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How My Reading Habits Have Changed: Letting Go of Reading Rules
Several years ago, when my boys were still very little and very demanding, I set a goal to read 12 books in a year. To keep myself balanced, I rotated between fun/fiction books with self-help/growth books. The “rule” I made for myself was simple: I couldn’t start the next fun read until I finished a self-help book.
The result? I flew through my fun, fiction choices, but slowed significantly when I got to the self-help books.
The Problem With My Old Reading Rules
It wasn’t as if the self-help books weren’t good – they were! Many offered valuable insight on how to have a deeper relationship with Jesus, be a better wife and mom, manage money better, have deeper friendships, run more efficiently, etc. But these just weren’t as engaging as my fiction reads. A few of were just plain hard to get into.
Since I had set this goal and made the rules, I forced myself to stick to them. And because I was also a book finisher—meaning if I started a book, I had to finish it—I ended up enjoying reading less that year.
The New Way I Approach Reading
In the last several years, my reading habits have changed. I still set yearly goals, but I approach books differently:
1. I don’t force myself to finish every book.
If I start a book and it bores me, offends me, or just doesn’t click, I put it down. Life is too short to read crappy books!
2. I sometimes read two books at once.
Now I’ll read a fun/fiction book alongside a self-help book. I usually aim to read a chapter of the self-help book first, then enjoy as much fiction as I want. This way, I make progress through both while still keeping reading enjoyable.
Why Changing Reading Habits Matters
Maybe you’re like me and you have arbitrary rules for your reading life. If those rules aren’t serving you, it’s OK to let them go. Your reading habits can (and should) change over time depending on your season of life, your interests, and your goals.
Because at the end of the day, reading should bring joy and growth—not stress. And like I said earlier, life is just too short to waste time reading crappy books.
What about you? How have your reading habits changed?
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