It’s taken a long time, but I’ve taught myself to read for 10-20 minutes each morning before the kids get up and we get ready for school/work. I also keep an audiobook in my car (15 minutes to and from work). I find that the small cumulative effort pays off in the long run.
I have been having ups and downs in my reading life for many of the reasons you mentioned. I have also been experiencing a shift in what I am reading. I have been spending a lot of my reading time reading on Substack. There is so much good content on here and it has impacted the amount of time I spend reading books. Not a problem but a definite shift. I am still reading books - both fiction and nonfiction - but not as much as in the past. Thank you for this post as it helped me clarify what I am doing.
I am noticing the same - there is so much wonderful writing on Substack that is affecting how much book reading I can do. All part of the ebb and flow of our reading lives, I guess.
I love this discussion. Yesterday I hit a milestone with my reading, 500 days of reading every single day. As a TL (just retired) I talked with students about this all the time. Is it better to read everyday or binge or count books or what? Last year I read 101 books and I did not enjoy it. The pace was exhausting. It felt like I was in college again and I *had* to read. This year it’s been about taking the advice I give to my middle schoolers about reading every day. For me, at least 30 minutes. What a difference!! I do set aside or sort of make an appointment with myself to read for 30 minutes and it is work but I love it. It often spills over into more time throughout the day but it’s made a difference in my reading life. I also find that having multiple books going at one time is helpful because if I hit a patch of confusion in a book I might set it aside for another book and then come back. That is a strategy I learned from being a TL and reading lots of middle grade books but needing some time with adult characters and situations too so that is a technique I see myself using even more. Also, there are just so many formats, so yes, having an audiobook and a graphic novel and a novel and so forth, keeps it interesting. Thanks for the thought provoking post and stimulating discussion.
I always have to have several books on the go at once, because I never know what I will be in the mood for. I find that I have an upper limit of about 8, before I get overwhelmed and paralysed. But yes, a fiction book, a non fiction, a 'dip in and out' book, an audiobook, a work-related book...
I find I read more if I set myself a goal on Goodreads each year. This year I've gone for 104 and I think I will lower it next year... I think there is a risk of it becoming less enjoyable at this pace.
Agreed. I really like a pace that allows me to savor a story and process it. I am on Goodreads and StoryGraph as well and I enjoy tracking my progress.
Thank you for this reflection. I think my reading life has been in chaos between pandemic disruptions, teaching position changes, caregiving and grief, and now- moving. I am being drawn back to physical books after quite a long time reading on my kindle and in audiobooks. I appreciate so much your naming the ebbs and flows of adult life- and connecting it to kid transitions. We do all of ourselves a kindness to acknowledge that we are all doing the best that we can at any given time- and that the right book for the right moment is probably out there!
My days are best when I read and enjoy a cup of tea first thing in the morning, when no one else is up. I live in the way-north, and dark winter mornings are THE BEST! I also read before bed, usually a kids' book. I do the hard stuff in the morning.
I can double my reading with audio books, which I mostly listen to during short summer (way north, remember?) when I'm gardening or wild harvesting. They're also a treat in the car, but I don't commute, so nothing regular there.
Life disruptions offer different opportunities. Sometimes, lunch has been a dedicated reading time, and that's lovely. It's kind of a goal to find a way to read midday.
I don't *need* anything to read--except relative quiet--but I do love a cup of tea with a good old-fashioned paper book.
I have started committing to a reading challenge and that helps me stay on track. I spend a lot of time reading for work and, as a result, there are some days I just don’t feel like reading at all. But I have been managing to find some time most days to read and I am one book ahead of my 40 book challenge for the year.
Well done for being ahead of your goal! I find having a goal really spurs me forward with my reading. I started low (I think my first ever goal - a very long time ago - was 12 books) and have built up slowly.
I am a passionate reader as well, but I have noticed the changing reading rhythms in changing seasons too. One for me was that I had a major health issue during the pandemic time, and I experienced so much anxiety that I had to read only happy things. That has lessened but not disappeared, so gentle books have been my personal pleasure reading diet in recent years in addition to the tons of children's books I preview.
Another part of my lifelong reader habit continues to be having a book everywhere. I don't feel frustrated with a delay/line/waiting for people as long as I have a book along. So I have so many books in process so that I can grab any extra minutes no matter how busy life gets.
Thank you for writing this. I think it is important to normalise that all readers have ups and downs in their reading lives. And that adjusting to changing circumstances will mean adjusting our reading habits.
And I am very jealous of your covered porch! We don't have such things in the UK, but if I ever get to spend a period of time living in the US (my partner is from East Tennessee) I hope I get the chance to experience sitting on the porch each evening, reading...
I experienced several life changes. I lost my reading routine until I settled into this new life. Now, I’m exploring audiobooks and digital books again. I’m still learning to love these as much as physical ones. I’ve also noticed that as my reader identity has changed so has my writerly life.
Ever since having kids, audiobooks have been such a game changer for me. They are how I get most of my reading done. I go through spurts, sometimes I devour book after book and sometimes I am slowly enjoying own book for a month or two. I love the energy of remembering what has worked before and what can work again.
It’s taken a long time, but I’ve taught myself to read for 10-20 minutes each morning before the kids get up and we get ready for school/work. I also keep an audiobook in my car (15 minutes to and from work). I find that the small cumulative effort pays off in the long run.
I have been having ups and downs in my reading life for many of the reasons you mentioned. I have also been experiencing a shift in what I am reading. I have been spending a lot of my reading time reading on Substack. There is so much good content on here and it has impacted the amount of time I spend reading books. Not a problem but a definite shift. I am still reading books - both fiction and nonfiction - but not as much as in the past. Thank you for this post as it helped me clarify what I am doing.
I am noticing the same - there is so much wonderful writing on Substack that is affecting how much book reading I can do. All part of the ebb and flow of our reading lives, I guess.
I love this discussion. Yesterday I hit a milestone with my reading, 500 days of reading every single day. As a TL (just retired) I talked with students about this all the time. Is it better to read everyday or binge or count books or what? Last year I read 101 books and I did not enjoy it. The pace was exhausting. It felt like I was in college again and I *had* to read. This year it’s been about taking the advice I give to my middle schoolers about reading every day. For me, at least 30 minutes. What a difference!! I do set aside or sort of make an appointment with myself to read for 30 minutes and it is work but I love it. It often spills over into more time throughout the day but it’s made a difference in my reading life. I also find that having multiple books going at one time is helpful because if I hit a patch of confusion in a book I might set it aside for another book and then come back. That is a strategy I learned from being a TL and reading lots of middle grade books but needing some time with adult characters and situations too so that is a technique I see myself using even more. Also, there are just so many formats, so yes, having an audiobook and a graphic novel and a novel and so forth, keeps it interesting. Thanks for the thought provoking post and stimulating discussion.
I always have to have several books on the go at once, because I never know what I will be in the mood for. I find that I have an upper limit of about 8, before I get overwhelmed and paralysed. But yes, a fiction book, a non fiction, a 'dip in and out' book, an audiobook, a work-related book...
I find I read more if I set myself a goal on Goodreads each year. This year I've gone for 104 and I think I will lower it next year... I think there is a risk of it becoming less enjoyable at this pace.
Agreed. I really like a pace that allows me to savor a story and process it. I am on Goodreads and StoryGraph as well and I enjoy tracking my progress.
Thank you for this reflection. I think my reading life has been in chaos between pandemic disruptions, teaching position changes, caregiving and grief, and now- moving. I am being drawn back to physical books after quite a long time reading on my kindle and in audiobooks. I appreciate so much your naming the ebbs and flows of adult life- and connecting it to kid transitions. We do all of ourselves a kindness to acknowledge that we are all doing the best that we can at any given time- and that the right book for the right moment is probably out there!
My days are best when I read and enjoy a cup of tea first thing in the morning, when no one else is up. I live in the way-north, and dark winter mornings are THE BEST! I also read before bed, usually a kids' book. I do the hard stuff in the morning.
I can double my reading with audio books, which I mostly listen to during short summer (way north, remember?) when I'm gardening or wild harvesting. They're also a treat in the car, but I don't commute, so nothing regular there.
Life disruptions offer different opportunities. Sometimes, lunch has been a dedicated reading time, and that's lovely. It's kind of a goal to find a way to read midday.
I don't *need* anything to read--except relative quiet--but I do love a cup of tea with a good old-fashioned paper book.
I have started committing to a reading challenge and that helps me stay on track. I spend a lot of time reading for work and, as a result, there are some days I just don’t feel like reading at all. But I have been managing to find some time most days to read and I am one book ahead of my 40 book challenge for the year.
Well done for being ahead of your goal! I find having a goal really spurs me forward with my reading. I started low (I think my first ever goal - a very long time ago - was 12 books) and have built up slowly.
My reading life does ebb and flow. Recently it has been an audio book for the commute to work and a ebook for at home!!
What an interesting post!
I am a passionate reader as well, but I have noticed the changing reading rhythms in changing seasons too. One for me was that I had a major health issue during the pandemic time, and I experienced so much anxiety that I had to read only happy things. That has lessened but not disappeared, so gentle books have been my personal pleasure reading diet in recent years in addition to the tons of children's books I preview.
Another part of my lifelong reader habit continues to be having a book everywhere. I don't feel frustrated with a delay/line/waiting for people as long as I have a book along. So I have so many books in process so that I can grab any extra minutes no matter how busy life gets.
Oh, yes, I needed those happy books during the pandemic, too, and I also have felt that need lessen but not disappear.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Thank you for writing this. I think it is important to normalise that all readers have ups and downs in their reading lives. And that adjusting to changing circumstances will mean adjusting our reading habits.
And I am very jealous of your covered porch! We don't have such things in the UK, but if I ever get to spend a period of time living in the US (my partner is from East Tennessee) I hope I get the chance to experience sitting on the porch each evening, reading...
I experienced several life changes. I lost my reading routine until I settled into this new life. Now, I’m exploring audiobooks and digital books again. I’m still learning to love these as much as physical ones. I’ve also noticed that as my reader identity has changed so has my writerly life.
Ever since having kids, audiobooks have been such a game changer for me. They are how I get most of my reading done. I go through spurts, sometimes I devour book after book and sometimes I am slowly enjoying own book for a month or two. I love the energy of remembering what has worked before and what can work again.