You’ve probably heard me talk about how much my family enjoys reading. Funny thing is though, my husband thinks I’m a big hypocrite! Any time I say something about liking reading, he responds with something like, “Yeah… you say that…” And he’s not wrong. I do not make time to read at all lately. Summer is coming, and I’ve been reading the same book while proctoring both fall and spring final exams this school year. Time to knock this sucker out and get my reading mojo back.
Last year, I tried to start a book club, but it turned into my sister and I reading a book and meeting up with maybe one other person for dinner once a month. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it. But it turns out, I don’t really know people who want to join a book club! Thinking back on that time though, even the illusion that I was in a book club had me reading way more than the previous months. Or years. But who’s counting? While I do wish we’d kept the dinner club going, at some point I lost the motivation to read that was sparked by the book club.
My husband assumes I just don’t like the book I’m currently plodding through, or clearly I would’ve finished it. But that honestly isn’t it. Truth is, I have no idea why I can’t just make myself read at night. I don’t really have that much to be stressed about, but at the end of the day a lot of times I just want to sit and do nothing. How is reading any more stressful than scrolling Twitter and Instagram though? These days it seems like my Twitter feed just sends me into an internal emotional frenzy, so maybe reading would be the better option for my sanity anyway!
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Getting Started
The last time I was reading consistently, I was a participant in an imaginary book club. I don’t think that will work this time, because at least back then it was like, “Oh… she just already read this book, she’ll do it next month.” Or, “She had something going on already for this dinner, but it’ll work out next month.” I was so naive. Now, I’m pretty sure people just don’t want to do it.
Since I can’t use the same strategy to get me going, it’s going to take some creativity. If you’re wondering why I can’t just… decide to read more and do it… I don’t know. I don’t have that kind of personality type. If I’m going to change a habit there’s got to be actionable steps. I’ve got a few ideas of things to try, and I’ll update you in a few weeks to see if it worked out for me.
Picking a Book
Since I’m already partially into a book, I know what I’ll be reading first. But once this one is done, I’d prefer not to have to mindlessly scroll through the Overdrive library app for a book to pick. I never knew I liked historical fiction, but I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society* and found that there was something about the genre that I never knew I was missing. I think I liked it so much because it reads like a novel, but the events of the period are rooted in truth. There were times I found myself looking up some of the “facts” to see if they were in fact, factual. Reading an engrossing story while being catapulted back in time is pretty cool. *Update: I found out very shortly after publishing this post that this book is being turned into a movie on Netflix. If that’s not motivation to get on with reading it, I don’t know what is!
My current read is All The Light We Cannot See. It’s another from the genre of historical fiction, and I’m reading it on recommendations from my husband, mom, and nearly 28,000 Amazon reviewers. It’s a ‘jumpy’ book going back and forth between perspectives and points in time. The book is set in France and Germany during WWII, following two young people from very different backgrounds who – I’m assuming – join paths. Otherwise it’ll just be a weird disjointed tale of two kids. (Update: I finished it, and yes – I wrote a post about it!)
My plan from here though is blank. Here’s what I’m considering:
- Join Kyle in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. It’s a list of prompts/categories instead of a straight “books to read” list. It allows you some freedom of choice while narrowing down the playing field. I don’t know that I’d choose the same books as him for every prompt, but there are a few on his reviews that sound like they’d be up my alley. You can view his picks for prompts 1-10 and 11-20 if you’re interested in some inspiration!
- Utilize the Pinterest board I’ve been compiling! I have pinned lots of great book list pins. After my WWII experience ends, I’m thinking I may choose one of the books from the “18 Funny Novels” pin. There’s very little that’s funny about WWII, so I’ll be ready for a change.
- Pick something from my bookshelf. We got rid of nearly all of our books when we read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up a few years ago, but I’ve picked up a few along the way. In an effort to clean the shelves again, I should probably read a few we already have!
Creating a Reading Habit
When I was reading a lot last year, I did a large portion of my reading on my Kindle app while rocking my newborn. (Yes, I rocked my newborn through his whole nap! He’s my last baby, and I was soaking it in. I also picked him up when he cried. And also he’s fine!) Anyway, I was able to put back quite a few e-books in that rocking chair. But now I only rock him for about 15 minutes, so it’s not really a great reading time. I suppose I could knock out a chapter per sitting though, so maybe I could try this again.
