Balancing work, personal responsibilities, and leisure can feel overwhelming. After long days filled with meetings, emails, and deadlines, it might seem impossible to squeeze in time for a good book or your favorite TV shows. But with a little creativity and planning, you can make room for these activities and enjoy more of what you love. Here are some practical tips to help you read more books and watch more TV, even with a packed professional life.

1. Set a Schedule for Leisure Time

Just as you schedule meetings and deadlines, carve out specific time in your day or week for reading or TV. Block off 30 minutes before bedtime to wind down with a book or dedicate one night a week to your favorite show. Treat this time as an appointment with yourself and stick to it.

Tip: Use your calendar or a reminder app to help you plan and protect this leisure time from being overshadowed by work tasks.

2. Use Audiobooks

Audiobooks are a fantastic way to enjoy stories and nonfiction while you’re on the go. Whether you’re driving, cooking, or exercising, you can multitask and “read” at the same time.

Make It Work: Apps like Audible, Libby, or Scribd offer a wide selection of audiobooks that fit into even the busiest schedules. Start with content that matches your interests to keep you engaged and motivated.

3. Prioritize What You Watch and Read

There’s endless content available, which can make it hard to decide where to start and lead to wasting time scrolling or choosing. Be intentional about what you consume by prioritizing the books and TV shows that genuinely interest you or add value to your life.

Actionable Step: Create a “to-read” list or a “must-watch” queue. This will save you time deciding and help you focus on the stories that matter most to you.

4. Leverage Shorter Formats

If you’re short on time, opt for shorter formats. Short stories, novellas, or essay collections can be easier to complete than full-length novels. Similarly, look for TV shows with shorter episodes or standalone series that don’t require a huge time commitment.

Why It Works: Finishing shorter content gives you a sense of accomplishment while keeping your time manageable.

5. Combine Content with Social Time

Turn reading or watching TV into a social activity. Join a book club, host watch parties, or share recommendations with friends or colleagues. Social accountability can motivate you to stay on track with your personal goals.

Example: Agree to read the same book as a friend and discuss it after. Or schedule weekly calls to chat about the latest episodes of a show you both love.

6. Embrace Multitasking with TV

Watching TV doesn’t always have to mean sitting on the couch with nothing else happening. Combine your favorite shows with simpler tasks, like folding laundry, working out, or meal prepping.

Pro Tip: For lighter or familiar shows, this type of multitasking works perfectly. For content requiring full attention, schedule focused time for it instead.

7. Find Your Dead Time

Analyze your routine to find “dead time” that could be refocused on leisure. Commutes, waiting rooms, or breaks during your workday are perfect opportunities to read a few pages or catch up on an episode from your phone.

Example: Bring your Kindle or a physical book to appointments or download episodes for offline viewing when traveling.

8. Switch Off or Limit Social Media

Scrolling through social media can easily eat into your free time, leaving less room for reading or relaxing in front of the TV. By setting boundaries on your social media use, you’ll have more time for meaningful leisure activities.

Try This: Use a screen timer app to limit your scrolling and repurpose that saved time for reading or TV watching.

9. Pair Your Interests with Your Lifestyle

Integrate reading and TV into your daily routine by aligning them with your interests or current activities. For example, if you're a history enthusiast, pick up a historical fiction novel or watch documentaries on the subject. If personal development interests you, explore growth-oriented books and series.

Why It Works: Engaging with content that resonates with your passions keeps it enjoyable and makes the experience feel less like a chore.

10. Start Small and Build a Habit

It’s not about reading for hours or binge-watching an entire season in one go. Start small—read 5 or 10 pages a day or set an episode limit. Gradually, these small efforts can evolve into consistent habits.

Habit-Forming Tip: Set a simple, achievable daily goal, like reading for 10 minutes before bed or watching one episode of your favorite show each weekend.

11. Experiment with Time Slots That Work Best for You

Everyone’s schedule and energy levels vary. Some people enjoy unwinding with a book in the morning, while others love watching TV after dinner to relax. Find what works best for your natural rhythm and guard that time.

Example: If you’re more alert in the morning, start your day with a quick chapter. If evenings are your downtime, reserve that time for your favorite shows.

12. Opt for Portability

Use technology to make your hobbies portable. E-readers and streaming apps can travel with you wherever you go, ensuring that you’re never without access to your favorite pastimes.

On the Go: Download books or episodes in advance so that you can enjoy them during long commutes, flights, or even during lunch breaks.

13. Create a Cozy Environment

Sometimes, it’s all about setting the mood. Create a comfortable space for reading or watching TV. A cozy chair, good lighting, and a warm drink can make sitting down with a book or show feel like a treat instead of a task.

Make It Special: Transform your time into a mini ritual—your mindful escape from the day’s stress.

14. Don’t Be Afraid to Abandon Content

If a book or TV show isn’t engaging or bringing you joy, it’s okay to put it down. Forcing yourself to finish something uninteresting wastes valuable time you could spend enjoying something you truly love.

Permission to Move On: Life’s too short to struggle through a book or series you’re not enjoying. There are plenty of other options waiting for you.

15. Combine Both Passions

Get creative by enjoying books and TV together. Many popular shows are adapted from books, so you can read the novel and then watch the series or movie version. It’s a fun way to experience the story in different formats.

Examples: Series like “Game of Thrones,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” or “Big Little Lies” offer incredible content in both mediums.

Reclaiming time for reading and TV doesn't have to feel overwhelming, even with a busy professional schedule. By prioritizing, planning, and fitting these habits into your daily life, you can balance productivity with leisure. Start small, be consistent, and soon you’ll find yourself indulging more in the stories and shows that bring you joy.