I recently came off Facebook and Instagram and I cannot believe the difference it has made to my powers of concentration and my enjoyment of reading without interruption. Thank you for this lovely post Molly. I’m sure it will encourage many people. Like you, I enjoy reading first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but I liked your tip of reading even when you are waiting for the kettle to boil. I see you are reading one of Raynor Winn’s books. I’ve read all three of her books and have enjoyed each one.
This is so wonderful to hear! Yes, her books are wonderful. Hoping to finish Landlines in the next couple of days. I think its been my favourite yet :)
It's so lovely to be in a space with others leaving behind FB and Instagram. I feel I have so much more time now (and I thought I was fairly balanced in my approach to SM 😮) and am loving reading more books once again!
Food for thought, thank you Molly! Do you read in place of watching tv in the evenings? I like to spend time with my husband and reading would feel a bit solitary. I struggle with the draw of tv.... I always read before bed but usually in bed and I always fall asleep! So sometimes I only read a page a night, which makes for slow going. As a kid I read loads and used to spend whole weekends reading. Wish we could go back to before phones and etc!
Thanks for your comment Louise! I do a bit of both. I watch something with my partner over dinner, usually only 1 show (currently Bake off!) as we enjoy spending this time together but then do more of our own things after that as I'll read and he tends to draw. It works for us anyway :)
Love this. I am approaching my 200 book mark of the year- not a brag- trust me, I have been bed ridden from pain and cancer side effects. But I find myself starting to slowly feel I can spend more time out of bed and find pockets of time like you suggest! Waiting for appointments instead of use my iphone I read, after dinner nightly is my scheduled reading time. Something also is don’t read a book you don’t like- if I am not into a book within 25 pages I move on with no regrets!
Ah loved all of this. I look forward to getting some more reading time back now that Instagram and all is gone. Mornings are my preferred time to read, I feel like that's when I get a good chunk in either in bed while the kids are still asleep or over my morning coffee. I used to read a lot at night back in the days but now I'm just too tired for a book after a big day with my babies however I do still get a few Substack reads in which has become my evening ritual now and I really enjoy it x
I’ve never used a tracker to “keep track” of the books I’ve read - but I’m a new user at notion and I will go and look at your planner/tracker. I do read a lot on my kindle, which in essence does keep track, I’ve just looked and I’ve read 114 books this year there, plus more actual books. I love reading so much, it just opens up life! I really enjoyed reading this post :)
This is so good, Molly! 50 books is a huge accomplishment! I've been struggling to read since having my daughter but have started taking my Kindle with me when laying down for her nap and after she falls asleep, I'll stay there for 30 minutes or so and read for a bit. It's such a nice middle of the day break and has helped me get back into reading.
Thank you SO MUCH for mentioning me in this post, it truly feels like an honor. So grateful to be in this space with you!!
Good article Molly. Like you I have always read at bedtime to settle down. However, I can rarely read longer than half an hour these days before sleep takes over. It’s probably an age thing. A bonus is that I now naturally wake earlier so often have 2-3 hours to myself before the household stirs; perfect reading time. When people comment that it’s tricky to read several books as the stories get muddled for them, I remind them that they can hold several tv ‘stories’ in their heads! Like one of your other readers the evening tv is a lovely time to share with my partner. Of course travelling is a great time to read; train journeys, waiting, flying - though not if you’re driving!
A post that popped up in my inbox and made me immediately exhale and smile. I'm finding so much more time to read since streamlining where I spend my time online and it feels good! Like you, I'm an early morning and evening but I love to just dip in to a few pages as and when throughout the day. There is nothing better than going to bed early with a good book (for me anyway!)🧡🙏🏻🍂
I really loved reading your tips and I’m gonna try to incorporate a few of them. My boyfriend and I have also started reading to each other before bed and it is just the best feeling in the whole world. Whoever decided that being read to is a privilege reserved for children under the age of ten did all of us a great disservice in my opinion 😉
Loved this share Molly, you’ve got me reflecting on my own reading habits... lots of fiction for me and similar to you this is evening reading. I love audiobooks in the car, ideally read by the author too, memoir types are my favourite here. I struggle a bit with non-fiction unless it really grabs me... definitely no non-pleasure reading here!
I have somewhat of a routine. About 2 years ago I decided I needed to get back in to reading. I read a bit of non-fiction during or after breakfast, a longer bit of reading after lunch (both non-fiction and fiction), audio books during my afternoon kitchen duties, and usually non-fiction in bed.
Currently reading:
- Wonders of the World by Claudia Martin
- Call the Nurse by Mary J. MacLeod (her life as a nurse on a remote Scottish island in the 1970s ... excellent book)
- America's History (Tuttle Twins ... for ages ~7-13, so it's easy to digest ... not a strong subject for me, but I'm trying!!)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
- audio: Die Laughing by Carola Dunn (book 12 of the Daisy Dalrymple series) .... I tend to rotate through various series, so once I'm done with book 12 of this series, I'll choose the next book from another series I'm listening to (probably book 11 of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series). Our public library subscribes to a website that has lots of audio books, and I get 7 free checkouts each month. I definitely use all 7 each month!!
I also receive a print newspaper each week. I'm not always the best at reading it all, but it's a goal. I think what I'll have to do is set aside a specific day for newspaper only.
I sometimes read 2 books at a time, but then I get more invested in one than the other and I end up just reading that one. I like the idea of maybe only reading one in the morning and the other in the afternoon/ evening. I might give it a try
I recently came off Facebook and Instagram and I cannot believe the difference it has made to my powers of concentration and my enjoyment of reading without interruption. Thank you for this lovely post Molly. I’m sure it will encourage many people. Like you, I enjoy reading first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but I liked your tip of reading even when you are waiting for the kettle to boil. I see you are reading one of Raynor Winn’s books. I’ve read all three of her books and have enjoyed each one.
This is so wonderful to hear! Yes, her books are wonderful. Hoping to finish Landlines in the next couple of days. I think its been my favourite yet :)
It's so lovely to be in a space with others leaving behind FB and Instagram. I feel I have so much more time now (and I thought I was fairly balanced in my approach to SM 😮) and am loving reading more books once again!
This is exactly what I look forward to most. More time and presence 🥰
Oh I look forward to that. Finally took the plunge to delete all apps apart from Substack and log off and it already feels so good!!
I feel you Claudia! 🧡🙏🏻🍂
love raynor winn, too.
Food for thought, thank you Molly! Do you read in place of watching tv in the evenings? I like to spend time with my husband and reading would feel a bit solitary. I struggle with the draw of tv.... I always read before bed but usually in bed and I always fall asleep! So sometimes I only read a page a night, which makes for slow going. As a kid I read loads and used to spend whole weekends reading. Wish we could go back to before phones and etc!
Thanks for your comment Louise! I do a bit of both. I watch something with my partner over dinner, usually only 1 show (currently Bake off!) as we enjoy spending this time together but then do more of our own things after that as I'll read and he tends to draw. It works for us anyway :)
Love this. I am approaching my 200 book mark of the year- not a brag- trust me, I have been bed ridden from pain and cancer side effects. But I find myself starting to slowly feel I can spend more time out of bed and find pockets of time like you suggest! Waiting for appointments instead of use my iphone I read, after dinner nightly is my scheduled reading time. Something also is don’t read a book you don’t like- if I am not into a book within 25 pages I move on with no regrets!
Wow that is a stunning achievement Kate! I completely agree about moving past books that don't resonate. I hope you feel better soon lovely :)
be well, kate.
Thank you!
Ah loved all of this. I look forward to getting some more reading time back now that Instagram and all is gone. Mornings are my preferred time to read, I feel like that's when I get a good chunk in either in bed while the kids are still asleep or over my morning coffee. I used to read a lot at night back in the days but now I'm just too tired for a book after a big day with my babies however I do still get a few Substack reads in which has become my evening ritual now and I really enjoy it x
Oh how exciting! You're routines sound wonderful :)
I love morning reading, except I always end up starting work late because I just *HAD* to finish another chapter. LOL.
