On Reading

I had trouble sleeping and staying asleep. I started reading before bed and now I cannot stop.

Screenshot By Me

Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation)

I’ve had my kindle longer than I care to admit. I had a hard time using it. I couldn’t focus my attention on a book long enough to finish. I was distracted by my phone and my Xbox. I tried so many times to read various books, but nothing seemed to work. The beginning of April, I really upped my reading game and here is how I did it!

Enjoying What I Read

There is a ton of pressure to read “The Classics.” Some of them honestly bored me to tears. I couldn’t finish them. I felt stupid, unintelligent, and immature for not enjoying them. I did not finish many of them. I would try, get bored, and stop reading. All the reading clubs, groups and social circles place so much emphasis on reading “The Classics” that I began to feel like an impostor. Like maybe I wasn’t a real reader.

One day, I picked up my Paperwhite and decided to delete all the books I never finished. Then, I started searching for books that I wanted to read. So far, I have read The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson, and I just started The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson.

In the year of 2025, I have read 4 books and currently reading my fifth novel. In a matter of weeks! I am truly proud of myself and my two week reading streak. Enjoying the books I read is truly a game changer.

Reading Trackers

As a reader, I am familiar with reading trackers like Story Graph and Goodreads. I had a terrible habit of setting high reading challenges for myself and then beat myself up for not reaching my goal. If something makes me feel bad about myself, I tend to avoid it. Reading shouldn’t be avoided! Reading shouldn’t make me feel bad! Reading is my favorite past time. What happened to that?!

When I began to read books I enjoy, I set my challenge to 1 book. When I finished my first book and started the next one, I set my challenge to 2 books. And so forth. This has been a much better system for me. I prefer something that allows me to accomplish as I go versus setting a high goal. And then reading just to reach this silly number that means nothing.

Secondly, I stopped reading reviews. I choose books solely based on plot and synopsis. If I think I will like it, I pick it up and give it a chance. If I don’t like it, I stop reading and switch to something else. Basing the content I choose to consume based on other people’s opinions is absurd to me. I prefer to make up my mind. Choosing books purely on my own helps me fine tune my decision-making process. Making decisions takes practice and every little bit counts!

I use Goodreads to log my book and that is all. I do not waste time reading reviews or seeing what other people have to say. I do not have anything against reading or writing reviews. I just choose not to participate. Those reviewers are not in my head. I have found a few books that weren’t as bad as these reviews made them out to be — it can also be a black hole of controversy that grips my attention more than the book did! Social media is addictive, and I have an addictive personality. I need to set boundaries for myself.

Setting Boundaries

Instead of reaching for my phone, I reach for my Kindle. Reading books that I enjoy and tracking my progress makes reading exciting for me. I look forward to finding out what happens next. I’ve been paying attention to how much I am on my phone and seeing my phone time decrease is a great feeling. I carry my Kindle with me everywhere. I read while waiting in line or waiting for my car to be serviced.

It’s a Mood Booster

Reading is definitely a mood booster. In this day and age where we are under severe pressure to “be productive all the time,” reading gives me an escape from all of that. I noticed that I feel happier, more optimistic, and wake up in a better mood. Reading books gives me a deeply fulfilling satisfaction in my soul. There is nothing else that brings me so much joy.

My Reading Schedule

I like to read in the morning before I go to sleep. My sleep has improved. In fact, I had a hard time falling asleep yesterday. I realized I hadn’t read that morning, so I grabbed my Kindle and read a few chapters. I was out like a light. Instead of doom scrolling over my breakfast and breeding a bunch of negative energy, I read fun books instead. This has definitely improved my overall mood, my mental health and my emotional state. I am a much calmer, much more stable person.

All Writers Should Read…

Twice as much as they write. Now, I do not know if I am reaching that level of reading progress. I write in my paper journal at least once a day. Sometimes, multiple entries a day. I have a digital journal on my phone and a main story in my laptop. As well as several short stories that are waiting to be edited/revised/expanded. Still, developing a reading habit inspires me to keep a writing habit. The benefits of reading books I enjoy and using a progression system that works for me has proven to be so beneficial in so many ways. I love books, I love to read, and I love to write. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of both those passions.

I realized my newfound reading/writing habits feed off each other. The more I read, the more I write. The more I write, the more I read. Both hobbies work in tandem to create a more balanced me. My overall well-being has improved in the past couple weeks.

Proving to Myself…

I have proven to myself that I am capable of being consistent. Consistency and moderation are key in all areas of life. I have a minimum of reading and a minimum of writing that I strive for each day. If I do more than that, it is extra. Because I do not bog myself down with silly reading challenges and unrealistic word counts, I have freed myself to develop my creative habits in a way that works for me.

There is so much pressure to reach meaningless, arbitrary numbers that it’s exhausting. I remember when I used to play Hearthstone, I became obsessed with my stats. Instead of playing to have fun, I was playing to win. I was playing to increase numbers. I was not enjoying myself.

What is the point to life if you’re not having fun?

What is the point to reading or writing for leisure if it’s inducing stress/anxiety?

There isn’t any point. While it’s good to track my progress and compete with myself, I also need to be mindful that these numbers are not the end all/be all of my hobbies. I keep consistent, I keep practicing, I will become faster, better, and do more. The goal here is to remain consistent. And to enjoy myself.

If I am having fun, I will keep at it.