Christine Gabrièlle

…and it’s not because I no longer like books.

This week, I found myself wondering if I was morphing into a version of myself that doesn’t enjoy reading as much as I used to. I’ve had the most difficult time sitting still to read this year. Instead, I find myself opting for visual stories—TV, movies, IG reels.

It’s taking me forever to get through books now—I currently have 3 in progress—and even though my TBR list is growing, I have little desire to obtain the books on my list. I barely even read the newsletters I’m signed up for.

This version of me is foreign. I’ve always been a reader.

And, maybe, it’s the byproduct of so much screen time—constantly being on my laptop or on my phone—or the stress and weightiness of the current moment—navigating a career transition, business uncertainties, and an ever-dwindling (yet, divinely sustained) savings account— that’s keeping me from being able to enjoy the stillness of a good book, but I don’t know for sure.

I never thought it was okay to not want to read. I’ve always been a reader.

And I’m still struggling to give myself permission to put the books on the shelf (instead of the various locations I’ve strategically placed them to encourage myself to finish reading them), and not pick up another one until I’m out of this reading rut.

Will I ever come out of this reading rut?

I mean, yea, probably, but it just feels so… unnatural.

Maybe that’s the point?

Maybe I need to lay some things down temporarily and some things permanently and just focus on the three major goals in front of me that do not require me to read for leisure.

I don’t know yet what the answer is.

How about you?

Do you read more or less than you used to? Why is that? And how’s it working out?

🖤