This has probably been my biggest reading lesson over the past year and a half. If I want to sleep instead of read? That’s okay. If I’d rather spend time with my friends? Even better. If I accidentally spend three hours scrolling on my phone? Maybe not my finest moment, but also not something I’m going to punish myself over.
The second reading starts feeling like another item on my to-do list, I stop wanting to do it entirely. Reading has always been something I do because I enjoy it, not because I have to hit a certain number of books or finish a particular challenge. The more I force it, the less I want to pick up a book at all. Ironically, giving myself permission not to read has made reading feel fun again.
I’ve also become much more selective about the books I bring into my collection. Lately, I’ve been trying to follow two simple rules: either buy a book after I’ve already read and loved it, or buy books by authors I already trust or reviewers whose recommendations rarely let me down. It’s saved me money, but more importantly, it’s helped me rethink what I actually want my bookshelves to look like. I’ve realized I’m growing tired of owning things just for the sake of owning them. A large personal library used to feel like a dream. Now, it mostly feels like responsibility.
Recently, I unhauled more than thirty books that I no longer planned to read, reread, recommend, or lend to anyone. Instead of letting them collect dust on my shelves because I felt guilty getting rid of them, I’d much rather they find someone who will genuinely enjoy them.
This goal has been surprisingly successful, too. Don’t get me wrong—I love the library. In fact, I’ve written an entire blog post about how much I love it (check it out here). But lately, library due dates have started stressing me out more than motivating me.
Life looks very different now than it did a few years ago. I work full-time. I’m in graduate school—even during the summer. My reading pace hasn’t really changed, but the amount of time and energy I have available definitely has. When a library due date starts approaching, I often find myself reading because I have to finish the book rather than because I want to. So lately, I’ve been reaching for books I already own instead. There’s no deadline sitting on my bookshelf. If it takes me three weeks to finish a book, that’s perfectly fine.
I’ve also noticed something I wasn’t expecting: my reading preferences have shifted. For years, I mostly reached for young adult (YA) romance and dystopian novels. Then I went through a phase of reading adult romance and literary fiction almost exclusively. Now? I find myself gravitating toward nonfiction and translated fiction far more often. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped enjoying YA entirely. There are still plenty of books from my January TBR that I absolutely want to read someday. But it does explain why I haven’t made much progress on that list. Most of those books are young adult novels that I don’t currently own. Reading them would mean either buying them—which I’m actively trying to do less—or borrowing them from the library, which brings me right back to the whole due date dilemma.
Moral of the story: No, I haven’t made any meaningful progress on my January TBR. But I have become a more intentional reader. I’m buying fewer books. I’m letting go of books that no longer fit my interests. I’m choosing reading based on what actually excites me instead of what I feel obligated to finish. And maybe most importantly, I’ve stopped measuring a successful reading year solely by the number of books I finish. I’m still reading. I’m still learning. I’m still thinking. In a world that constantly asks us to consume more, do more, and move faster, I think that’s a pretty meaningful accomplishment to me.
Vanshikha Vij, Pine Reads Review Writer