Reading is a journey, not a race. It is not a competition. It is, however, a beautiful hobby to be enjoyed at the reader’s own pace.
That said, a question I often see across social media platforms is: “How do you read so much?”
The beauty of the bookish community, at least to me, is that everyone has their own unique reading routine and rhythm.
Some read a few pages before bed. Some binge audiobooks during long commutes. Some savor one book over the course of a month. While others fly through multiple books during a weekend reading marathon.
The important thing isn’t how much is being read. What really matters is that books are being consumed and readers are basking in the joy of their individual journey.
For me, my reading routine looks a little different these days. Because of my visual impairment and perimenopausal ADHD brain, audiobooks have become my format of choice (and if you’re about to say they don’t count, we don’t do that here… not in Nana’s house).
Audiobooks allow me to get lost in a story without straining my eyes, and they give my busy, easily-distracted brain something steady to focus on. I can listen while doing chores around my apartment, cooking dinner, or enjoying a cool spring morning out on my patio with my favorite coffee mug in hand.
Audiobooks aren’t a “shortcut”. They’re an accessibility tool!
They’re a bridge that keeps me connected to books.
And for that, I can’t help but feel grateful.
Because I also live with depression, anxiety, and chronic illness (hello, osteoarthritis), there are also days when I’m simply not in the mental or physical space to read at all. And that’s okay. It’s not a reading slump. It’s not failure. And it’s not losing my love of books. It’s simply a small speed bump on my reading journey.
Some days the body is louder than the audiobook. Some days the mind needs quiet more than plot twists. On those days, rest is the main character. And the books will still be there when I return.
Right now, I’m in a unique season of life. I’m currently on medical leave, which means I’m not working 40+ hours a week the way I once did. I’m basically homebound, since I don’t meet the legal vision requirements to drive.
I also don’t really watch television anymore. It’s difficult to do when you’re trying to see through a very cloudy lens. So instead of streaming shows, I press play on an audiobook.
The only little one at home is my three-year-old granddaughter whom I lovingly Nana-sit while her mama is at work. That just means some chapters are listened to after multiple snack requests, Bluey episodes, and half a dozen bedtime stories.
So yes, I may have more listening time than someone juggling a full-time job, carpools, and after-school activities.
And that brings me to my final (and most important) point: every reader’s journey is shaped by their season of life.
Reading is a journey. Our never-ending TBRs aren’t a finish line. They’re endless destinations waiting patiently for us whenever we’re ready.
Now Nana’s curious, what does your reading journey look like in this season of your life?
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