Yes, I know, I know… it’s already June 8th and I’m only now posting about my June habit. I’m just going with it’s better late than never!
My June Habit, which I actually started on June 1st, is to read at least 60 minutes every, single, day. I’m taking that one step further and I am only reading from the huge amount of un-read books I already have. I’m a serial book buyer/hoarder and it takes a lot of will power to not buy books. I have books I purchased 15 years ago that I still haven’t read… there is no reason I should be buying books to read when I have plenty already in my possession! Between my kindle and my bookshelves, I should be set for at least the month of June. Truthfully, I should be set for the rest of 2016.
My girls have swim and dive team practice every day for 4 hours which should give me plenty of time while I am watching them at the pool to read…however, I tend to get distracted talking to people, working, or messing around on my phone. In order to make sure I get my habit of reading 60 minutes each day to stick, I’m going to try the following things:
- Make sure I always have a book with me… whether on my Kindle, a regular hardcover/paperback book or an audio book, I need to take advantage of any downtime I have by reading.
- Force myself to read a little every night when I get into bed. I do this now. Sometimes I read 5 minutes, sometimes I read 5 chapters, but it’s a great way to get some extra reading minutes in.
- Check each book out on Goodreads before I start it. When I get disinterested in a book, I get disinterested in reading all together. My goal is to read GREAT books this summer, so I’m going to make sure they all have great reviews on Goodreads before I start reading it. Let me know if you have any suggestions!
- Keep my phone away from me as much as possible. The time I spend on my phone is time I could spend reading. I’ve already started working on this habit of phone management but I need to work harder at not letting my phone distract me.
I just finished the Young Adult book Tell Me Three Things and LOVED it! Up next is another book on my Kindle, The Silent Wife. It’s a thriller I’ve heard great things about. Also, the stack of books in the picture at the top is a stack from my bookshelf I’m going to dive into this month.
Will you join me in my June habit to read 60 minutes a day for the rest of the month of June? I think with summer here, it’s the BEST time to nail this habit down!
May Habit Update: My May habit was to wash my face every night and I did it and continue to do it! I didn’t have a single breakout in all the month of May. With my improved eating as well as taking better care of my skin, I’m incredibly pleased with my complexion, currently!
I hope you keep me posted on the books you read! You should snap about them! I don’t think I’ve read any of the ones in that picture, though I’m sure some of them are on my enormous list. If you’re ever looking for suggestions, I have a billion!!
I am always so impressed that you read as much as you do! And you always have the best book suggestions too!
I am joining you for your June Habit. I read in spurts so I think this will help me stay focused.. Reading “The Girl on the Train” now. I think it is going to be “Gone Girl’ good.
Oh yes…that’s a great one! I saw the preview for the movie last night too! It looks gooooood! Glad you are joining me!
Yes to 60 min a day! I have to read before bed, and I plug my phone in far away to keep from distracting me. Funny, I’ve been looking at the shelf of unreads I have too, you may have just challenged me to finally read them.
It should be simple to do 60 minutes a day this time of year, don’t you think? I’m not sure why I’m struggling so much with it, but I think it’s because I need to get in a good book groove! (Not that you need more books, but you’d love Tell Me Three Things)
This is a great goal and I like how you are approaching it. I try to read at least 30 minutes a day, mostly on my lunch hour or when I am on the elliptical. I am trying to find other times during the day to sneak a few pages in.
Like you, I have a ton of books. I have collected them for years and years. It has gotten worse since I got a Kindle! I still do buy a lot of books because there are many cozy mystery series I follow and my library doesn’t carry them.
The kindle makes it way too easy to buy books on a whim, doesn’t it? Have you read any great books you’d recommend lately?
A few months ago I read both books in the MIschief Bay series by Susan Mallery. I thought they were excellent. I sent a Goodreads request since I add everything I read there, love that site!
Love this new habit. Just compared our books on goodreads (love that feature) so I’ll pick up one of your 5 stars tomorrow. Inside The O’Briens. I might strive for 30 minutes…well I could do 60 if I’d stay off my iPad. The Nightingale has been laying around the house for months and finally I picked it up and LOVED it! My goal this summer is to read my own books….but I love the library. It’s hard to stay away from those book covers. Still washing my face too. Then there’s MyFitnessPal…that habit….?
what a truly wonderful habit! i adore reading but often find myself doing everything but reading… may have to take a page out of your book 🙂
see what i did there? haha i’m a dork, i know :p
I am in a slump with reading lately. This is a great idea…need to jump start my reading!
Great habit to form! I enjoyed The Devil in the White City -very interesting history.
Great habit and yes it is hard not to buy any more books. I like to trade my books into the half price books and only use the money they give me to get new books thank I’m not spending any more money 🙂 bookworm logic going on there. Between books I own, TONS of books sent to me on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis for review so many to pick from…
I always have a book and even pick purses based on if it can hold a book. Books are wonderful.
I deleted my GoodReads I think they are kinda harsh and hard on books sometimes. The book would have low ratings yet I loved it and than I 4 star and above book I hated. Guess it’s like the Oscar winning movies I don’t usually like. Guess I’m an underdog person. I do love Riffle Books they seem to be more relaxed on their ratings and more friendly.
Have a great summer, this heat is unbearable!
AH! the phone! Seriously the demise of reading- my problem too! Oh and the devil in the white city is fantastic!