When life gets in the way of reading
How to embrace the peaks and valleys
This week Life happened, and I had almost no time to read. Between staying home with my daughter all week while also working, nonstop rain showers, and being pulled in so many directions, reading got left behind. I think I read a total of 3 pages from the book that I started called The Scent of Flowers at Nigh by Leila Slimani.*
*Disclaimer: Sometimes I find that when I read nonfiction I feel less inclined to pick up the book because there isn’t a particular story, so perhaps this added to my reading famine.
Either way, I know there will always be peaks and valleys when it comes to reading. This is absolutely normal but I still can’t help but to feel frustrated. There’s so many books I want to read and several that I need to read for my book-club.
Not to mention that because I wasn’t reading, I found myself feeling more stressed this week and I know that reading always helps me relax and balance out the stressors of the day. It’s my way of reclaiming some time for myself. (a nod to my latest post).
With this in mind, I started thinking about how to bring more accountability into my reading and read even on days that I feel like I have no time. Because even on the busiest days, there will always be 5 or 10 minutes to slow down and read.
So what did I come up with? Why do this alone when I can ask others to join me! Accountability means holding each other to a promise.
And what better way to do it, then to set up a reading challenge!
That’s right! Starting on April 1st, I’m going to run a 30-day reading challenge throughout the whole month of April, in an effort to read every single day. I’m not going to lie, this feels like a lot of pressure, but maybe that’s the point? There won’t be any excuses. But imagine the possibilities, the breakthroughs that can happen and the overall wellbeing that comes with taking the time to do something mindful for yourself every single day.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to know. Reply to this email or comment in this post with ‘I’m in!’ to stay accountable. I’m right now working through the details of how to set up this challenge and would love to know if you would like to participate.
Participation could look like in the form of taking a picture of your book when you start or finish reading each day. From my side, you can count on full accountability, this is my promise both to myself and to you to read every single day for 30 days and share that experience.
I’m very curious about this experiment and what can unfold personally and also on the community level and beyond.
So if you’ve been feeling like you want to make reading more of a habit, why not start here. 30 days is all you need to form a habit, so why not dedicate it to reading.
The early details
Making Time to Read: A 30-Day Reading Challenge
Life gets busy, and reading often takes a backseat. Between work, family, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to go days without picking up a book. But what if we made reading a non-negotiable part of our daily routine—no matter how hectic life gets?
Starting April 1st, I’m committing to a 30-day reading challenge to bring consistency back into my reading life. The goal? To read every single day, even if it’s just for five minutes. Because small moments add up, and building a habit starts with simple, intentional actions.
Want to join me?
Reply to this email or comment in this post with ‘I’m in!’ to stay accountable.
Follow me on instagram @bibliotherapy.me where I’ll share daily a photo of my reading status and where you can share yours to stay accountable.
But let’s make this even more interesting with a reward! The 3 people with the most participation in a month will win a free bibliotherapy session and a personalized reading list curated uniquely to them.
In next week’s post, I’ll officially kick off the challenge and share once a week, for all of April, my reflections, musings or insights that spark from this challenge. I’m very excited to be doing this, of course, I hope I won’t be doing it alone, but either way, I’m excited to go on this journey with you.
Final note…
I almost forgot to share, this week I visited the Library at the Palace of Mafra which is an 18th century palace in central Portugal. Given that I live 15 minutes away from the palace, it’s always been on my mind to visit, and this weekend’s rainy vibes were the perfect occasion to make that trip. The library completely blew me away with its grandiosity and gorgeous motifs, and did I mention they have bats that to protect the books from insects?
What was even more interesting was that this library is the largest 18th century library that’s located within a single room. It has approximately 30,000 volumes that embody the main themes of the Enlightenment, the age of reason and science, and features genres across religion, history, geography, music, architecture, art and law.
Library at The Palace of Mafra, Portugal - 18th Century
Isn’t it gorgeous? I wish I could spend an afternoon reading there, but sadly you’re only allowed to view it.
That was all from me today. I hope you join me on the 30 day reading challenge. If you feel nervous about starting, trust me, I do too.
For those new here. I’m a certified bibliotherapist. I curate personalized books that help you gain new perspectives, find comfort, and explore your own inner world. Reach out if you're curious—I’d love to chat.
Until next time.
xx
Toni
I'm in!
I am in!