Ah, the classic New Year Resolutions of, ” I want to read more this year”. Anybody with me there? Yes, I know, it’s one of those nebulous goals, not clearly defined, unmeasurable, etc. But, I am ok with that.
I have always loved books, and I quite agree with Plato who said, “A house with a library has a soul.” This year, I decided that I was going to spend more time reading and less time scrolling. I have come to realize that reading really is a lifestyle choice. Here are a few of the things that have helped me read more.
It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it. -Oscar Wilde
Put it in your schedule Number one tip for getting things done is to schedule it. Put it on the calendar. This includes your daily routines. I get up early to have a quiet time of reading and prayer to start the day, and then again at the end of the day, I unwind with a cup of tea and a good book. There are other times during the week that I can read, but these are two definite.
Choose Reading Reading is a lifestyle choice. And really, Reading is a wellness choice. A good read nourishes the mind, feeds the soul and relaxes the body. We are the curators of our intellect and the choices we make for what we take into our minds influences and directs us. Decide what you want to take in and then adjust your time on social media, the phone, Netflix, etc. accordingly. Then cue up your audio book app, load up your ebooks, stack your books and choose to read instead.
Start a Book List The more you focus on reading, the more you will need to organize the tidal wave of amazing book recommendations you encounter. You also need a place to chronicle what you have read. I use both paper and electronic. I am a habitual list maker and I love paper, journals, pens, and the act of writing. It seems like a lost art but I enjoy keeping my book lists in a beautiful journal. But I also keep it on my phone, simply because it is always with me. There are lots of ways to track your reading life, find what works for you and enjoy keeping track of all you have read as well as all wonderful books there are still to read.
Audio Books Count We all have full lives. As homemakers, we have so many physical tasks that demand our hands be occupied, it simply isn’t possible to read all that I want or need. But with audio books I can listen while I cook, clean, water plants, fold laundry, do dishes, run errands or walk the dogs. And though I don’t always listen; it is important to have times of quiet and give our minds the space to think, it does feel like a little luxury to pop in my wireless headphones and visit with Jane (Austen, of course) while I get work done. It makes sticking to routine much easier.
Read Widely As homemakers we are culture creators and world shapers. What we choose to read matters! Sarah Clarkson, in BookGirl, recommends reading a variety of books. I heartily agree. Have a book of theology and/or devotion going along with your daily Bible Reading, as well as a book of prayer. She also suggests reading a biography, and a book of poetry in addition to a novel. Read a variety of genres. Some books are books you read fast and some are books you really need to read slow. Some books are challenging, some are just a simple pleasure. Incorporate a variety. I was missing the poetry and biography to my reading regime and have loved the addition.
Read more than one book at a time If you are reading widely, this will just happen. Some may argue that if you are reading this way, there is the danger of never finishing a book. I say that is the work of the author. It is their job to write something that compels the reader to read. If you are not compelled to finish it, move on. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. You don’t have to finish every book you start.
Keep something with you at all times. E-books are great for this. Even though I don’t enjoy reading on a screen especially my phone, it does fit the bill when I am out and about with a few minutes and don’t have a book with me. I personally wouldn’t travel this way, but you sure could, and it is much lighter.
Leave Books around I want to be a reader and I want my children to be readers. This requires having books and having them around. I am no minimalists when it comes to books! Now, I certainly do advocate for having one main home for all (or most of) your books and simply leaving individual books around that can be changed up often. But books add life and personality to a space. I love to have devotionals in the bathrooms and books of poetry on side tables, both are easy to pick up and put down. Picture coffee table books of the area you live in are lovely to have in the guest room or the family room. My quiet time books reside in my reading nook and though my current read travels with me throughout the day, there is a lovely night time read on the bedside table and baskets of picture books in the kids rooms. Treasured antique books decorate the antique desks giving a nod to times gone by.
Create a Reading Nook If reading is part of your lifestyle you will need places that encourage you to come and read. Fill the space with special things. For me, there must be room for a cup of tea, a candle, box of tissue, pen and paper for noting quotes, soft pillows as well as a cozy blanket and for a touch of real luxury, my chair back massager. All my favorite things! I love coming here at the end of the day!
I hope you have found some encouragement for your reading life. What has helped you read more? Please leave a comment so we can all learn from each other.