Now that the dumpster fire called 2020 is over, 2021 will hopefully transition into more peaceful years ahead. However, there’s still a lot of work to be done to reach the stability found in past years, and reading is a perfect coping mechanism to deal with the past and future trauma.
Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, summed it up perfectly in his 2021 Publishing Predictions:
Even after every last soul is vaccinated and this plague is eradicated from the earth, it will take years to heal from this collective trauma. Books have always provided readers great comfort, pleasure, escapism and understanding. I can’t think of any time in the 55 years of my lifetime when books have been more essential to the healing, recovery and progress of humanity. As an indie author, you are the creator of this magic we call books. Your work is important now, and will become more important in the years ahead. It doesn’t matter if you write fiction or non-fiction, romance or self-help, you will help heal the world.
Mark Coker
Making it a point to read a little more in 2021 can help all of us destress and escape. Not to mention it’s the perfect opportunity to support small businesses like independent bookstores and authors. But it’s hard to find time to read among the chaos. Here are some ways to make more time to read in 2021.
1) Embrace Audiobooks
The idea that audiobooks don’t count as reading is simply silly. If you’re experiencing the exact same story word for word, then you’re reading. Audiobooks are a fantastic way to read while also cooking, cleaning, exercising, or doing anything else you can do on autopilot. Even when you’re stuck at home doing situps instead of going to your local gym, you can still mentally escape your home.
Audiobook sites like Libro.fm are convenient places to find audiobooks (and Libro.fm will support your local bookstore). Or you can also check out audiobooks from your local library.
2) Read Five Minutes Before Bed
You would be surprised by how much you can read in five minutes. I’m a relatively slow reader, but to test my theory, I just read three and a half pages of Secrets and Lies by Selena Montgomery in five minutes. No, it’s not a lot, but it’s still enough to discover a major plot point or two.
If you have trouble finding time or focusing on a book for long periods of time, then setting a timer for five minutes every night will be a good method for you. Everyone can find five minutes in the day for a little reading and if you read just before bed, then you can use your new reading habit to de-stress after a busy day and go to sleep a little easier– helping you feel more refreshed the next day.
3) Read During Your Lunch Break
For those of us who still have to work outside the home during Covid, well, thank you. Seriously.
You probably still have some sort of break at work to eat and relax a little. Unfortunately, it’s no longer possible to safely share a table with your coworkers while eating and drinking, making sitting alone and scrolling through social media while eating lunch more common. Unfortunately, instead of social connection, social media often brings stress with terrifying headlines and even more terrifying comments sections. You could end up stressed or even angry doing the very activity that is supposed to relax and recharge you before getting back to work.
Bring a physical book so you’re not even tempted to open up Facebook or Twitter and just keep track of the time while you’re reading. Pro tip: Wear earbuds connected to nothing to discourage coworkers from approaching you to ask you what you’re reading.
4) Read What You Like
I don’t care if all you want to read is hardcore erotica, paperback mysteries, or effing Goosebumps. If a book brings you joy and takes away some of your stress, then it’s worth reading.
A strange misconception I see on the internet now and then is that reading should only be reserved for serious literature or nonfiction books. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying these books. But saying escapism is not worthy of being read by anyone ever is ridiculous.
It’s simple: you’re more likely to read if you’re actually interested in what you’re reading. Choose any book that catches your eye. If you don’t like it after a couple chapters, put it down and try another book. Once you’re in the habit of reading regularly, you might be more inclined to try to tackle War and Peace, and it’ll be easier for you because reading will be second nature. Or you might decide you’re happy binge-reading Sweet Valley High. Either option is perfectly fine. But if you like what you’re reading, you’ll find time to read it.
5) Celebrate!
Reading should not be another unwanted chore on your to-do list, nor should you beat yourself up about how much you actually read. Even if you manage to only read a couple pages a week, celebrate it. Savor the feeling of accomplishment that comes with finding a few minutes of reading time, or an ounce of mental energy to spend on a book. The more you associate reading with positive feelings, more you’ll read.
2021 will be an interesting year for sure. But remember to take care of yourself and de-stress with a few paragraphs of joy reading– even if you’re only able to read while waiting in line to get tested for Covid.
Disclaimer: The Smashwords link is an affiliate link, meaning I get a small commission if you purchase a book through that link, but at no additional cost to you. I donate half of my affiliate earnings to Trees for the Future.