I have a love-hate relationship with reading. I touched on it here, and thought there was really more to it than that… but it turns out, as I sat the last few minutes staring at this composition screen, that there isn’t much more. My time is precious to me, and I already struggle immensely with feeling like I can’t balance it wisely. Adding a habit that is very time-consuming and doesn’t produce immediately tangible results seems to me, at first, a very bad idea.
That said, I know reading produces good things. For a writer, exposure to words is never a bad thing 🙂 For everyone though, I can think of many benefits without much effort. Expanded (or clarified) worldview, mental stimulation, knowledge gain and/or entertainment. I’ve even read recently that regular reading has the ability to increase empathy, which is something I’m always working on (and yet, perhaps, never enough).
So I’ll be honest – I’m not very excited about Jon Acuff’s “Empty Shelf Challenge”. Not yet. I’m on board though, and think you should join me!
I have found that I pretty much only finish in a reasonable time those books which are on a kindle/iBooks app, because I can read them when I find downtime. Especially downtime in which I’m a bit of a prisoner, a la the Kindergarten Carpool Line. So for me, this will be less of a physical challenge than an online one. I’m hoping the lack of visual progress isn’t a deterrent. I’ll admit, the list-maker in me is excited about jotting down some things I want to read (or have been told I should). Perhaps the same list-maker will get a kick out of checking them off, too? Seeing the “shelf” fill up?
For the record, I’m not counting picture books I read with the girls. I’m a freaking pro at finishing those.
Follow me on my Pinterest board here and then comment below – are you in?
dilemmamike
I use Audible.com and it has made all the difference. I work a second job early in the morning and I can digest 3 hours of books or podcasts. I can even speed up the narrator. You can try it free for a month.
Jennifer Kaufman
I love this idea! I’ve always heard audible advertised on some of the podcasts I listen to, but it’s not lost on me that I don’t keep up with those very well, either! 🙂 I think in a different season of my life I could have devoured audio books, but now I usually have to find a time without three kids around, at which time I can typically read as well. Oh! It would be something I could do while cleaning, working out, etc though. Definitely need to check it out!
Ida Mae aka "That Fun Reading Teacher"
Jennifer, I’m so with you on ebooks. I am a book fanatic, however, and have created two more in our kids, so the collection here is overwhelming. You’re right about finding time to read. Ortho waiting rooms, dressing rooms at the mall with a tween daughter, etc. that’s where the ebooks rock and roll.
Jennifer Kaufman
Yes! I realized exactly this this past fall. I have two or three books I REALLY want to read, but never seem to even start them. Then there are books that I don’t even love as much but I finish them in no-time… because they’re always with me. It’s amazing how, even at our busiest, we can typically find a few minutes here or there. We just have to be prepared! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Laura
Oh…but picture books with your girls might count as a different list…read to your kids!
Jennifer Kaufman
Absolutely! Thankfully, that’s a goal we don’t even need to set. We read multiple books literally every day. It’s a great idea though for a) families that might not have the same habit or b) the kids when they read independently!