The Bookmark No. 39
On reading time, calendars, and routines
I did something exciting this week but it’s taken up most of my free time that I usually devote to reading. Normally, I’d be pretty hard on myself for that and force myself to find more time to fit it in. But truthfully, this *exciting thing* has my attention and I don’t feel guilty about that one bit.
When I do Q&A’s, I inevitably get questions around the lines of “do you ever take reading breaks?” or “how do you read so much?”
And the answer is simple: I read when I want to. Most of the time, I want to read! I LOVE reading. It’s my favorite hobby and it’s been part of me since I could figure out what all the letters on the page meant. But I do have other interests and my goal for 2023 is move through my days with the intention of “joy” and focus of my word of the year, “build.”
Being a public reader is difficult. I love sharing my reading life, but there is a constant pressure to be sharing recommendations and always having something new to share. If I take more than 3 days to read a book I feel like I’m boring or that I’ve failed. Which makes no sense, but because I’ve gone through peaks and valleys of reading slumps and gobbling up books, it just sticks with me.
But in 2023, we are not doing that to ourselves. We are joyfully sharing the books that grab us, the shows we can’t stop binging, the recipes that have made it into our weekly rotation, and getting outside. Right now, getting outside (even though the sun hasn’t come out all week) and listening to audiobooks have been my favorite thing.
My morning and evening routines are a mess right now. I have the intention of being better about scrolling in the morning and evenings, but it’s so dark and so cold that I never want to get out of bed. And if you saw in my Instagram stories, this week I accidentally drank an “Energy Multiplier” from Liquid IV instead of the normal Hydration one and it ruined my sleep schedule.
This is all okay! I know what makes me feel my best and I know I can re-establish routines and habits whenever I need. The calendar turning doesn’t mean I’ve failed at these intentions I set for myself at the New Year. You are in control of your days, the days don’t control you.
Anyway…this was a bit of a rant and a bit of journal entry to encourage myself to take it easy but also recognize what is making me extra sluggish and stressed lately. As I said in my Weekly Wrap Up, I have a very busy weekend coming up, but a new week will be here before we know it and it’s the perfect time to start fresh.
ICYMI on readandwright.com
The podcast is back! A new episode of Read It Or List It is live with Denise Williams. Last week, we chatted with Ashley Herring Blake!
What I’m Loving:
Claw Clips—Why did we ever stop wearing these?
Striped Pullover—This was a gift from my aunt for Christmas and I love it. It’s lightweight so it can be worn all year but also easy to layer up.
Face Mask—This is my FAVORITE overnight hydration face mask. I save it for the nights I need a little extra relaxation because it smells so good.
Sorel Explorer II Boots—I LOVE these boots. I’m going to be doing some winter hiking soon and these are perfect, but they’re also great for dog walks in the snow. Last year, I fell on the ice in my Hunter Boots walking B and these have such a better grip.
Formal Dress—I needed a last minute formal dress and as someone who lives in a larger body (especially with a larger chest) nothing stresses me out more. I really don’t like to shop Amazon Fashion for sustainability reasons, but I’m really happy with this dress. I love the color, it fits great, and I feel really confident.
What You’re Loving:
Bullet Journal Stickers—Spice Rating, Star Rating, Sampler Pack
Until next time,
Phoebe
