My TBR pile is high... Right now I'm reading Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt -- just because I need to get myself together. I did two writing conferences back-to-back and need to plan how to get through it all.
I started reading Get the Picture by Bianca Boscker about a journalist who infiltrates the art world. While it made me laugh and is probably very good - my commitments over-powered, and I didn't continue. I also started Did I Ever Tell You - by Genevieve Kingst another non-fiction where her mother dies and leave gifts for every birthday and milestone for the author and her brother. Again, work derailed that, even though I was really looking forward to it.
I usually take the morning 7:30-8:30am to read for me. I've been traveling a lot have been thrown off my game. I will get back to my routine and eventually pick these back up, unless something more shiny grabs me.
Thank you for sharing, Renee. I wonder how you are finding Hyatt’s book. Is it helping? I’ve not heard about it until now, but I also feel like I need to get myself together 😂 I sense we are on the same frequency.
Jana, I think the book is helpful. I’ve read a lot of these types of books. Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner came out of this book—and the book clarifies the use. I don’t like the fact that they’re quarterly planners, so I don’t use them. I use Passion Planner weekly version.
I wanted to read this book because I have multiple projects I’d like to get done in this last quarter through the new year and wanted to get some ideas on how to better organize and implement my plan.
Perfect timing! My writing mentor is always reminding me the key ingredient to better writing IS more reading, and I hardly make the time for it (mainly cause I have an issue with authority figures & people telling me what to do EVEN IF I want to do it). BUT, this is a great way to incorporate reading into my daily routine rather than looking for a time in my schedule to CARVE OUT the time! Thanks for sharing this wonderfully written piece, and congratulations on learning English! You are amazing at it!
Ooh, your mentor is making a lot of sense… Who is your mentor? Thank you for sharing, and I am so happy it helped, and you found it well-written. Learning English has been my big goal since I was 11. Thank you for your encouragement, Christina; it means a lot 🥲
I needed this, Jana! I used to read on my lunch break at work, making my way through books one hour at a time. I've read less since I retired than before. I'm going to figure out a good time of day and start devoting an hour to it again. I miss reading. Thanks!
You don’t know how glad I am to hear that, Cherie. Good for you. Let me know how it goes. Thank you for sharing and engaging with my work. It means a lot. 🥲
I am excited to try to get my hands on this recommended book! I just finished Brianna Weist's "The Mountain is You." A great and quick read on overcoming and reframing self-sabotage. Her writing style is super inspirational and precisely succinct. Lots of "AHA!" moments while reading any of her amazing books. I, too, found that reading a chapter or two with my morning coffee has helped me conquer my ever growing stack of books. Thank you sharing the new book suggestion, Jana!
You're welcome! I highly recommend 😊 thank you for suggesting one back; I immediately bought it. Self-sabotage lurks around more often than needed😉 I can't wait to start reading it tomorrow with my coffee 🙏
That's what i try and mostly succeed in doing, one chapter at a time, one book at a time. Sometimes work overload does lead to a week or two of exhaustion thus falling into bed, but i am a morning person so if no major overtime on the horizon i actually get up 45 mins to an hour earlier. Problem today we are permanently on our phones scrolling, and something else takes time away from reading actual books is of course all the to-reads on Substack...
It's still a big challenge to balance reading books and some great articles on Substack. I want to invest enough time into every single newsletter I subscribe to because I know how much work goes into it; the same goes for the books.
That balance for me is still a work in progress. Thank you for sharing, Lesley 😊
The same, I'm a big fan! I don't want to make your list larger, but did you know he also has a book called Pressfield Daily? It's a one-note-per-day style book; it's on my wish list 😂
I used to read in bed at night. I still do if I’m early enough and when I can keep my eyes open - then when I worked in London and commuted I read on the train. I got through so many books - I’d even keep reading as I walked from the station to work if the book had me gripped. Now I have gathered many piles of unread books and keep telling myself I will not put the tv on in the evening, but sit and read. After reading your article I feel like I will actually do that now. Thanks for the reminder. I look at my phone - whether it’s Substack or social media (I don’t have tik tok!) or a game or the bbc news app. Lunchtime I could put the phone down and read. Time to stop the excuses! Thanks Jana for this wisdom.
