How to Continue Writing & Reading When You Are Busy with Life

      Finding time to read and write while working full-time and dealing with many responsibilities is hard. But when you read for relaxation or recreation, reading can give you a greater sense of well-being in daily life. The trick to reading more is finding how you read better. Is it a physical book you can dogeared or an eBook you can have on your smartphone, Kindle, or an audiobook you can listen to while walking or doing something else? I enjoy reading physical books and eBooks while lying down and resting. Still, I know my brother will only read audiobooks while doing physical activity, so everyone is different in their learning style and engaging with intellectual stimulation. Finding what works for you can make a difference in your reading goal. I read sixty books last year because my primary form of relaxation was learning new things by reading. One of my talents is being a learner; I love the progress of gaining new knowledge and intellectually trying to understand it. I could spend hours stuck in my head, literally. For instance, I remember a time when I was feeling particularly stressed, and I found solace in a book that transported me to a different world, providing a much-needed mental break.

      In today’s world, you do not need to write at all. I enjoy writing and find it relieves me from mental boredom and provides an outlet for a lack of inspiration. But I have talked to many young adults in their twenties who never write and would rather eat a ghost pepper than write a paragraph. Writing more does not mean committing to writing the next WAR & PEACE; instead, it is about consistent writing, such as journaling, blogging, writing a letter to a friend, or writing down a poem or short story. For instance, you could start a blog about your favorite hobby, write a letter to a friend about a recent experience, or jot down a poem inspired by a walk in the park. It’s all about a form of self-expression that comes naturally to you. Small commitments are more accessible to keep and complete, such as writing a blog post every other week or writing about your day a few times a week in a journal (Perfect practice if you have a terrible day; it can calm you down quite a bit), or writing a thank you note or birthday card to a friend, or writing down story or poem that comes to mind that day. When I set smaller goals to write, I tend to write more than expected, but if I overcommit myself to writing five pages of my novel project, I will only write a paragraph if I am lucky. My advice is to find a way to write that fits into your daily life and does not cause stress or guilt because you did not manage to write a whole chapter of your novel this week or even this month because you were too busy with work and life events.

We all have these years, months, or weeks where we feel overwhelmed with life and have no bandwidth for anything. Building your writing and reading practice around your most stressed, sick, and tired phases is essential to your success at keeping up with your habits. I am going through one of these phases right now, where I am stressed out with starting a new job and having health issues that are running me down. I am not keeping up my regular reading habits or, writing routine because I am exhausted. I do not want anyone to feel bad about themselves because they can not complete their goals that week. I know how demoralizing that can be for anyone. Journaling is the most accessible form of writing for me when I am tired because it gives me an outlet, is a form of self-care, and does not take much effort. Another thing is reading a poem at night, which helps me disconnect from my phone and calm down before sleep.

Reading and writing can provide mental stimulation in different forms. Such as reading for fun or education, which can teach you new things and broaden your perspective. While writing can give you an outlet for self-expression and a way to release pent-up mental energy and anxiety. When I am bored, I find writing lets me imagine a world that I am not living right now, allowing me to escape and explore new ideas. Also, reading breaks me from the mundane of daily life, providing a much-needed mental break. Finally, reading and writing can bring a sense of calm to your life.  Writing as a form of self-care and self-expression can make you feel heard and seen and can be a powerful tool for managing stress. Reading can help you relax and unplug from everyday life’s many demands, providing a peaceful escape.