The past few months – no, the past year – has been so out-of-whack that things that used to come naturally have slipped away… much like my reading habit.
From reading approximately fifty books per year to last year only reading thirty-five, and then this year having only finished TWO books so far (typically I would have finished four or five by now, minimum!) my reading has significantly diminished.
Although there are great reasons – my first baby is due any day now, the world is an absolute mess, I’m exhausted and busy… the list goes on – I am not content with not reading as the status quo.
Reestablishing My Reading Habit: The Plan
Even with the peripartum depression, lack of energy, and soon-to-be-born baby to welcome into the world, I am creating a plan to reestablish my reading habit.
Although right now this plan is more of a theory on how to fix the issue than anything else, determination and a love of reading on my part are definitely major plusses!
- Set a timer for five minutes of reading, every day (gradually increase)
- Write the above reading time into my plan for each day (schedule it!)
- Don’t force a book I’m not enjoying – set it down and read something else! I can always try that book again later.
- Bible reading counts too! (But an additional reading time is even better, since I usually don’t count Bible reading, and that DOES happen most days.)
- No beating myself up over a missed day; HOWEVER, don’t let the exceptions become the rule!!!
The Theory Behind THE PLAN:
Although, as previously stated, we are working with a theory here – I believe I can recreate my reading habit by starting slow and working my way back to where I used to be (and beyond!).
Hopefully, by reading for a few minutes each day, and gradually increasing, I can not only rediscover my love for reading (and spark that insatiable need to read again), I can pass that love on to my son (over time, of course).
Do you have a love for reading that has diminished over time, or been overtaken by other priorities? How did you get that lost love back? Let me know in the comments below!
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
[…] If life has made reading more difficult than usual in recent days, see Reintroducing a Reading Habit for ideas on reading more, even with limited time. It’s my plan to start reading again, even […]