A few people in my book club are behind on their reading books. Let’s talk about that. First of all, it’s perfectly fine to get behind. We’re not machines, and we’re never going to be. Second, I record every meeting so you can watch at your own pace. That way, you won’t have spoilers as you get caught up.
Now, for the most important part. I would like to challenge you to consider how you think about reading. Do you see reading as a task that you must do? Is it something that sits on the checklist each day? It sat on my checklist for many years as a thing to do after I got ready, had breakfast, and took care of a few things. I noticed that I was always obligated to read when it was a checklist item. Last year, I decided to change the way I think about reading. Now I see it as a fulcrum.
The fulcrum in physics is the little triangle a lever sits on. Depending on where you place that fulcrum will change the effectiveness of the lever. If I move that fulcrum to the earliest part of my day, I’m in a better mood, and the day seems to “lever” well. If I put it at the end of the day, I miss the mark. Tasks build up, pressure clogs the system, and I often lose track. I’m mentally melted and can’t think straight when I’m finally ready to read. On days like that, I’m not “levering” at all.
Try reading books as early as possible in the day. Don’t see it as a task but as setting yourself up for success. Don’t add it to the checklist; just start the day with a good book and notice what happens. Oh, and a cup of coffee might help as well. 😉
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
I read about 1/2 fiction, 1/2 nonfiction. I never worry about reading goals. It’s a pleasure, not a chore. I often read good books more than once. Question: I’ve read 2 translations of Don Quixote and they seem like entirely different books, sometimes pretty screwy. Is there a well-regarded version?