Am I overplanning my reading?
Confessions from a planning addict...
It would be an understatement to say that I’m a planner.
I plan everything, from my creative work projects to what I’m going to have for dinner next Tuesday. Nothing is left to chance.
So it makes sense that, when I started bringing reading into my life again, my instinct was to organise this within an inch of its life. But over the last year, I’ve begun to question whether this is the right approach…
Does planning my reading, in fact, take the joy away from something that has now become integral part of my life?
Intuitive vs planned reading
In a recent conversation with a friend, I uncovered the concept of intuitive reading.
Essentially this involves reading what you want, when you want. Picking a book off your bookshelf, or from a bookshop/library, and digging in without even adding it to your reading list. I know, shocking.
Remarkably, rather than setting me on edge, I found this approach rather endearing and has meant that I’ve assessed whether I’m really doing reading right.
How I currently plan my reading
Regular readers will know that I do all my planning in Notion.
I have created a bookworm planner (which I sell on my Etsy store) that is entirely dedicated to my reading. This is where I store my online library, my reading intentions and, of course, my reading planner
I’ve chatted before about how I like to read seasonally, meaning I try to pick books that I feel fit with what’s currently happening in nature (read my complete seasonal reading guide HERE).
My reading planner is split into the four seasons, which I use to inform what titles I will be reading every month. This tends to be a balance of 1 non fiction and a minimum of 4 fiction books across a range of genres.
Want more bookish content? You can get my seasonal book review videos and an update on everything I’m reading in my monthly slow scrolls by joining our slow community of kindred spirits below…
Which way is better?
Creating a reading plan is something I see suggested time and time again in guides dedicated to informing people how they can become a ‘better’ reader.
I can say with complete certainty that, if I didn’t plan my reading, I wouldn’t read half as many books as I do now.
But of course, its not about the number of titles I read, its how much I’m enjoy reading them.
Having a reading plan means that I always know that I have something to read, I cover a good variety of genres so avoid getting into a reading rut, it makes it easier for reading to become a habit and, an unexpected upside, means that I spend less money on books (when my planner is full then I cannot justify buying any more books!).
The downside to this approach is that it can feel constrictive. It means that I plough on with my next read, even if its not what I’m in the mood for, resulting in my reading grinding to a halt entirely.
My compromise
I continue to plan my reading, but now I make sure that I do this with far more flexibility.
My new approach looks like…
Remembering that my reading planner is not set in stone and that Notion makes it easy to add and remove books easily.
My bookshelf is a mix of books I’ve intentionally sought out (often at the recommendation of others) and those I’ve picked up on a whim from a thrift shop or the library.
The order in which I read books within a season or month is completely flexible and reflects my current mood and energy levels.
I don’t overschedule my reading. I have a vague goal of finishing one book a week, but I avoid putting pressure on myself to reach it. Sometimes I’d rather watch YouTube than pick up my book and that’s ok. It means that when I do read, I enjoy it so much more.
I’d love to know your approach to reading, whether you are a seasoned book addict or just welcoming reading into your life, so please do share in the comments!
If you want a hand with your planning, then you can check out my Bookworm Planner HERE.
Until next week,
Molly xx
More bookish content…
A deep dive into nature memoirs
How I rate my reading (plus my mid-year 2024 book leader board)
I’ve never been one to plan reading ahead of time. One of my greatest pleasures since childhood has been going into a library and wandering the stacks, reading titles, looking for favorite authors, plucking out whatever appeals to me at the moment.
Now that we have the internet, I do peruse lists of what’s coming out, and Ali keep a running “want to read” list so I can put them on library holds or purchase the ones I know I’ll want in my permanent library.
I read two books at a time usually, one fiction, and one non-fiction. Sometimes I do choose the non fiction books more intentionally if they are related to an essay or Substack post I’m working on.
I generally read 90-100 books a year. Reading has been a mainstay of my life for as long as I can remember (I’m 68 years old now.) Truly one of my greatest pleasures, and part of the pleasure of it for me is that it’s something I can do purely for the love of it, no pressure, no plan!
I hope you land on a system that helps your reading life be fulfilling and fun 🙂
Some time ago, I had realized that I loved seasonal reading and so I started this big reading plan, cataloguing my TBR according to the seasons. It never really worked though, because I'm also a mood reader and I ended up forcing myself into a book that I could have enjoyed way more if read at the right time. So I decided to avoid planning at all and just add notes like "perfect for Winter" to my wishlist for new books I'd like to read. There is a nice sense of nostalgia in intuitive reading, like stepping into a bookshop ready to stumble upon your next adventure without knowing you actually needed that book!