Things I’ve said to myself too often: “I just don’t have time to read.” And for days, this felt right. But like every January, I’m trying to make it a habit to read more often. Some simple things that have helped me read more so far are:
- Always carry a book so I can pick it up instead of grabbing my phone.
- Listening to books also makes sense. I heard it on my walks with Finley, on my solo rides, and sometimes when I was preparing dinner.
- Organize a list of the books I want to read so that when I finish one, I’m ready to start. For some reason, picking the next book was half the challenge for me!
- Don’t force yourself to finish a book. I’m sure this is controversial, but if I don’t like a book then I don’t want to read it, which slows down my reading in general. I’ve learned to embrace putting it down and moving on.
I don’t set any specific monthly reading goals (although one of the my 2022 goal is reading 15), but trying to establish a routine. I’ve finished half of the 3 books, so I haven’t reviewed those, but I managed to finish all three! Here are my thoughts:
From Amazon: In DEEP WORK, author and professor Cal Newport flips through the story of impact in the age of connectivity. Instead of calling distractions bad, he instead praises the power of the opposite. Splitting this book into two parts, he first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a deep work ethic produces enormous benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four “rules,” to transform your mind and habits to support this skill.
Combining cultural criticism and helpful advice, DEEP WORK takes readers on a journey through memorable stories – from Carl Jung building a stone tower in the woods to focus his mind, to a pioneer in the world. social network buy business class round-trip tickets to Tokyo to write a distraction-free book in the air – and pointless advice, such as the claim that most serious professionals should quit social media and you should practice boredom. DEEP WORK is an indispensable guide for anyone looking for focused success in a distracted world.
Deep Work had a profound impact on me because it highlighted something I was feeling but couldn’t quite grasp: I had created an incredibly distracting life for myself. It’s something that I’m even proud of myself for and can’t see how the fracturing day affects my mood. That’s what I wanted to change and since reading this book I have really improved and am excited.
At first, I was worried that the content might not apply to me. It’s not like I’m here to write a thesis; I’m blogging about my life, parenting, cooking, and balancing the daily chores in my life. But it did spoke to me in depth, helped me realize that this was my deep work, and gave me tangible strategies to do it all more fully, with less distractions.
Some of the lessons learned resonated with me:
- Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean being productive.
- Rest and relaxation are an important part.
- Think carefully about your leisure time; “your date during/or after your date”
- We are truly happiest not when we are doing nothing but when we are deeply immersed in a task that is meaningful to us.
- We have a finite amount of willpower that becomes depleted when you use it.
- The key to developing a deep work habit is to go beyond good intentions and add habits and rituals to your work life designed to minimize the amount of limited willpower needed. yours to switch to and remain in a state of uninterrupted focus.
This is a book that I find myself revisiting once or twice a year as a reminder of how I want to feel in my own life (less distraction, full presence). Rating: 5/5 stars.
From Amazon: In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of our self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Drawing on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can quickly transform our lives into a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.
This is a re-read for me, as I first read it in college. I remember I thought it had a good score back then, and knowing it was a short read/listening, I reviewed it.
I’m so glad I did. It is simple yet profound and serves as a good reminder of universal truths that I believe in, but sometimes lose track of. Be perfect with your word, don’t take individuals seriously, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best. These are simple concepts, but the supportive context he gives each one is like a breath of fresh air to the soul. His explanations teach you how to let go of the heaviness of the world and approach life from a place of enlightenment and peace. Rating: 4/5 stars
From Amazon: 1947. In the tumultuous aftermath of World War II, American college student Charlie St. She also harbors a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie’s parents deported her to Europe to take care of her “little problem,” Charlie set free and went to London, determined to find out what had happened to her cousin. She loves like a sister.
1915. One year after the Great War, Eve Gardiner burst into flames to join the war against the Germans and suddenly got a chance when she was recruited as a spy. Brought to enemy-occupied France, she is trained by the enchanting Lili, the “Spy Queen”, who manages a vast network of secret services right under the enemy’s nose.
Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that eventually tore through the Alice Network, Eve spends her days intoxicated and reclusive in her dilapidated London home. Until a young American says a name Eve hasn’t heard in decades, and sets the two on a quest to find the truth…wherever it leads.
As someone who always chooses a self-improvement book over a novel, I forced myself to add a novel to balance things out. I’m a historical fiction buff and canceled the Alice Network after hearing it was recommended to anyone interested. Nightingales.
I would love to hear this story told by reading back and forth between two different time periods. Eve’s World War I espionage experience captivated me and I enjoyed that chapter best. Because it’s based on a real personI cringed through some passages and marveled at others at what she, and other brave women, went through.
Some parts of it take a bit and maybe longer than they should, but overall I found it very enjoyable. Rating 4/5 stars.
Have you read any of these three books? Think?
Any suggestions for what to add to my list for February?
