A Bookworm’s Workout Plan
Hey there, bibliophiles and page-flipping fiends! Are you ready to give your brain a six-pack? Joseph Addison, our literary personal trainer, tells us that “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” So, put on your stretchiest yoga pants, comfortable socks, navigate to your favorite reading spot and get ready to do some heavy lifting with a hardcover or two.
Action Step 1: Warm-Up with a Page-Turner
Before tackling War and Peace, warm up with something a bit lighter. Find a book that grips you like a toddler with a new toy, one that sparks joy and ignites your curiosity. Something so enjoyable, it feels like the literary equivalent of stretching – it’s just preparing you for the big leagues. Choose a novel that speaks to your soul or a mystery that keeps you guessing—anything that makes you reach eagerly for that bookmark.
Action Step 2: Set Up a Reading Routine
Consistency is key! Set aside time each day for reading, even if it’s just 10 minutes before bed or during your commute. Treat it like a gym membership – you’re paying with your time, so get your money’s worth! Or treat it like a favorite weekly TV show, let it be the time slot you look forward to the most.
Action Step 3: Mix Up Your Reading Reps
Don’t stick to the same genre; variety will make you a well-rounded mental athlete. Keep your bookshelf as colorful as a garden in full bloom. Alternate between fiction and non-fiction, fantasy and biographies. Sprinkle in some history with your mysteries, some poetry with your politics. Each style works out a different part of your brain, so keep it diverse!
Action Step 4: Go for Intervals with Audiobooks
Who says you have to read with your eyes? Plug into an audiobook while you’re grocery shopping or jogging. They're like the Swiss Army knife of literature—handy, multifunctional, and perfect for the reader on the go. It’s like interval training for your noggin, and it counts as reading reps!
Action Step 5: Reflect on Your Reading Regimen
Just like cool-down stretching, take time to reflect on what you’ve read. Keep a reading journal, join a book club, share your ideas with friends, or start a blog. Reflection helps to solidify mental gains.
And remember, even if you have fallen off the wagon of reading (when life happened when you had reading plans) and feel like you’re on the first chapter of ‘Procrastination for Dummies,’ every page you turn is a small victory. Now, for a powerful finale to send you off on your reading journey - I use a shortened version in my signature:
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” — George R.R. Martin
So what are you waiting for? Plan a time slot for your reading, grab a cuppa, cozy up in your favorite chair, and start turning those pages! Happy reading!
A reader lives a thousand lives!
Leena :)
P.S. Here’s a link to my blog post about who wrote the first vampire book.