Background:

I’m in my 40s and I’ve always sort of beaten myself up over not being an avid reader. I go through phases where I read a bunch, sometimes I’ll finish a book in a months time, sometimes start a book and forget it, sometimes it seems like I go literally years without really getting into any book at all. But I still accumulate them.

Because of how important reading is and now I “fail” to prioritize it, I’ve always found myself in a poor relationship with reading. I feel this artificial pressure to read things that are only important and will somehow make me more useful. I feel this artificial pressure to start one book and read it to the end. I feel this artificial pressure to become a changed person by fully investing every bit of info from every book.

I’ve been learning that these pressures are untenable.

I’ve also noticed that I partake in all kinds of things without the same expectations: tv shows, games, podcasts, media and news outlets, social media, etc.

Right now I have 6 books that I am actively reading, and I am trying to remember that it’s for enjoyment and not some high level goal. Someone told me if I read 10 pages a day I would finish about 10 books a year. I found this so encouraging.

Taking the pressure off of reading has really helped me get more productive at reading, and I think it will help me convert my habit into a truly fruitful one.

So now I ask you:

  • What are your reading habits like?
  • What do you like to read?
  • What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it?
  • Have you made any changes, positive or negative, to your reading habits?
  • What else?
  • Elextra@literature.cafe
    2·
    5 days ago

    Honestly, my top advice is to read what you enjoy or what you want to. That’s how best to get into reading. If you don’t like or enjoy reading a book, drop it. I saw you have six books youre currently reading. Do you even like them?!? Maybe find one that really absorbs you and go from there? If standard text does not grab you, what about graphic novels like Maus? You listen to podcasts. What about audiobooks? Any with a good narration?

    • What are your reading habits like?

    I read when I feel like it (physical and ebooks), audiobooks during car rides if the narration is good. If I am not in the mood to read, I don’t?

    • What do you like to read?

    Fiction is my favorite. Sci Fi, wholesome books (cozy reads), etc. However, I would occasionally mix in a memoir or a nonfiction like you said because I also felt some pressure to want to learn something

    • What kind of stage of life are you in, and how does that affect it?

    I’m in my early 30s. I got burnt out of my job during the pandemic. Took some medical leave due to new depression, stress and other effects on myself. Took time and started reading again. Picked up Murderbot Diaries as one of my first books and Anxious People by Fredrik Backman… Absolute love.

    • Have you made any changes, positive or negative, to your reading habits?

    If I don’t like a book, I drop it. I added audiobooks to my reading and it increased number of books “read”

    • What else? See above