What do you do when reading starts to be a chore?

Hello my fellow book worms and page turners,

Now if you follow my blog and are reading this, I think its safe to assume that you like myself love reading and/or blogging. It’s also important to try and keep the experience relatively light and fun, as if you set an impossible goal like 5 reviews /blogs a week you are bound to feel the pressure of it one way or another, sooner or later.

This is something I learnt the hard way, way back in 2015 when I was reading about 8 books in a themed week and began writing a review each day.

At that pace it didnt take long for reading to quickly become a chore, as it fast became a job ontop of my fulltime job to keep up with my own expectations and deadlines. This of course eventually led to a strain on my love for books, and resulted in me going on a break to recouperate.

With this year being what it has been for me, and im sure a lot of people too. I have found myself reading more and more in order to escape the horror that have been 2020. So with that in mind I came up with a few idea’s to ensure we dont all burn out whilst out on our escapism adventures.

1, Take a step back

Take a step back from reading and focus on another of your hobbies, even if its just to sit down and watch your favourite TV show, it gives your brain a break from the constant reading and stimulates the brain differently allowing you to come back feeling more refreshed and ready to go.

2, Talk to a friend

This year more than any other year alot of us have felt alot more isolated, because well, we have been. I for one have practically been sat inside the same four walls since March, and it goes without saying that, that isnt very good for a person. Reach out and chat to someone you have not spoken to in a while, its nice to know that someone is thinking about you, and you never know it might lead to something new like playing a game online with one another or organizing a hike out in the countryside for example.

3, Self Care

This year, more than any other this point has never been more prevelant. Most of us have had an abundance of extra time with no commute, a lack of social functions and in somecases like mine, furloughed or straight unemployment. Which means you have alot more time to focus on yourself, wether that be physically or mentally. So make sure that you leave time to catch up on sleep, reminisce with friends or family. Eat healthily and force yourself to go out for fresh air (bit pot and kettle there I know) but its very important, nobody else is going to look after you, you have to ensure you do it yourself!

---

I am sure there are other things you could do aswell. But, these are the three main points that I have tried to follow the last few months/weeks to ensure that I dont burn myself out, and remain fit, happy and healthy.

What regimes are you all following? are you feeling the grind this year? or has it been a breeze? let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you!