Bringing Back The Book Lover In You
Has reading books felt like an impossible task lately? Between the demands of the digital age and adult responsibilities, we have so many things constantly competing for our attention. It isn’t unusual for you to feel like there’s no time to pick up a book anymore. In this busy, fast-paced life, it seems like a ‘luxury’ to sit down and enjoy the comfort of a good book. But hobbies are like fuel to your soul, and it can be disheartening to lose that connection with your favorite pastime.
Whether it’s your job or grad studies sucking the fun out of your life, here are a few tips and tricks that might help that bookworm resurface:
START SMALL
When you are surfing Netflix in your free time, you might start a movie instead of an 8-season sitcom. A similar strategy applies here. Pick up a graphic comic or a novella, something that can be read in a single sitting. Don’t be ashamed to go the short story route! You don’t have to read a novel. Maybe a book of poetry would do.
Re-reading your favorites
Sometimes rekindling our love for something requires being reminded of why we loved it in the first place. If you’re yearning to return to your used-to bliss, you could benefit from taking up an old favorite and rereading it with your mature eyes. Who knows, perhaps you will discover a new perspective.
Be prepared to “DNF“ a book
While it’s normal to feel accomplished on completing a book, it doesn’t have to be a necessity. Don’t pressure yourself into dread-reading a book just because you picked it up. If the book doesn’t get you excited, quit it. You can always come back to it if you want to.
Rediscover your reading preferences
We tend to fall out of habits as we grow up. You change as a person, so it is highly likely that your reading tastes have changed too. It can be like rediscovering a part of you. Be open to trying something new or unexpected.
Always carry a book with you:
Whether it’s a physical copy or an ebook, carry your book with you everywhere. I, personally, always have a book on me. Read in waiting rooms, long queues, laundromats, and metro trains wherever possible. Reading a page here and there can keep the story moving without feeling like you have to commit to a full session. It can help your book feel like your companion.
Creating a reading environment
Make your environment a welcoming place for a good book. Make yourself a tea, plug in a calm music or white noise, turn on a lamp. Have a different space assigned for reading that’s not your bed.
Try out audiobooks
If making time for reading feels like a task, then don’t hesitate to give audiobooks a chance. This way, you can be cleaning your room and reading a book. Maybe it will be your thing!
Make it fun
Reading should be enjoyable. Find what interests you. You don’t have to read “adult” books or what you “should be reading”; you are allowed to just read whatever you want. Don’t limit yourself to one genre.
What We Suggest
Look, it’s not easy! If you can’t start at all, then just read anything: newsletters, magazines, articles, or blogs (like CTRL+Z). Reading anything is better than not reading at all. Your reading journey is uniquely yours, and you get to decide all the paths or carve out a new one. What’s the book you’re going to try out first?
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