To read or not to read

My reading target this year was a modest 25 books. It is well within my typical range, and I had a number of good books lined up that I was keen on reading, so it looked like it would be a breeze. But the drive to pick up books dwindled in January, and has been missing since. The most likely culprit is a schedule that has been packed for months, and is only just starting to ease off. So, back to the books it is. I’ve done a bit of research and found a few tips that might be useful to out of the slump, the most promising of them listed below:

  • Change the format. Audio books have never been a typical format for me, marvellous though they are. And they might just be what I need to get back into the habit. Nothing to lose, full speed ahead!
  • Make an event of it. Sofa, snacks, a cat in my lap and a whole evening to spend on a book, with no distractions. It sounds like a good plan, and even if it fails, I will get sofa, snacks and cat, so I am very much in favour of giving it a shot.
  • Abandon with abandon. I will admit there are a few books I am currently reading that feel more like a chore than a joy. Forgive me, dear book, we have tried but I will abandon you for now. You are perfectly fine, just not quite right for me right now. It’s not you, it’s me.
  • Be picky. Aim for the exciting book, the yes-please book, the one that look like it will be a delight, the fancy-tickling shiny one.

There is also something to be said for accepting the slump. Sometimes, life gets in the way of reading, and there are simply not enough time or energy left at the end of the day. That is fine. So I may also add a final thing to the above list:

  • Don’t worry about it. The books will still be there when I’m ready to return. And in the meantime, there is always writing to be done…

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