Managing Reading

If you’re anything like me, reading has a way of piling up on your nightstand. There’s a stack of books and periodicals. Getting to it, let alone through it, is daunting.

The British writer, Oliver Burkeman, provides a nice reframe. He encourages us to look at reading as a river. One can choose to dip one’s foot into the river and appreciate that reading experience as opposed to pressuring oneself to try to plow through all of it. The river —in this instance —makes for a useful metaphor. Reading everything that captures my interest—at this point—is impossible.

Another strategy that I like at this time in life is to not feel compelled to read every book in its entirety. Most of my reading these days is nonfiction. (There’s so much to learn!) I’ve grown more comfortable skimming through the material I can and slowing down to digest the important parts.

Using Burkeman’s suggestion has made the material I choose to dive into a considerably more pleasant, non hurried endeavor. Much appreciated.