It’s a constant battle. Yet, reading is so important, espessially for writing.
You're most welcome, Leigh. I hope it'll help ☺️
Just this weekend, I've deleted all the social media apps from my phone. Not because it’s qliche productivity advice but because I don't need it. All I need on my phone is Substack app and of course book apps 😂
I love the Can’t Even rec too! I haven’t read quite as many books since my kids went back to school mid August but I generally get more books read by always having a book with me as an option. I read while drinking coffee, while eating lunch, at my kids’ soccer practice, piano lesson, little gym class. I also read during their screen time after school and when my husband watches sports I don’t care about- I truly only care about college basketball. We have to make time for things that are important to us and I haven’t downloaded TikTok because I don’t want it to be a time suck for me.
Thank you for sharing, Elizabeth. I love that you always have a book with you as an option and that you fit in the reading whenever possible. Oh, don't get me started on the sports- whenever the topic comes up, my ears swith off-it's an instinct😂
Taking books with you is a great idea. I must do that too. Since smartphones, I've halved my reading and it was such a big part of who I am. I've un-installed TikTok it's too time-consuming and doesn't nourish me enough.
I'm going to have to read that book. I'm having a hard time putting my ass where my heart is right now. I've also learned much of what I know from reading books. Growing up, whenever I asked my Dad to tell me something I didn't know, he'd say, "Let's look it up in The World Book (encyclopedia)." It used to frustrate me because I knew he could just tell me the answer. He taught me that books are knowledge, and you can find the answer to almost any question in a book.
Thank you for sharing, Daria. Your dad sounds like a very wise man. So, true, books have most of the knowledge. You know, I think Pressfield's book might work magic if you do struggle with time. I had until my mindset around the time completely changed thanks to this particular book- absolute game changer (PS: I am not his affiliate 😂)
Reading comes in waves for me, I can go months without reading much and then periods like now where I can get through 2-3 books a month - although the third would be an audio book!
Oh, I love that. I also mix audiobooks, mainly when I don't feel like listening to music while driving or exercising 😊 Do you have more writing material when reading? I tend to have more ideas when I read regularly 😂 Thank you for sharing, Han.
I love what you've said here. I often fall into the trap of thinking that the only way I can get any "real" reading done is to clear an entire afternoon, and since I'm rarely able to do that, I end up not reading much. But when I remember that I can read a chapter over breakfast, or take ten minutes between showering and making dinner, I suddenly find myself finishing chapter after chapter effortlessly.
I hadn't seen that particular book by Pressfield, and am definitely going to look it up. Sounds like just the boot in the ass I need. ;)
It's the same here. I kept thinking the same way and ended up piling those books beside the bedside or on my 'to-read list,' which kept growing. A free afternoon to read sounds like a pipe dream with so much going on. The best we can do is grab the little time we have. I highly recommend this book; it'll kick you. It was eye-opening for me, and I've not worried about the time or lack of it as much since I read it. (PS: I've got no commission on his book but I do own almost all of his books and can't recommend them enough 😂)
This is such a great post, it's so easy to tell ourselves lots of excuses why we can't "do the thing". But I'm definitely going to have to buy that book
So true Jana. We often look at the big thing to be done, get overwhelmed and put it off until it's too late. Instead we can always do something little each day to avoid the pile up!
My TBR pile is high... Right now I'm reading Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt -- just because I need to get myself together. I did two writing conferences back-to-back and need to plan how to get through it all.
I started reading Get the Picture by Bianca Boscker about a journalist who infiltrates the art world. While it made me laugh and is probably very good - my commitments over-powered, and I didn't continue. I also started Did I Ever Tell You - by Genevieve Kingst another non-fiction where her mother dies and leave gifts for every birthday and milestone for the author and her brother. Again, work derailed that, even though I was really looking forward to it.
I usually take the morning 7:30-8:30am to read for me. I've been traveling a lot have been thrown off my game. I will get back to my routine and eventually pick these back up, unless something more shiny grabs me.
Thank you for sharing, Renee. I wonder how you are finding Hyatt’s book. Is it helping? I’ve not heard about it until now, but I also feel like I need to get myself together 😂 I sense we are on the same frequency.
Jana, I think the book is helpful. I’ve read a lot of these types of books. Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner came out of this book—and the book clarifies the use. I don’t like the fact that they’re quarterly planners, so I don’t use them. I use Passion Planner weekly version.
I wanted to read this book because I have multiple projects I’d like to get done in this last quarter through the new year and wanted to get some ideas on how to better organize and implement my plan.
I’m always on the look out for a better system.
Perfect timing! My writing mentor is always reminding me the key ingredient to better writing IS more reading, and I hardly make the time for it (mainly cause I have an issue with authority figures & people telling me what to do EVEN IF I want to do it). BUT, this is a great way to incorporate reading into my daily routine rather than looking for a time in my schedule to CARVE OUT the time! Thanks for sharing this wonderfully written piece, and congratulations on learning English! You are amazing at it!
Ooh, your mentor is making a lot of sense… Who is your mentor? Thank you for sharing, and I am so happy it helped, and you found it well-written. Learning English has been my big goal since I was 11. Thank you for your encouragement, Christina; it means a lot 🥲
I needed this, Jana! I used to read on my lunch break at work, making my way through books one hour at a time. I've read less since I retired than before. I'm going to figure out a good time of day and start devoting an hour to it again. I miss reading. Thanks!
You don’t know how glad I am to hear that, Cherie. Good for you. Let me know how it goes. Thank you for sharing and engaging with my work. It means a lot. 🥲
I am excited to try to get my hands on this recommended book! I just finished Brianna Weist's "The Mountain is You." A great and quick read on overcoming and reframing self-sabotage. Her writing style is super inspirational and precisely succinct. Lots of "AHA!" moments while reading any of her amazing books. I, too, found that reading a chapter or two with my morning coffee has helped me conquer my ever growing stack of books. Thank you sharing the new book suggestion, Jana!
You're welcome! I highly recommend 😊 thank you for suggesting one back; I immediately bought it. Self-sabotage lurks around more often than needed😉 I can't wait to start reading it tomorrow with my coffee 🙏
Great advice! Don’t wait, jump in imperfectly!
I’m listening to Deep Work right now. So it’s similar messaging.
Ooh, Deep work is a classic 😊
That's what i try and mostly succeed in doing, one chapter at a time, one book at a time. Sometimes work overload does lead to a week or two of exhaustion thus falling into bed, but i am a morning person so if no major overtime on the horizon i actually get up 45 mins to an hour earlier. Problem today we are permanently on our phones scrolling, and something else takes time away from reading actual books is of course all the to-reads on Substack...
It's still a big challenge to balance reading books and some great articles on Substack. I want to invest enough time into every single newsletter I subscribe to because I know how much work goes into it; the same goes for the books.
That balance for me is still a work in progress. Thank you for sharing, Lesley 😊
LOVE Pressfield! The War of Art & Do the Work are staples on my shelves.
I haven't read Put Your Ass Where You're Heart Wants To Be yet - but now you've put it on my list:) 🙏🏻
The same, I'm a big fan! I don't want to make your list larger, but did you know he also has a book called Pressfield Daily? It's a one-note-per-day style book; it's on my wish list 😂
I used to read in bed at night. I still do if I’m early enough and when I can keep my eyes open - then when I worked in London and commuted I read on the train. I got through so many books - I’d even keep reading as I walked from the station to work if the book had me gripped. Now I have gathered many piles of unread books and keep telling myself I will not put the tv on in the evening, but sit and read. After reading your article I feel like I will actually do that now. Thanks for the reminder. I look at my phone - whether it’s Substack or social media (I don’t have tik tok!) or a game or the bbc news app. Lunchtime I could put the phone down and read. Time to stop the excuses! Thanks Jana for this wisdom.
