Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Has it ever taken longer than you expected to finish a book? That’s what’s happening with me and Becoming. I respect Michelle Obama so much, and am enjoying her story each time I get to it, but it’s just taking me forever to get through. Part of it has do with the fact that it’s been a long couple of weeks at work, and I am exhausted when I get home and just want to go to bed rather than read for too long. Another part is that, starting recently, I’m writing more about books than I am actually reading them. Which is ironic, right?
Obama seems to be the queen at handling busy schedules and making sure she keeps her priorities straight. Yes, she has a team to help her with all this, one that grew as she became more successful and in the public eye, but the way she addresses this shows some internal conflict. I was struck by her anecdote about hiring a chef to make meals for her family. While she knew it would mean healthy meals for her family, it also meant taking advantage of a level of wealth and privilege that a lot of people do not have, and grappling with that. Her family’s health and convenience won out, but I appreciated seeing her weigh the balance and make the decision even if she struggled with it.
Everyone has packed schedules these days, each new thing to do a piece in a constantly changing puzzle. How do we balance the necessities with the fun and relaxing aspects of life? No matter your income, there always seems to be more to do. For me, reading books blurs the line between necessary and relaxing, and not doing it on a regular basis leaves me feeling like something’s missing. Paying someone to cook for me so I can read is a little extreme and unrealistic (I can’t pay for that, and I like to cook), but I can make other changes in my routine. I don’t have to watch something on Netflix tonight. I can put down my phone and the endless Instagram scroll and pick up my book.
Do you have any tricks that help you make time for reading?
Bibliophile Reading Project 