At the end of last year, I was under the weather and promptly burnt out from reading. Nothing appealed to me, which was awful because its my favorite pastime. The truth of the matter was that there were times throughout last year where I forced the hobby, which put in more slumps than I remember experiencing.
In 2025, I wanted to come in with a new attitude: I made a resolution to quit while I was ahead. It was my aim to focus my time on books that kept me engaged and interested. So, how am I doing one month in?
The answer is surprisingly straightforward: My resolution has been a success this first month.
My biggest issue in the past few years is that I absolutely refused to put down books that I was not feeling. Forcing myself to get through them just made me unhappy and made reading feel like a chore. More than that too, I was spending time on books I wasn't getting anything meaningful out of just for the sake of saying I finished it.
I have been better about being more patient and selective about what I choose to pick up and what I anticipate wanting to read. It may take me more time than I would like sometimes, but there comes a point when I realize it's just not working. I give myself the space to put it down, but whether that is a permanent decision or one to come back to later is another story. I've DNFed 4 of the books I picked up, and taken time with each of them to truly try.
What I've realized is that I can still be guilty of my bad habits, but by reframing my relationship to reading, I generally feel better. Reading has felt like a more joyful, meaningful, and reflective experience this past month than it has in a long time.
It'll still take work and effort on my part, but focusing on quality over quantity was the best choice I could've made. It's one that'll ensure the longevity and joy of my favorite hobby.