It’s a constant battle. Yet, reading is so important, espessially for writing.
You're most welcome, Leigh. I hope it'll help ☺️
Just this weekend, I've deleted all the social media apps from my phone. Not because it’s qliche productivity advice but because I don't need it. All I need on my phone is Substack app and of course book apps 😂
That’s brave! I do use social media and it’s also my paid work - but I definitely use Substack more these days.
Ooh, in that case, defineitely don't delete the apps. 😅
Haha - no I best not ;)
I love the Can’t Even rec too! I haven’t read quite as many books since my kids went back to school mid August but I generally get more books read by always having a book with me as an option. I read while drinking coffee, while eating lunch, at my kids’ soccer practice, piano lesson, little gym class. I also read during their screen time after school and when my husband watches sports I don’t care about- I truly only care about college basketball. We have to make time for things that are important to us and I haven’t downloaded TikTok because I don’t want it to be a time suck for me.
Thank you for sharing, Elizabeth. I love that you always have a book with you as an option and that you fit in the reading whenever possible. Oh, don't get me started on the sports- whenever the topic comes up, my ears swith off-it's an instinct😂
Taking books with you is a great idea. I must do that too. Since smartphones, I've halved my reading and it was such a big part of who I am. I've un-installed TikTok it's too time-consuming and doesn't nourish me enough.
I read the Kindle on my kids’ tablets too- I never bought my own but we have a rotation system going between our shared devices.
I'm going to have to read that book. I'm having a hard time putting my ass where my heart is right now. I've also learned much of what I know from reading books. Growing up, whenever I asked my Dad to tell me something I didn't know, he'd say, "Let's look it up in The World Book (encyclopedia)." It used to frustrate me because I knew he could just tell me the answer. He taught me that books are knowledge, and you can find the answer to almost any question in a book.
Thank you for sharing, Daria. Your dad sounds like a very wise man. So, true, books have most of the knowledge. You know, I think Pressfield's book might work magic if you do struggle with time. I had until my mindset around the time completely changed thanks to this particular book- absolute game changer (PS: I am not his affiliate 😂)
Aai i was one of those mothers ...;)
Reading comes in waves for me, I can go months without reading much and then periods like now where I can get through 2-3 books a month - although the third would be an audio book!
Oh, I love that. I also mix audiobooks, mainly when I don't feel like listening to music while driving or exercising 😊 Do you have more writing material when reading? I tend to have more ideas when I read regularly 😂 Thank you for sharing, Han.
I love what you've said here. I often fall into the trap of thinking that the only way I can get any "real" reading done is to clear an entire afternoon, and since I'm rarely able to do that, I end up not reading much. But when I remember that I can read a chapter over breakfast, or take ten minutes between showering and making dinner, I suddenly find myself finishing chapter after chapter effortlessly.
I hadn't seen that particular book by Pressfield, and am definitely going to look it up. Sounds like just the boot in the ass I need. ;)
It's the same here. I kept thinking the same way and ended up piling those books beside the bedside or on my 'to-read list,' which kept growing. A free afternoon to read sounds like a pipe dream with so much going on. The best we can do is grab the little time we have. I highly recommend this book; it'll kick you. It was eye-opening for me, and I've not worried about the time or lack of it as much since I read it. (PS: I've got no commission on his book but I do own almost all of his books and can't recommend them enough 😂)
This is such a great post, it's so easy to tell ourselves lots of excuses why we can't "do the thing". But I'm definitely going to have to buy that book
Wow, thank you, Louise. That means a lot! I am so glad you enjoyed it. Definitely get the book—it's a game changer.
So true Jana. We often look at the big thing to be done, get overwhelmed and put it off until it's too late. Instead we can always do something little each day to avoid the pile up!
Thank you for a great reminder 😊
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