How To Get Back In To Reading (When you feel “too busy”)

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How to Get Back In To Reading

(When it’s been a hot minute since you’ve had “time” to read)

I LOVE reading. I am always in the middle of multiple books of multiple genres. But there was a time not so long ago that I realized I hadn’t picked up a book in a long time. And I was surprised.

I found myself asking the question Why? And I had all the various excuses. No time. No interest. Too depressing. Can’t find “the right book” etc. etc. But my desire to get back in to books was strong so I set out to become a reader again.

Here’s some tips if you feel stuck like I did:

  1. Ebooks. I used to never like ebooks. I truly prefer the feeling of pages in my hand. But as my life has changed, and demands have increased discovering ebooks has been life changing for me. I always have a few books on my phone. and I turn to books when I am waiting in line, waiting for car repairs, or when I have a few minutes here and there. I no longer scroll social media or news sources mindlessly. Instead I sneak in a few minutes to escape to a different world by reading.

Start With Just 30 Minutes a day. I realized I totally had thirty minutes here and there I just usually spent them mindlessly scrolling. So I cut out my end of night bedtime scrolling to read a book. And then I got hooked….the rest is history.

Follow literary accounts on Instagram. When I feel overwhelmed and like I don’t have any idea what to read next I turn to my favorite IG accounts and they never steer me wrong. I have never read something from Reese Witherspoon’s book club that I haven’t absolutely swooned over. I also love @Everydayreading, and @talkwordytome. I have never read one of their recommendations and been disappointed.

Start or Join a book club. I won’t lie. Not all book clubs discuss books. But there is something really fun about knowing your friends are reading a book along with you and you can text them at 10:00 at night and say “OMG! can you believe page 267?!”.

You can stop reading a book. I used to be super OCD about finishing books that I started. But not any more. If a book doesn’t keep my interest past page 80 or so. I’m done. I move on to read something that excites me more.

Audio books. Sometimes stories are more thrilling when you listen to them. And I am more productive when I am listening to a good book because I want to keep listening. So I keep folding laundry. It’s a win win. The way I see it.

Branch Out. I used to stick to just one kind of author, and non fiction was like a chore to me. But I started branching out and I realized that I love to read books that challenge me. I love ones that challenge my way of thinking. There’s something about relating to characters and then imagining how you would respond, or react and putting yourself in their shoes. Books can change our lives, even as adults. Non fiction can do that too- if you let it.

Start a “reading tracking account”. I like to use Goodreads. But there are a lot of different apps available to help you track what you read, and what you want to read. I mostly love my “Want to read list” because then when I finish a book, I know exactly what I want to read next, and I am not stuck wondering. So if I hear or see something that sounds interesting I add it to my Goodreads list. It’s easy and fun!

“We are what we love. We aren’t the things we collect, acquire or read. the things we’ve loved, the places we’ve loved, the people we’ve loved, these things live on. They are, who we are” A.J. Fickry

(From the storied life of A.J. Fickry)

Happy Reading Friends!

For some of my favorite books  check out this post!