scijessreads

I feel like reading recaps with lists of books read, rated, and reviewed during a month feel part and parcel of having a book-related social media presence. I have done them myself, here and on Instagram. But over the last month, my feelings toward numbers of books read has been changing.

My first couple years back into reading a lot, I read hundreds of books in a year. It was fun, I had the time, and I enjoyed it.

Over this last year, maybe because of changing “real world” priorities and responsibilities, my ability to read the same volume has very much plummeted. This over a hundred books the last year, but I also found it harder to read every day. Some days I would come home and stare at the TV while trying to turn off my brain because I was mentally and physically exhausted.

The last few months have felt like I was reading at time because I felt like I had to, not because I wanted to. And when I did want to read, I wanted to reread comfort books and not new ones.

I still like ARC reading, and I have a bunch of those to finish by the end of the year. But I am also much more careful about requesting ARCs now, even more than before. Because mood reading has struck hard, and having to read something that feels like a chore is just not gonna happen right now.

So, I’m going to shift more to slowing down, putting less focus on numbers and more focus on reviewing, on sharing my favorites, and on having a little bit of fun again. This was always meant to be a respite from work, where I could spend time on myself and what I loved. I’m also thinking that I need to get back into more random art projects. I have some cross-stitch kits that have been collecting dust. And doing puzzles is kinda calling to me right now. As well as home decor and design, and when it FINALLY cools off again around here (so, like, November???), getting back into hiking and being outside.

I will still be here, but maybe not as much. Or, as has been lately, in a mode of “feast or famine” where I post a ton for a week or two and then disappear for a while. Hopefully you’ll stick around for whatever comes next. At least this space isn’t what my very neglected Substack has become. Although I think I may start crossposting stuff over there just to have it updated. We’ll see.