I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. As a child, and especially as an adult – reading has been my favorite hobby. It’s not one of those hobbies I want to enjoy and rarely get to spend any time on though (sewing, what?). Reading is something I prioritize. There are seasons that come and go where I read more or less than others, but it’s something I rarely negotiate on when it comes to my days, even if all I read is for a few minutes before I fall asleep at night.
My Why…
…because reading is precisely the greatest way for me to learn. And I’m not talking about reading comments on Instagram posts right now – I’m talking about reading a real, hold in my hand, turn one page at a time book or magazine. Nothing beats it. Reading gives me a unique opportunity to learn about new perspectives and completely new topics, be entertained, and find encouragement. It’s refreshing and relaxing and there is an endless supply of material.
…because my child is watching. We all know the truth of the matter is our children are watching what we do more than what we say. My husband and I both enjoy reading, and we want our children to grow up with that same enjoyment – we don’t want to take any influence we may have on the matter for granted. There are many studies that prove reading to our children, their witness of our own reading, and simply having reading materials available to them around their house (yes, really!) improves their cognitive function, reading ability, and even their self-esteem. As parents, we get to show our kiddos just how valuable reading is and how fortunate we are to have access to reading materials each day.
My How…
The question on nearly every mom’s mind – but how do I find time to read a book?!
I know it’s not easy, I know that firsthand. But I suppose it’s just like anything else we ever do with our days – it comes down to priorities. If something is important to us, we make time for it. Be creative with how you find time for reading! It’s always so much more rewarding for me to spend a few minutes reading a book or magazine than it is to scroll through Facebook for yet another time today. Maybe for you it’s reading when you first wake up in the morning, while sitting in the school pickup line, in between meetings when you have those spare awkward ten minutes, while walking on the treadmill at the gym, or setting a time each evening to put aside electronics and reading until bed.
My college degree is in Education with a specialty in Communication Arts & Literature (an obnoxious way to say Reading & Writing). I spent a lot of time learning particularly about reading, its precious value, and how to make it truly enjoyable for children – all of those ‘tricks’ transfer right over into adulthood. If you don’t like reading, you just haven’t found the right book yet. What are you interested in? Start right there. Then, once you are reading regularly, switch up the genres each time you reach for a new book. Personally, I typically rotate through novels (including historical fiction), books on motherhood, pregnancy/birth/health books (for professional growth and because I’m genuinely interested, of course), faith-related books, and memoirs. Eating the exact same food day after day would get boring, too – change up what kind of books you’re reading to keep things well-rounded and entertaining.
Be Inspired…
Goodreads.com <–a social media-type site dedicated to books (no affiliation, I just genuinely like it). It’s a great way to find new books to read, see what your friends are reading (though you can get most benefits of the site/app without even having a single ‘friend’), and read reviews of books you’ve read or are interested in reading next.
Go to a bookstore! I enjoy online shopping as much as the next mom, but there’s nothing more inspiring than to wander through a bookstore.
The most obvious way: Ask your friends for recommendations.
Join a book club or create an online book circle. This is obviously going to be a bit more of a time commitment, but for some people, it’s just the motivation they want to keep reading enjoyable.
As the weather keeps cooling down, it’s the perfect time to pick up a great book since more of our time is now spent indoors. Happy reading!