Haha been there! :)
I’ve never used a tracker to “keep track” of the books I’ve read - but I’m a new user at notion and I will go and look at your planner/tracker. I do read a lot on my kindle, which in essence does keep track, I’ve just looked and I’ve read 114 books this year there, plus more actual books. I love reading so much, it just opens up life! I really enjoyed reading this post :)
Wow that's amazing! I'm so glad you enjoyed :)
This is so good, Molly! 50 books is a huge accomplishment! I've been struggling to read since having my daughter but have started taking my Kindle with me when laying down for her nap and after she falls asleep, I'll stay there for 30 minutes or so and read for a bit. It's such a nice middle of the day break and has helped me get back into reading.
Thank you SO MUCH for mentioning me in this post, it truly feels like an honor. So grateful to be in this space with you!!
Aw your welcome lovely! I love your mid-day reading break :)
Good article Molly. Like you I have always read at bedtime to settle down. However, I can rarely read longer than half an hour these days before sleep takes over. It’s probably an age thing. A bonus is that I now naturally wake earlier so often have 2-3 hours to myself before the household stirs; perfect reading time. When people comment that it’s tricky to read several books as the stories get muddled for them, I remind them that they can hold several tv ‘stories’ in their heads! Like one of your other readers the evening tv is a lovely time to share with my partner. Of course travelling is a great time to read; train journeys, waiting, flying - though not if you’re driving!
There is something special about reading in the early hours :). And you are right about the TV! :)
A post that popped up in my inbox and made me immediately exhale and smile. I'm finding so much more time to read since streamlining where I spend my time online and it feels good! Like you, I'm an early morning and evening but I love to just dip in to a few pages as and when throughout the day. There is nothing better than going to bed early with a good book (for me anyway!)🧡🙏🏻🍂
Aw I'm glad you enjoyed! Completely agree. My bedtimes are getting earlier and earlier! :)
Yay, I love that you are reading Agatha Christie! She is my favorite mystery author 🕵🏻♀️
I am a huge bookworm and I read quite a bit. I use the Goodreads app to keep track of not only what I am currently reading, but also my TBR 📚
Ah she is just the best! :)
I really loved reading your tips and I’m gonna try to incorporate a few of them. My boyfriend and I have also started reading to each other before bed and it is just the best feeling in the whole world. Whoever decided that being read to is a privilege reserved for children under the age of ten did all of us a great disservice in my opinion 😉
Oh that does sound wonderful! I may have to try it :)
Love this! And thank you so much!!
Aw you're welcome! :)
Loved this share Molly, you’ve got me reflecting on my own reading habits... lots of fiction for me and similar to you this is evening reading. I love audiobooks in the car, ideally read by the author too, memoir types are my favourite here. I struggle a bit with non-fiction unless it really grabs me... definitely no non-pleasure reading here!
I defo read more fiction than non-fiction, but really been enjoying memoirs of late :)
I have somewhat of a routine. About 2 years ago I decided I needed to get back in to reading. I read a bit of non-fiction during or after breakfast, a longer bit of reading after lunch (both non-fiction and fiction), audio books during my afternoon kitchen duties, and usually non-fiction in bed.
Currently reading:
- Wonders of the World by Claudia Martin
- Call the Nurse by Mary J. MacLeod (her life as a nurse on a remote Scottish island in the 1970s ... excellent book)
- America's History (Tuttle Twins ... for ages ~7-13, so it's easy to digest ... not a strong subject for me, but I'm trying!!)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
- audio: Die Laughing by Carola Dunn (book 12 of the Daisy Dalrymple series) .... I tend to rotate through various series, so once I'm done with book 12 of this series, I'll choose the next book from another series I'm listening to (probably book 11 of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series). Our public library subscribes to a website that has lots of audio books, and I get 7 free checkouts each month. I definitely use all 7 each month!!
I also receive a print newspaper each week. I'm not always the best at reading it all, but it's a goal. I think what I'll have to do is set aside a specific day for newspaper only.
What a wonderful routine. And I just love Jane Eyre! :)
Yes!! I'm really enjoying it. I'm almost 50 and have never read it before. Catching up on lost time, I guess. 😀
I sometimes read 2 books at a time, but then I get more invested in one than the other and I end up just reading that one. I like the idea of maybe only reading one in the morning and the other in the afternoon/ evening. I might give it a try
I can do that too! :)
Thank you so much for sharing your reading routine!! There truly are so many pockets of time where we can slip in some joyful reading!! 💖📚