Not all of the books I read at that time were online though. I somehow created a habit of reading at night after the kids went down. Right now, I don’t even know what I do when the kids go down. It’s definitely not laundry. It’s probably Instagram.
My husband has a pretty impressive reading rate. We have family members who get his Goodreads updates, and I’ve heard people ask him if his Goodreads account is accurate before. When people ask how he reads so much, I tell them to think about all of the time they spend on social media. Replace all that Facebook time with book time, and you might have yourself a significant chunk of reading time! He also listens to audio books around the house. I’m not sure that I’m going to go there – I don’t focus well enough for that! I’d feel like I needed to constantly rewind to be able to understand what was going on.
So how am I going to break my social media habit and replace it with reading? Good question.
- Replace a social media app shortcut with my Kindle app shortcut on my home screen. When I’m bored, relaxing, or whatever, I mindlessly scroll to a social media app. Perhaps I can trick myself to click on that Kindle app if it’s sitting in the place where I automatically swipe to! The negative for this idea is that it will clearly only help me get back on track for e-books. And I will probably know where I moved the Instagram icon.
- Start my habit tracker back up in my bullet journal. I used to use a habit tracker religiously when I started my bullet journal. Then I kind of got burned out on it and ended up with several blank habit trackers in a row and quit even putting in the template. I might need to habit track using my habit tracker. Anyway, if I start that back up, then I’d put like “read 30 minutes” for one of the daily tracking items. If you don’t have a bullet journal, I’ve created a printable tracker for you that you can print off! It’s a tri-fold, so it can double as a bookmark. Score!
- Just put down my phone. I spend too much time on my phone. I’m trying to figure out a realistic “rule” for cutting down on my usage. I don’t want to lock it in a room or anything, because I don’t mind texting etc. and don’t really want to miss on messages if they come in. My problem is just if it’s always right next to me, then I grab it when I’m ready for something to do. I’m thinking my general guideline will be that instead of carrying it to wherever I am, I will make a point to put it on the kitchen counter. (Sound on, so I can hear a call/text!) Is it ridiculous to have to do this? Maybe. But hey, at least I’m trying to change!!
Make It Social
This is both the reason I succeeded and the reason I failed the last time I was reading regularly. I succeeded because I was excited about having someone to talk to about the book… (and an excuse to get out of the house every once in a while…) I failed because I assumed other people would also be really into the idea – and it just wasn’t true. This time I am going to approach it differently.
- Join an online community. I’m not planning on searching for like a virtual book club with meetings or anything, but I know there are groups out there who are recommending, reading, and talking about books. I follow a few “bookstagram-ers,” so I may just jump in with one of their groups/blogs. There’s threads out there on Reddit discussing books, which honestly may be enough of an online book club experience for me. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the same people I talk to every time!
- Talk to the friends I invited to book club with me last time and reach out to new friends. I know that the last book club fizzled, but we are all at different stages of life than we were last time. I no longer have a newborn. Everyone’s kids are growing up and becoming more self-sufficient. Perhaps the involvement would be different this time. Is that just me being an idealist? I also have a few new acquaintances that may be into it, so there may be room to start it up again. However, I’ve got a more realistic expectation this go ’round. If nobody sounds excited, I won’t try to force it!
Set A Goal
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself “goal oriented.” But I am “deadline oriented.” Which is a churched up way to say I don’t do things until I have to. I think if I set some sort of deadline for myself that I must finish All the Light by, then I just might be able to make it happen. How on Earth though do I enforce a self-imposed deadline?? Is that even a real thing? I do work well under pressure, but that pressure is usually from an outside force. I think I can figure it out.
Maybe I’ll write it in pen in my bullet journal, so that I have to scratch it out and forever have a record if I fail to meet the goal. That sounds like a pretty lame punishment. I’m honestly like, really okay with scratching stuff out in my journal. Unfazed.
Perhaps a reward will work better? Finish the book by May 18, and I get to treat myself to a Nothing Bundt Cake? Okay. Fine. We’ll do that one.
Read More – Starting Now
It’s official. If I finish the book by May 18, I get cake. I guess I’ll need to go get reading now! What are you reading next? Are you already an avid reader, or do you wish you made time to read more often? Leave me a comment with your next read or a great recommendation for others! *Update! I did it! I earned my cake! Read my reflection on this great book here!!
If you’re looking for reading inspiration, don’t forget to check out Kyle’s book picks. To get the whole family involved and reading more, be sure to join in on my summer reading challenge for kids!