How I Became a Reader
Photo by Blaz Photo on Unsplash
It feels funny to be writing this post since I am behind on my reading goal for this year, but last year I reached a goal of reading 24+ books. This was averaging around two per month, and a goal I never thought I would ever obtain when I set it nearly a decade prior.
When I graduated from grad school I had every intention to become a reader. After all I had been reading hundreds of pages in textbooks weekly for the past six years between undergrad and graduate school, so reading for fun would be easier right. Yeah… not so much. In the age of Netflix and Disney Plus why would I choose to read over watching new and nostalgia TV shows.
Fast forward a few years and I remember having a conversation with a co-worker who was a big time reader. She would stay up until 2:00am some nights because she was so engrossed in her book. I remember us discussing my challenges with reading growing up when it came to focusing on the story and being present in the reading experience.
My friend explained to me that she didn’t become a reader overnight, and how she just started and slowly became one. It was a muscle she built up in time.
I had always admired the people I would see carrying a book with them at all times, enjoying the pages in a coffee shop or wherever they may be. They just always seemed calm and at peace. It wasn’t until I started prioritizing reading myself that I realized what a beautiful self-care habit it can be.
When and Why Did I start prioritizing reading:
It was in April of 2020 when I started prioritizing reading, which we all can probably recall was when we were in a global pandemic.
I worked at a Community College at the time, and like many employees was sent to work remotely from home. I didn’t have much of a commute, but all of a sudden had all this extra time on my hand since I wasn’t getting fully ready for work in the mornings.
Like most people I would get online looking at social media and would instantly be overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, both good and bad. I realized fairly quickly how that was starting to impact my mental health in a negative way. So I made the decision to pick up a book instead of being on social media, and challenged myself to read for 20 minutes in the morning while I enjoyed my cup of coffee.
What I noticed as I became a reader:
Starting my morning with reading instead of social media is THE BEST thing I have ever done for myself. Even five years later, it’s my favorite part of the morning. The solitude of reading while snuggling my pets and enjoying my coffee is the best way to start my day.
In the fall/winter it’s even better with getting to turn on my gas fireplace, and anymore I am as my husband says “extra” with putting on an ambiance YouTube video as well jazz or nature sounds in the background.
I realized by starting my morning routine with reading it helps me wake up my brain and ease into the day. When it’s time to work I feel more ready mentally for the work day, and not a bundle of stress from everything online.
How I reached my reading Goal:
In terms of reaching my reading goal last year, it was continuing my morning habit of reading first thing in the morning. However, I learned through my Oura Ring data that reading flags as a restorative activity for me, and helps me get from a high state of stress to a relaxed or restored state of mind.
Due to the insight I was motivated to start reading on my lunch breaks which helped me finish books more quickly then I would have otherwise. I also read at night before bed, but most of the time I only get 3-5 pages read before I start dropping my book/kindle on my face.
Sometimes on the nights my husband and I do our own things, I try to only watch one episode of the show I am invested in and spend the last 30 minutes or so reading a few extra pages in my book before we get ready for bed. Usually, while snuggling my pets once again.
At nearly 35 years old I have finally found the true beauty in being a reader. For me it’s a self care activity that offers entertainment, mindfulness, and a way to escape to a different reality.
Reading can be an expensive hobby though with new books costing around $15-30 dollars., not to mention the physical clutter they can be with storage So support you local library and save some money by either borrowing physical books, or downloading an E-book through the Libby App. Also, shop second hand at thrift stores if it’s a book you want to have a copy of for your at home collection.
Until next time,
