I still remember the time I wrote a poem (homework - primary school) and the teacher simply couldn't believe I had written by myself (I had). What an awful thing to say to a child!
First step - self compassion 💖 Heaps of it. Daily. Then start small. Read Matilda again if you like! Pick something and then commit to one page. And take it one step at a time. Remember you're doing something fun! 🤓 💖
Reading doesn't need to mean physically having a book in your hands and I think that the snobby side of reading culture implies that. If you're a member of your local library, it could be worth checking if they do audiobook loans via BorrowBox. There's loads of free audiobooks on there and it could be that you dip in and out of a book while washing up/folding clothes, etc. I think my kids are older than yours (7 and 8) but we have a designated day for reading after school where they do their independent reading and I read, too. This day coincides with the library being open later, so we can bring some new books into the house if we need fresh material.
I actually gave up Instagram during lent & read anytime I would normally scroll. It was a game changer. Now I’m back on social media trying to get the balance right. Generally I listen to an audiobook in the morning while doing skincare & make-up, read during my hour lunch break at work & sometimes before bed, depending on how tired I am 🤣. I challenge myself to read a chapter a day, which feels manageable for me & also feels like I’ve achieved something ❤️
I am a bookseller of five years and a naturally slow reader so absolutely have to make time for it. I always have several books on the go so that I'm never bored. My ideal day involves getting ready for work with enough time to squeeze 15-30 minutes reading in with my coffee, I alternate between podcasts and an audiobook on my walk to and from work, on one of my breaks at work I *have* to read for half an hour (varying degrees of success - I just finished the new hunger games and joined the shop floor crying), if I can read a little in the evening I do but it doesn't happen often. Then at bedtime I have something light and fluffy on my kindle to read myself to sleep. Little and often and always having a book on me is how I get by.
My husband is a ‘slow reader’. He hadn’t ever finished a book when I met him. Comparison ruined his confidence. I spent many years trying to find a book for him. One day, he gave it a try. He reads every night before sleep. He loves reading, he can’t wait to return to the story. He may be a little slower but that’s because his beautiful imagination takes him to the heart of the story. He ENJOYS it, he takes his time, he can recall lots of lovely details. Us zippy readers are so shallow. So, my love, take your time xxxx
Throw out the guilt to begin with! When my kids were little I (a former big reader) struggled to get through anything. This was pre endless scrolls (to me at least - late 00s) but I bought magazines and enjoyed looking at pictures occasionally reading an article. Gradually as my kids got older and the physical exhausted abated somewhat I started again. Slowly and when I fancied it. I started with easy fun reads (crime or relationship based short books). Now I’m back into it big time. I was part of a book club for a while which got me into lots of things I would never have picked up. Now I always have a book on the go. On holiday I read more. But, and I can’t emphasise this enough, my kids are 20,18 and 16, so there is more free time and I am not so totally drained I want to read. Yes before bed, but also in the garden in the sun. On the days I end up on my phone and don’t I regret it. But, as I said to my 16 yr old son yesterday, the resistance to reading is huge, it takes effort, it feels like a political act- to turn away from the nonsense (and mainly ads) that insta serves up. When you are ready - AND WANT TO!- start with Marian Keyes, something funny, or an audio book. But stop the guilt- you are doing enough, there will be time ahead for reading. Xxxxx
You are absolutely not alone here! Our phones are literally designed to suck our attention so it makes sense you would struggle to break free. I've been trying to read more recently and I would say my biggest break-throughs are a) bringing my book downstairs with me in the morning, so it's always on hand throughout the day when I'm tempted to scroll (and I can't be arsed to go back upstairs to get it) and b) ditching any book that doesn't instantly grab my attention. If you're struggling to plough through a book you're not interested in, then it makes sense you would pick up your phone. Just a couple of things that have helped me, I hope they do the same for you!
My husband got me a Kobo e-reader late last year and my reading time has gone up exponentially. I like to read before bed, but the lure of my phone's other apps meant I was doomscrolling instead of reading using my library's app (I cannot deal with physical books in bed). The quality of life improvement this little device has given me is shocking.
You could just have described my evening. I flump down on the sofa - knitting on one side of me, phone on the other. No prizes for guessing which one doesn't get picked up. I need to set myself a scroll timer then have someone come and physically take it out of my hand 😂
I read on the train, before bed, in the morning if I wake early and I try and carry a book for when I am “waiting”.
I too stopped reading for many years. In 2022 I challenged myself to read more books and have increased my reading yearly since.
I started a FB group designed to encourage reading more. It might be read two books if you read one last year, or read 52 books if you read 45 last year.
Everyone is different. It’s great for recommendations too.
I still remember the time I wrote a poem (homework - primary school) and the teacher simply couldn't believe I had written by myself (I had). What an awful thing to say to a child!
First step - self compassion 💖 Heaps of it. Daily. Then start small. Read Matilda again if you like! Pick something and then commit to one page. And take it one step at a time. Remember you're doing something fun! 🤓 💖
Reading doesn't need to mean physically having a book in your hands and I think that the snobby side of reading culture implies that. If you're a member of your local library, it could be worth checking if they do audiobook loans via BorrowBox. There's loads of free audiobooks on there and it could be that you dip in and out of a book while washing up/folding clothes, etc. I think my kids are older than yours (7 and 8) but we have a designated day for reading after school where they do their independent reading and I read, too. This day coincides with the library being open later, so we can bring some new books into the house if we need fresh material.
I actually gave up Instagram during lent & read anytime I would normally scroll. It was a game changer. Now I’m back on social media trying to get the balance right. Generally I listen to an audiobook in the morning while doing skincare & make-up, read during my hour lunch break at work & sometimes before bed, depending on how tired I am 🤣. I challenge myself to read a chapter a day, which feels manageable for me & also feels like I’ve achieved something ❤️
I am a bookseller of five years and a naturally slow reader so absolutely have to make time for it. I always have several books on the go so that I'm never bored. My ideal day involves getting ready for work with enough time to squeeze 15-30 minutes reading in with my coffee, I alternate between podcasts and an audiobook on my walk to and from work, on one of my breaks at work I *have* to read for half an hour (varying degrees of success - I just finished the new hunger games and joined the shop floor crying), if I can read a little in the evening I do but it doesn't happen often. Then at bedtime I have something light and fluffy on my kindle to read myself to sleep. Little and often and always having a book on me is how I get by.
My husband is a ‘slow reader’. He hadn’t ever finished a book when I met him. Comparison ruined his confidence. I spent many years trying to find a book for him. One day, he gave it a try. He reads every night before sleep. He loves reading, he can’t wait to return to the story. He may be a little slower but that’s because his beautiful imagination takes him to the heart of the story. He ENJOYS it, he takes his time, he can recall lots of lovely details. Us zippy readers are so shallow. So, my love, take your time xxxx
Throw out the guilt to begin with! When my kids were little I (a former big reader) struggled to get through anything. This was pre endless scrolls (to me at least - late 00s) but I bought magazines and enjoyed looking at pictures occasionally reading an article. Gradually as my kids got older and the physical exhausted abated somewhat I started again. Slowly and when I fancied it. I started with easy fun reads (crime or relationship based short books). Now I’m back into it big time. I was part of a book club for a while which got me into lots of things I would never have picked up. Now I always have a book on the go. On holiday I read more. But, and I can’t emphasise this enough, my kids are 20,18 and 16, so there is more free time and I am not so totally drained I want to read. Yes before bed, but also in the garden in the sun. On the days I end up on my phone and don’t I regret it. But, as I said to my 16 yr old son yesterday, the resistance to reading is huge, it takes effort, it feels like a political act- to turn away from the nonsense (and mainly ads) that insta serves up. When you are ready - AND WANT TO!- start with Marian Keyes, something funny, or an audio book. But stop the guilt- you are doing enough, there will be time ahead for reading. Xxxxx
You are absolutely not alone here! Our phones are literally designed to suck our attention so it makes sense you would struggle to break free. I've been trying to read more recently and I would say my biggest break-throughs are a) bringing my book downstairs with me in the morning, so it's always on hand throughout the day when I'm tempted to scroll (and I can't be arsed to go back upstairs to get it) and b) ditching any book that doesn't instantly grab my attention. If you're struggling to plough through a book you're not interested in, then it makes sense you would pick up your phone. Just a couple of things that have helped me, I hope they do the same for you!
My husband got me a Kobo e-reader late last year and my reading time has gone up exponentially. I like to read before bed, but the lure of my phone's other apps meant I was doomscrolling instead of reading using my library's app (I cannot deal with physical books in bed). The quality of life improvement this little device has given me is shocking.
You could just have described my evening. I flump down on the sofa - knitting on one side of me, phone on the other. No prizes for guessing which one doesn't get picked up. I need to set myself a scroll timer then have someone come and physically take it out of my hand 😂
I read on the train, before bed, in the morning if I wake early and I try and carry a book for when I am “waiting”.
I too stopped reading for many years. In 2022 I challenged myself to read more books and have increased my reading yearly since.
I started a FB group designed to encourage reading more. It might be read two books if you read one last year, or read 52 books if you read 45 last year.
Everyone is different. It’s great for recommendations too.