Reading For Fun, Not A Challenge: How I'm Maintaining A Reading Habit During Lockdown

This past month has been exhausting. Between the heightening anxiety from the pandemic, stressful newsfeeds, and everyday routines having to change at a moment's notice, finding respite and solace has been tricky. I find when faced with long periods of uncertainty, my attention wanders elsewhere constantly, imagining every possible scenario other than the here and now.

In normal scenarios, reading has been my go-to activity to disengage. My new year's resolutions included running a 5K parkrun at least once a month and watching less TV in lieu of reading more. With social distancing making the first one near impossible, and trying to pace myself with all the Studio Ghibli content on Netflix throughout the lock-down, actually sitting down to read is still hard.

So as to stay on track with reading and using the time to disconnect, I've switched up my habits.

1. Read more non-fiction
I used to alternate between fiction and non-fiction throughout the year. Since landing a publishing job, I've found my reading has been very fiction heavy, comprised of mostly contemporary YA and adult fiction. So many essay collections have been added to the ever-growing TBR list that I'm finding much easier to engage with, especially in the mornings as opposed to watching breakfast TV or scrolling my social feeds over breakfast.

Recommended reading: Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino

2. Delve into the graphic novel collection
Graphic novels are complex in their own right. Panels, plot and story arcs between volumes  are still fun and engaging to read, while being less daunting than a 300+ page novel. I find I can whizz through a volume in an afternoon and revisit again and again to take in some of the spreads on their own. Moreover, the fantasy /sci-fi elements are especially great for some much needed escapism.

Recommended reading: Monstress Volumes 1 and 2 by Majorie Liu, Illustrated by Sana Takeda

 


3. Dip in and out of short stories
A well constructed short story is no mean feat. To fit in plot, pacing and character building is so few words is worthy of respect. Collections of short stories also suit well before bed, where there is less pressure to meet an arbitrary number pages to fulfil a reading challenge. Instead, more often to not, I complete whole stories out of a genuine curiosity. Also a welcome respite for when I need to put my phone down.

Recommended reading: How To Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs