A man sitting in a library with a surf board in the corner and a cup of coffee on the table.

I STOPPED READING BOOKS (FOR 7 DAYS)

I’ve been away from my desk. If you must know, I’ve been surfing in O’ahu with my family. It was a great vacation, and now I’m back, jet-lagged and happy to see my reading room. When I packed for the trip, I wanted to fill my bag with several books to study during my downtime on the beach.

But I chose to leave the books at home, and I’m glad I did.

Sometimes, we need a break from everything – even the stuff we love. I’m not good at doing nothing, so luckily, Hawaii’s shaka spirit bolstered my resolve to “rest and recover.” I put that last bit in quotes because taking your wife and four kids to Hawaii is anything but restful. We had a lot of fun, but we are now physically exhausted. (Note: Please excuse any mistakes in today’s post. I have brain fog.) Good thing it’s Friday!

While I was there, I avoided looking at my phone to preserve the battery. I don’t use portable charging banks when traveling because I want to see the world rather than my email. And without my books to keep my brain going, I had to let it all go.

While I advocate for daily reading on this blog, there are times when doing nothing is better than doing something. We all need a break, and now that I’m back, my books mean that much more to me. Sometimes, when you stop reading, you give your brain a chance to catch up, process all the bits you’ve been stuffing into it, and regroup. So, if you feel like you’re reading isn’t “sticking,” plan a day off from the books and enjoy doing NOTHING.

Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.

-Eddy

3 Reasons to Subscribe

Join my newsletter for a weekly dose of curated book recommendations, engaging challenges to enhance your reading habits, and exclusive invitations to live literary events.

  1. 📚 As a special welcome, you'll receive my personally compiled list of top book recommendations.
  2. 🎉 Gain complimentary access for 30 days to my online book club, where we meet weekly to share our love for literature.
  3. 👋 Discover the joy of reading with friends in our online reading community. I'll send you an invite link to connect with our fellow book enthusiasts and enrich your reading experience.

    We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
    author avatar
    Eddy Hood
    I’m Eddy Hood, host of The Read Well Podcast. I love getting lost in big ideas and great stories, and I started the podcast to help fellow readers tackle challenging books with confidence. I’m studying philosophy, running Edgewater Bookstore, and slowly chipping away at writing a novel.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *