Happy Sunday, friends! I am currently laying in bed and ignoring the world (and my mountain of laundry that needs to be washed prior to work tomorrow), and what better way to ignore responsibilities than with a good tag!?!
The Good Reading Habits tag was created by Ally @ Ally Writes Things back in December, and I am so glad she did because I honestly don’t focus on the good habits that I have nearly enough. I was tagged by both Ally and Consu @ Paper Eyed Girl; thank you both for tagging me and if you don’t already follow their blogs be sure to check them out!
Rules
- Pingback to the creator’s post!
- List some of your good reading habits, the things you think you do well
- Nominate some of your blogging friends
1. A Routine of reading
As I get older I find that it becomes increasingly difficult to find time for things. I operate best when I am incredibly busy, which often has the unintended side effect of my “not having the time” to do things I enjoy like reading. But not today! I started a self-care nightly routine to help me wind down from the day and combat insomnia, and I’ve made reading a part of it.
My bedroom is a laptop- and television-free zone for me: the only screen allowed is my Kindle! I get into bed every night by 9 o’clock because I am old and like my beauty sleep, and read until I fall asleep. I haven’t found the cure for my slumps though, but I still do try to read at night when I am not in the mood.
2. Picking books that I’m likely to enjoy
I don’t TBR books that do not fit my preferred genres or reading tastes. Of course, I don’t love every book that I read, but I am really good at being selective with my choices. The more that I read, the better I become at listening to my gut instinct when I am on the fence… because it hasn’t steered me wrong yet. Most books I was unsure of but picked up anyways I didn’t enjoy.
3. Mood reading
This kind of ties into the good habit above, but I am really good at surrendering to my mood for the best reading experience possible. I love the idea of a TBR because I live on lists and spreadsheets, but this is just one area where I can’t organize everything. I pick up my next book in large part based on what I feel like reading at the moment – taking into account ARCs that are coming up, of course. Rarely will I force myself to read a book when I am not in the right mood for it, which ends up being better for everyone. I have a ‘not now’ exclusive shelf on Goodreads that has books I started and feel like I will enjoy once I am in the right mood for them, and I revisit them
4. I DNF books I am not enjoying
This is a habit that I am still nurturing, but if I am not enjoying a book then I will not finish it. I do still feel kind of bad when it is an ARC, which usually means that I struggle with it for 2-3 weeks before giving up (but at least I can tell the guilty inner Kal that I tried my best!). I am pretty good at distinguishing between a ‘not now’ and a ‘DNF’ book, but I generally do give a book a second try just to make sure it wasn’t a mood thing before DNF, hence trying to pick up books I am not liking nightly for weeks.
So that’s it, four of my “good” book habits! What about you: what are some of your good habits, and do we have any in common? I’d love to see your responses in the comments below!
In case you want to see some of my bad reading habits be sure to check out my Bad Reading Habits tag!
I Tag: Destiny | Bex | Taylor | Sam | Soph | Melanie | & YOU if you want!
No pressure to do this tag if you don’t want to, but I’d love to see some of your good reading habits!
Let’s go on another adventure together!
I love your choices, Kal! 💜 I agree on DNFing. I’m starting to embrace that one.
Thank you, Siobhan! I am still trying to get better about DNFing books… I feel like I force myself too long to ~really be sure~ before giving up. I’ve had some bad luck so far in 2019, and I need to learn to let go faster.
I feel the same, especially with books I’ve purchased.
UGH YEA. I have books I bought because I was sure I would like them… and then I didn’t. *sings Let it Go*
Oh yeay for a good reading habits tag. Sometimes it is nice to talk about the positives too. 😉
Yes, I loved thinking about the good habits I have!
Good habits, indeed!
Even my GP recommended reading for my insomnia. Audio books are also good. I often fall asleep while listening to them.
We also decided to not have telly or laptop in the bedroom. It does help a lot!
Yay for the DNF! Too little time for bad books! 🙂
Reading does help and hinder my insomnia, mostly because if it is too good I won’t stop! But that’s a good point about audiobooks, maybe I would fall asleep better if I closed my eyes…
It makes such a difference to not have laptop in bed!
Picking books you’re likely to enjoy is a great reading habit to have: I always panic-apply for books on Netgalley and end up with a real mixed bag at the end of it! great post 🙂
I still kind of fall into the mindless requesting now and then, which totally stinks because I have been stuck with books I didn’t enjoy and an internal obligation to review them. Not fun, but I am getting better! Thanks for stopping by!
KALEENA *inserts last name* DO YOUR MOUNTAIN OF LAUNDRY OR YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN TIMEOUT TONIGHT ON DISCORD MKAYYYY. I try reading at night as well, but I also like my beauty sleep… only I like waking up early and staying up late, much to my mother’s dismay.
“The more that I read, the better I become at listening to my gut instinct when I am on the fence… because it hasn’t steered me wrong yet.” ME TOO. I’ve gotten really good at listening to my gut instinct, ESPECIALLY when I’m reading the first few pages and chapters.
I have gotten a lot more liberal with DNFing books now that I’m blogging – if I’m not enjoying the book, I’ll usually wait a few weeks before trying again, then put it back down and pick it back up and if I’m not enjoying it, I just call it quits. Usually for some of those books I try to gravitate to the audio version of the book because I feel it’ll be better for me, but we’ll see how that works when and if I choose my first victim.
*whistles nonchalantly* I will have to do my laundry this evening otherwise I will be calling in naked to work tomorrow. Please shove me in timeout if I continue to put it off. I also like my beauty sleep, which is why I fall asleep while reading a LOT. I woke up this morning with my kindle phone in my hand lmao
I swear every time I succumbed to hype or marketing for a book I was on the fence about I wind up not liking it. RULE is the perfect example of that. I will never forget!
I am also doing the whole, set it aside for a week or two thing! It’s useful. Makes me feel like I did everything possible. godspeed to your audio victims
Well that’ll be a sight for sure. 🤣 What’s funny is I did as well with waking up the past few days, oops. And wow. I DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. A beautiful excuse. 😂😂😂
And I may choose one for my long commute tomorrow. TWO HOURS.
Ahhh Kaleena, thank you so much for doing the tag!!! A reading routine is so good, and definitely something I need to get better at. Also mood reading is such a good one, too!! I find when I mood read books, I almost always enjoy them more than books I’m not in the mood for (unsurprisingly I guess)
You’re welcome, and it only took me 2 months! That must be a record for me and my tag hoarding ways! I definitely enjoy books a lot more when I read based on my mood! It is the main reason that I still haven’t finished Foundryside… because I KNOW I will love it once I am in the mood for it…
oooooh I’m super jealous of people who can predict which books they’ll like … I’m still struggling not to always buy into hype, but it’s hard because sometimes those super-hyped books do end up becoming my new favorites! (though this is rare, if I’m being honest. I do often enjoy them, but it seems I’m equally likely not to like them.)
I’m pretty good with DNF-ing backlist titles, but with review copies I do feel really guilty doing it – I’m more likely to struggle through an ARC until I come across a major literary dealbreaker. still working on this one, like you.
I find that whenever I read a hyped up book it is my own damn expectations that ruin it for me than anything else! Or when I pick up the book because of the hype despite not thinking the book is 100% for me. You’ll get better at it the more you read, though!
I still feel such guilt with DNFing ARCs, but I am starting to do it — even with a book by an author I love and a book I committed to being on a blog tour for the pub! Both instances the pubs (who I have a good relationship with) were very understanding, and I just am sure to be as constructive as possible with my mini-reviews as to why it wasn’t for me. Work in progress, though!
Love these reading habits Kaleena! I used to force myself to read books that I’m not really in the mood for, because it is a book that I think I should read. However now I try to go with my gut instinct. Reading is for enjoyment after all!
I’ve found that forcing myself to read books I am not in the mood for really makes me miserable, causes slumps, and honestly does a disservice to the author. OFC it’s the last thing that makes me feel better about missing pub dates for books I am sure i will like but are in the “not now” realm.
You are absolutely right Kaleena. My enjoyment of a book definitely depends on my mood, and it would be a disservice to the author to rate a book poorly just because I wasn’t in the mood for it. I love the idea of a “not now” category 🙂
“Not now” has worked really well for me since I implemented it last fall! I was struggling a bit of a fantasy slump but was trying to force myself to read Foundryside. I could tell it was something I would LOVE when in the mood for it, but that was not the time. I know I put too much pressure on myself, but I think authors and pubs would understand.
Yeah that is true. It’s never fun to force ourselves to read something. I might try the “not now” idea too 🙂
Great reading habits! I totally agree on the DNF. I try not to feel too bad about it, but I still struggle with that.
This are such good habits!!!
I need to go back to reading before bed, that’s such a good habit to have!
Great lists 🙂
I love reading before bed so much, it helps me unwind and usually helps with my insomnia… unless it is too good and I stay up all night reading it. But, worth it!
I was doing really well in December and the beginning of January working reading into my day, even if it was just for 20 minutes, but I’ve fallen off the wagon. I need to get back into it though! Especially since I’m trying to read The Ruin of Kings this month and it is so big.
Ah, picking books I know I’ll like is one thing I am good at too!
I read a thing a month or so ago that calculated how many books I could read in the year if I read just 20 or 30 minutes a day, and it was like 50 books or something. Which is so COOL! 20 minutes is easy enough to fit in and if the book is enjoyable you often get sucked in for more reading, too! I hope you start carving out that time again soon!
I do most of my reading in bed at night too. Although my phone is a big distraction (like right now, I’m blog hopping and I should be reading!) 😁
Yup, it isn’t a perfect system because sometimes I scroll twitter or watch youtube videos on my phone in bed, haha! But I have been known to turn off data & wifi… muahahaha
These are all great habits! I also do a lot of reading in bed at night.
I struggle a lot with #3 because I am definitely a mood reader but I also don’t want to let down anyone if I have accepted a book for review, and that’s sorta where I’m at right now (and why I’m in a constant struggle to keep up with review copies…just because I read them so slowly lately).
YUP I have the same damn struggle with #3, Lisa! Want to know what helps me not feel guilty when I need to mood read? Telling myself that forcing a read I am not in the mood for is a disservice to the author because I am sure to dislike it. It’s way better for me to wait for the time that I will be mentally into the story and more likely to enjoy it.
That’s a great way to think about it!
One of my good book habits is reading during breakfast. I don’t always do it, but I really like starting off the day by making progress on a book!
I’m going to have to take a page out of your book (hehe) and be more strict about DNFing books because I still struggle with that a bit.
That is such a good habit to have (also yay for eating breakfast! I don’t ever and it’s not good lol).
DNFing books is certainly hard but also liberating, give it a try!
*shocked gasp* you don’t eat breakfast?! my greatest nightmare.
The few times I’ve DNF’d so far have definitely felt very good, so I’m going to continue working on it.
*hides face in shame* I don’t! Which is a shame because to be honest I love breakfast food! I just find myself not having the time in the morning and sustaining on coffee until lunchtime, which… isn’t good.
Isn’t it the most freeing feeling to finally let go of a book that isn’t bringing you any joy?!
I really need to learn to DNF. I’m pretty good about picking books that I’m going to enjoy, but once in a blue moon I find something that is REALLY not clicking with me, and I keep going out of a combination of completionism and a need to read the whole thing so I can “properly” discuss it.
I know exactly what you mean because I still struggle with DNFing for the same reasons! I want to give the book a shot and I know that I can’t judge a book based on what I read, but I also don’t enjoy forcing myself into slumps with books that are just not for me (be it the writing or narrative style, or hating the characters, etc). There are so many books to read!
I haven’t used the TV in my room in ages. I always have my laptop available though. YouTube is my one major problem when it comes to falling asleep on time and reading more often. I don’t have anywhere else to put it and as I take online classes I need my laptop with me. I wish I wold get better at ignoring my laptop though.
I always feel like I’m getting better picking out books and most of the time I am. I’m trying to get my tbr list down to 100 in the future and I currently have it at 448. I’ve become very picky with my reading so that’s why I mention that. It’s been easier to weed out books I know I might not like. However, I should do more chapter reads or something to see if I truly would like to read a book. Or DNF more. One or the other.
I want to include more books I browsed through the library for on my monthly tbr list. I think that would help me with my whole mood reading dilemma. I have been okay with putting books off but I’m still in a bit of a slump where I have to force myself to get into a new book.
https://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/
I definitely can relate to getting sucked into the Youtube hole! That is actually one of the big reasons I had to ban my laptop from my bedroom, actually – I was just mindlessly watching when I have insomnia. What works for me is I just leave my laptop in the other room, but maybe you could put it out of reach when in bed?
I really could do to clean up my TBR list on goodreads, it’s at like 415 or something and I think a lot of those books I am likely not going to be interested in reading anymore. Chapter reading would be such a good thing to do, maybe I can do that – see if the books that are on the fence are available at my library?
I would LOVE to see library reads on your monthly tbr!
This is such a nice, positive tag and these are all great habits! I need to develop more of a reading routine, but I live with my sister and get caught up in her Law & Order marathons way too much. More recently I’ve been working to get off the couch around 8pm to get ready for bed so I can have some extra time to read — I’m also one to go to sleep early. 🙂
Law & Order marathons are difficult to ignore, honestly. I also like going to sleep early! High five.
I’m with you on all of these, except DNFing, sadly. I wish I was better at that sometimes!
It’s definitely something I am still working on, but I am getting better!
Thank you for the tag, my love! I really love that your bedroom is a screen-free zone. I feel like it would make me have a much better bedtime routine if I implemented that in my life, and I’d get more reading done, because too often, I take my phone to bed (“oh, I’ll read on my kindle app”) instead of my kindle, and then I end up playing this stupid Hungry Cat Picross game until I fall asleep. 😂
Honestly, making my bedroom a place of sleep & reading has helped with my insomnia SO MUCH! I tend to read a physical book until I start getting a little sleepy, and then turn off the lights and read another on my Kindle (without internet access) until I pass out. You should give it a try!
These are all such good habits! I’ve been trying to get back in my night reading routine (says this as I am commenting at midnight lol), and am truly try to force myself to DNF books I dislike. I’ve also gotten better at being a more selective reader, but of course, there are times when a novel and I just don’t match. Haha. Lovely post, Kal! ❤️
Thank you so much, Kelly! I have to make a concerted effort to force myself to stick to my nightly routine because it is so much easier to just scroll through twitter or blog hop in bed, but I value my sleep too much so I really try! I am glad to hear you are getting better and DNFing, too! It’s so hard, but no book can please everyone.
Thank you for the tag, m’love! I don’t know if I have any good reading habits, because I have 0 chill, but I’ll try my best to figure some out, haha. I am getting better at DNF’ing! & I’m glad you are too! We should never have to waste our time with ab ook we’re not enjoying! Some books just aren’t for us & that’s okay!
Maybe having 0 chill can be your good reading habit? because you are hella passionate and that has to count for something!
I feel mood reading can be a good thing and a bad thing – like it can be helpful and then it stops being helpful. Like it’s good when you have a couple of reads and then you can just switch the books if you’re not feeling the one. But then again it could be difficult because you might not be feeling any of the books (thanks, brain).
It’s so important to dnf books that you’re not enjoying! A lot of the times when I’m in a book slump is because I’m stuck on a book I’m not enjoying. And then I stop and then look at it and realise ‘no, this is just not a book I like. Let’s take it off and focus on another one.’
I know exactly what you mean – mood reading is definitely a blessing and a curse for me! I just continue trying books until something sticks; succumbing to my mood whims is best.
YUP!!! I am now 98% positive that my 21 day slump in January was because I was trying to read a book I hated. Ugh. Life’s too short.
Sometimes I get lucky and I look through my tbr because I know that there’s a specific book I want to read!
Oh no that’s awful! I’m glad you got over the slump!
Those are darn good habits. I have not been able to shake off not DNFing yet but I plan too.. Soon.. Someday.. In future.
I may DNF, but I still feel a lot of guilt for it! It’s all a process, and one day I hope that you will be able to put down a book you aren’t enjoying to read something else!
the amount of people i gotta encoyrage its ok to dnf is too large tbh :’)
if its not working just say goodbye~
i still havent read since the 18ths thoi so im def in a bad reading habit place rn
I know what you mean, and even for me it is so hard to allow myself to say goodbye when a book isn’t working for me!
Oh no on the little slump though, I hope you feel like reading soon!
i read last night nadtoidaY!! its going well