A Post from Deb J ~ Reading Too Much
I have discovered something about myself. I read too much. Yes, I really said that. I definitely read too much. I love to read and I am a very fast reader. I read 2-3 books in an evening depending upon the length of the book. I was pretty happy with the decluttering I have done over the years. I used to have an extensive library. I once sold enough books to pay for one semester of college. While I never accumulated that many books again, I did have a bunch of books that I decluttered over the last few years. Then I started using a Kindle and had over 1000 books on it. I decluttered many of those and am decluttering more. With all that, you would think I would be very happy with where things are today. Then I realized I’m not happy at where I am.
I discovered I read too much. How can I say that? I have acquired the habit of reading the entire evening and into the early morning each day. I need the relaxation and rest of being in my recliner. It makes me able to go to bed and actually sleep because it helps my body have less pain. I also like to have the quiet time once Mom is gone to bed and thus the reading into the early morning. Unfortunately, reading so late is not good for my body and especially it is not good for my diabetes because it means I don’t have a good schedule like diabetes requires.Â
What does this have to do with decluttering? Sometimes decluttering requires ridding ourselves of more than “thingsâ€. Decluttering often means ridding ourselves of or changing habits or people or even jobs. It means being intentional about how we spend our time. I have not been intentional enough lately.Â
Moni, suggested I should set a time to go to bed and announce it to my mother. I should also then go to my room and not let her interrupt my “quiet†time. I can then read some more if I want. I am going to take it a step further. I am going to be pickier about the books I put on my Kindle. I am going to set the standard that I will only read one book an evening. When I go to my room at 10, the time there will be used to read my Bible and pray more or to journal. I need to spend time with the Lord listening to what he has to say and dialoging with him in a journal. And I will not stay up past midnight. I will also continue to declutter my Kindle until the only books left are the ones I really like and will read again.Â
For me, reading so much has become a way to passively deal with things I don’t like in my life. It is not a good way to do this.Â
Do you have any habits that are cluttering your life?
Colleen’s 10c worth
I have often wondered about this in relation to all my blog readers who are avid readers. Not being much of a reader myself it is easy to form the opinion that reading can consume an awful lot of a person’s time that might be better spent doing less pleasant things they are avoiding.
I will be the first to insist that everyone is entitled to a certain amount of downtime in their day. We all need relaxation time in which to wind down and rest mentally and physically. However sometimes it is also good to do the math on how much downtime we are weaving into our day. Also trying to mentally relax while knowing that there are chores you have left undone, leaving your home unpleasant, can be counterproductive to rejuvenation. And never discount the the tranquility of mind that comes from knowing you have achieved something extra in your day. Especially an extra that can be a permanent fixture. Who among you has later interrupted your downtime to return to that drawer or shelf, you earlier uncluttered and reorganised, just to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment again. I know I have, sometimes more than once.
Today’s Mini Mission
Find something in your closet that you haven’t used for three months and let it go.