Growing up I spent every summer signing up for library reading programs, reading dozens of books and accumulating as many prizes as possible before heading back to school in the fall. It didn't matter that the prizes were. Oftentimes discarded books and lame library merch-reading was just fun. Even during the school year my teachers had to tell me to stop reading in class when I was supposed to be completing other assignments. I could sit on the couch and read an entire book in a day.
Somewhere between ninth grade and graduation, my love for reading seemed to steadily decrease until I was only reading the books required for school. By the time college rolled around, it was a stretch for me to even complete my assigned reading. I often hear similar stories of woe from my friends; people who used to love reading had not picked up a non-required book in years.
So why did so many of us quit books? Are stories and paper a thing designed only for children and English Majors?
The most common reason for this decline in reading seems to be a lack of time. Many of us still harbor a love for books, but do not believe we have the minutes needed in each day to sit down and read a few pages. College students can all agree that it is nearly impossible to simply get through the vast amounts of assigned reading, and many want to do anything but look at another book after completing the never-ending assignments.
Realizing that my bookshelf is now filled to capacity with books that I want to read but haven't gotten around to yet, I decided that 2016 would be the year that I finally got back into doing something that I really love. After seeing someone post at the beginning of the year about reading 52 books in the new year, I decided I would make it my goal to do the same.
I'm halfway through the year and 15 books in. I certainly have a ways to go, but I think I've learned what it will take for us to start reading again. The simple, borderline-annoying answer? Just read.
I know that sounds dumb and unhelpful, but I think it really just comes down to priorities for most of us. I can stand with the majority of my peers and say that reading has not been a very high priority in the past. But this year I set some goals and have managed my time better to fit with them. I spend less time on my phone, and more time with my nose in a book. And that feels good.
Maybe you don't like reading-- nothing wrong with that. But is there something that you've been wanting to do-- something you've been putting off because of a lack of time? If so, I hope this gives you the push to just start. Shift your time, even just a little, and start doing things that line up with your goals and really make you happy.
