Reviving the Reading Habit: Five Ways to Jump Start Your Reading by Theresa Gauthier

Books are my life.

There’s nothing you can’t learn, figure out, or discover if you read the right book. Your choice or reading material may even impact your emotional development. People who read fiction tend to develop more empathy than people who don’t. This isn’t to say that anyone should only read fiction. Nor that anyone should read only non-fiction. Being a well-rounded individual requires a well-rounded reading list.

I never stop reading.

At least I never have before 2020. Somehow, reading has become challenging. I have no shortage of books on my To Be Read list. I have no shortage of Books I Want to Buy. I have no true shortage of time.

Yet, somehow, I cannot read quite the way I’m accustomed to reading. All of my life, I’ve always been reading something. As a kid, I would read a book and sometimes start it again the moment I finished it. I remember being in high school and having a book on my desk and a classmate saw it and asked in a desperate tone, “What class do we have to read that for?” 

To which my response, “That’s mine. I’m reading it for fun,” elicited an expression that was equal parts confusion and relief. 

In my adult years, I’m often reading more than one book at any give time. Sometimes, I’d be reading a different book depending on which room of my house I’m in, whether I’m visiting family or friends, going on vacation, or riding public transportation.

Since 2020, just having a stack of enticing books and a spare five minutes doesn’t mean I’m going to read. My frustration is increasing the longer this continues. 

Starting a book a few months ago, I imagined I’d finish in no time. Instead I’m struggling.

Starting another title hoping it was nothing more than a mood didn’t help. Sometimes, I’ve been able to listen to audio books, but I admit I find that far less satisfying. 

I want to read. 

So—why can’t I?

I’ve read a lot (haha) on this topic. It seems that mental health issues and social media have conspired to rob readers of their passion. I’m not alone in facing this—though that doesn’t really make me feel any better.

It’s got more to do with an inability to focus than anything else, and the internet is brimming with pages claiming to know how to cure the affliction. 

Stress management might help. Meditation might help. Trying to focus on a book or article when alone or isolated might help.

There’s no shortage of suggestions. 

Here are my five steps toward climbing back to the top of that mountain of books.

1. Don’t stress. Worrying about anything is a waste of time and energy. I can’t spare either. Instead, if I find myself reading a book that’s failing to keep my attention, I won’t assume it’s the book or me—but rather that it’s just not the right time to read it. I’ll move the book to the bottom of my To Be Read pile and start something else.  I’ll admit I’ve started more at once than is usual for me, but I refuse to  give that a thought.

2. Limit Social Media. Social Media seem to contrive to rob us of our desire to do other things. It’s a rabbit hole that even Alice would find far more disheartening than Wonderland. I’ve often found it depressing anyway. Anytime I think of checking social media, or even of playing a game on my phone or computer, I’ll stop myself and read a book instead.

3. Try something new. I admit, I have my favorites. Authors. Genres. We all do. I’m going to branch out and test myself. Maybe I’ll find something I might never had read otherwise. I’ve already begun by asking friends for suggestions. Case in point, I do confess that I don’t much care for graphic novels. I tried when I was a kid to jump into that world, but I always felt let down when I’d read the genre. My biggest complaint is that there are just not enough words. To me, it feels condensed—like you’re getting a summary or an outline rather than a full story. That said, I’ve just read George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy in a bit more than a day. That feeling of accomplishment (and the fact that it was a great read) made this a win. 

I tend to prefer longer format, but to turn that on it’s ear, I’m also going to try to embrace shorter pieces—magazine articles, short stories. 

4. Revisit old favorites. Rereading a classic or a favorite book from my childhood or even from a few years ago might give me not only something familiar and fun to read, but might also shine a light on seeing a favorite from a new perspective. I’ve got no shortage of possibilities, and even gave this a try this Christmas reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens once more. (Of course, I tend to do that every Christmas, so I’m not sure it counts!) 

5. Never give up. (Never surrender!—sorry—had to do that!) I will not be defeated. I will become the avid reader I’ve been all my life. Books will not lose their luster for me. They’re too much a part of my life. I will master this. 

Books, after all, are my life.