few pages before calling it a night — some days it’s many, and other days it’s just a couple, but it always feels like a small win.

Emily:
Well, the dogs usually wake me up around 5AM, so I take care of them and sneak in a few pages before getting the kids ready for school at 7. I typically work from 8 to 5, then it’s straight into mom mode — practices, games, errands, dinner around 8PM, and finally my favorite part of the day: a few quiet chapters before bed.

When Life Interrupts Reading Time

Q: When do you wish you could read — and what usually interrupts it?

Katie:
If I could, I’d read all day — seriously. My dream would be to have weekends wide open just to curl up with a book, but farm life usually has other plans. Weekends are our big project days — fixing fences, tackling chores, running errands, all the things that don’t fit into the week.

On the rare weekend when I do get a little downtime, I’ll sit down with my book, and before long someone needs help with something or wants to play a game. I wouldn’t trade that time with my kids for anything, but it definitely means my reading time gets cut short more often than not.

Emily:
I mean, I wish I could read all the time — seriously! But between work, kids, and everything else, it’s usually the noise (and exhaustion) that get in the way. Some nights I open my book and… instantly fall asleep.

Those Relatable Reading Moments

Q: Have you ever read the same page more than once before realizing it?

Katie:
Oh, 100%! Sometimes I read the same page more times than I care to admit. Other times I’ll get halfway through before realizing, wait a second… I’ve already read this! That’s usually my sign it’s been a long day — or that I need more coffee.

Emily:
Oh yes — more times than I’d like to admit! Sometimes I’ll read a page three times before realizing my brain was somewhere else entirely.

One Page at a Time

If finding time to read feels hard right now, it’s not because you’ve failed — it’s because life is full. This season may not leave room for long, quiet reading days, but it can still hold small moments that matter.

One page is still a beginning.