I am sure everyone’s reading routines evolve and change over the years as life circumstances change. I think back to when I was a child growing up and the only routine I remember is reading before I fell asleep or at least as long as I could get away with sneak reading huddled near the nightlight with a blanket or under the covers with a flashlight.
Reading for my own enjoyment during the college years was a bit of a guilty pleasure taken at odd intervals or in reading marathons during term breaks. I know I always had a book I was reading whether it was during the school year or at my summer job, but as much as I enjoyed reading, life was busy and no days were all that regular to begin with.
I did a ton of reading aloud when my children were young and while we were homeschooling, but now I rarely read aloud. I continued my own reading during those years as well, my most consistent themes being always having my own book to read and reading before I fell asleep.
These days, as an empty-nester, my reading does have a much more regular pattern to it. I keep myself company by reading while I eat breakfast and lunch. I read when I have a few minutes before I have to leave for work, but not enough time to say, haul out the vacuum. In the winter, when it gets dark so early, or on bad weather days, or if I don’t feel I have some pressing chore to finish, I read after supper, sitting in my corner of the couch with a hot cup of tea till bedtime. I always read a bit after going to bed before turning out the light. This can be dangerous as I have been known to read well beyond my good for me bedtime. (I guess I haven’t changed all that much from childhood!)
Other times that I read are when I’m feeling impatient; such as when I am waiting for my husband to finish getting ready for wherever we are going. I read while cooking dinner or baking cookies between batches. I read when I’m upset about something else. I read in the car if someone else is driving and I don’t need to be social. I read standing in line or waiting at an appointment. I read standing up, sitting down, at the table, on the couch, in bed, outside. (I guess you could say that whatever book I am reading is my “hand held device” that I spend too much time looking down at.)
I realize that I have a couple of ideocracies. I hate going to restaurants with TVs with that line of text scrolling at the bottom of the screen. I have to either sit so I can’t see the type stringing along, or force myself not to look up at the TV. Fortunately, I live in a place with relatively few billboards because I do have to read every road sign and billboard I pass if I am a passenger and not reading my own book. I don’t like cereal or other food boxes/bags/containers set out on the table while eating, because I can’t not read them. I don’t like artwork on my walls that has quotes or random words on them because I have to read it every single time that I pass by it. “Live Love Laugh” a thousand times a day is just too much.
I am asked how I find the time to read so much. I think maybe some people think of reading as a chore or perhaps something they need to budget large chunks of time to do all at once. Which, when given an opportunity, I will take advantage of whole heartedly. I tell people that especially when I had children at home, I rarely found the time to read for hours. And this is when I started reading in short bits all the time. Five minutes here, ten there, a half hour as I’m falling asleep; it all adds up. While I think watching TV or streaming movies or video clips or what have you can be relaxing and help to turn off the brain from the day’s stresses, I tend to do that with books, rather than media.
I am sure my reading routines will continue to evolve as my life circumstances change. That is ok, one thing I know won’t change is my love of reading. I will always find time to engage in a story. I hope all of you also find time in your busy days to enjoy a good book!
Oh my goodness, I love hearing your reading habits! I chuckled out loud more than once while I was reading this post. I also love the pictures! I used to have very similar reading habits…especially as a child, I would read any chance I got. I devoured books–but I know I never read as much as you did Cheri! You were, and are a voracious reader, and I love talking books with you. Thank you!
It seemed that my childhood was filled with long car and bus rides. So for me, cars and buses were prime reading venues. Back then I could sit sideways on the seat, tuck my knees up and escape into my book. On a somewhat related note, I had heard of a mysterious and glamorous malady called : carsickness. I never dreamed such an exotic disease would ever relate to me– but I did wonder why I felt nauseous so often…Fast forward a few years and I learned that carsickness is neither glamorous or mysterious. And of course, I was a textbook case. Anyway, these days I limit my reading to night time before sleep, and wakefulness in the middle of the night. Every once in awhile, I’ll feel brave and read on a plane. But I still get sick if I read too much in a car!
Oh, I am so sorry that you are burdened with the mysterious and not so glamorous malady of carsickness. Uffda. That puts quite a damper on reading time! I’m glad you you enjoyed the post and the photos.😊
I love the pictures – they bring back some fun memories of places we’ve lived and been! I have often felt guilty for puttering around before we do something – fortunately I now realize I’m giving you a good excuse to read! ~wink~. You’ve summed up your reading routines quite well and I’m glad you always have books available for enjoyment.
Thanks Jim! I think you have many of the same routines, except with audio books.