| p>From health updates to decorating ideas to news | | | | Tear out articles of interest. When you discover an |
| items, magazines and newspapers can contain a | | | | article you want to re-read or maybe even save, don't |
| wealth of information. However, that information is | | | | set the entire publication aside for later; tear the article |
| meaningless if you don't take the time to read it. I have | | | | out right then and there. This will help you avoid the |
| a hard time making time for reading because I always | | | | frustration of coming across a periodical you've saved |
| feel there's something "more important" that I should be | | | | for some reason but you remember why. If you feel |
| doing. So I use car trips (when my husband is driving) | | | | you have to save an article once you've read it, file it |
| to do most of my reading. How well are you doing | | | | where you'll actually be able to find it again. |
| keeping up with your reading pile? This month's tips | | | | Give yourself a deadline. If you receive a new issue of |
| offer ideas to keep that reading pile under control. With | | | | a publication but you haven't yet read the previous one, |
| a bit of self-discipline, as well as a discerning evaluation | | | | give yourself a deadline to read the old issue. Two or |
| of your incoming periodicals, you can stay in control of | | | | three days are as much time as you should allow. |
| your reading pile, both at home and at work. | | | | After that, get rid of the old periodical. Otherwise, the |
| Use a container to hold your reading material. A | | | | magazines and newspapers will continue to pile up, and |
| basket or magazine rack certainly looks nicer than a | | | | you may never get caught up. And after a while, the |
| jumbled heap of paper. Keep the container near | | | | information in the older issues may become outdated. |
| where you read. If you read in several places | | | | Another option would be to recognize that you might |
| throughout your home or office, have a reading | | | | never catch up on the backlog, so let go of all old |
| container near each location. Use an appropriately | | | | periodicals and keep only the current issues. |
| sized container: big enough to hold the current issue of | | | | Evaluate your reading pile. If you seem to consistently |
| each periodical, but not so big that it allows you to pile | | | | fall behind on reading certain periodicals, determine |
| up several months' worth. | | | | why. Maybe your tastes or interests have changed, |
| Maybe you've told yourself you'll read when you have | | | | and magazines on topics you previously enjoyed are |
| time, but you never do have time. One solution is to | | | | no longer relevant to you. It may be time to cancel |
| actually schedule reading time on your calendar. | | | | some subscriptions. Be sure to request a refund for |
| Another is to get into the habit of reading at a | | | | the unused portion of your subscription. |
| particular time each week (e.g., Thursday nights from 9 | | | | Donate old magazines. If you feel compelled to save |
| to 10 p.m., or every day for 15 minutes before you go | | | | old magazines, consider whether you'll actually refer |
| to bed). At a minimum, make time to read whenever | | | | back to them. Also consider whether you'll be able to |
| your reading container is full. Consider carrying unread | | | | find a particular article when it's buried in a magazine |
| articles with you to make use of otherwise wasted | | | | that's sitting on a shelf with dozens of other issues of |
| waiting time (at the doctor's office, in line at the | | | | the same magazine. A better option may be to use |
| grocery store, on the train or bus, etc.). | | | | the Internet or library to find relevant articles on a |
| Sort your reading pile. Recognize that you may be | | | | particular topic if the need ever occurs. Meanwhile, |
| able to skim articles from "fun" publications (e.g., a | | | | contact local establishments to see if they might be |
| hobby magazine) while those of a more serious nature | | | | interested in your old magazines. Some hospitals, |
| (e.g., a news magazine) may require more thorough | | | | nursing homes, medical offices, and beauty/barber |
| reading. In addition, you may be able to read the fun | | | | shops will accept them, as will some resale shops. Just |
| stuff just about anywhere, while the more intense | | | | be sure to remove your address label to protect your |
| reading needs to take place in a quite setting. | | | | privacy. |