Ever since I knew how to read, I never stopped, even though sometimes I catch myself saying “uff, this year I haven’t read anything”. Well, I am always lying when I say this. For my bachelor’s, I studied Communication Sciences, and now I am doing a master’s in Global Politics and Communications and let me tell you that I haven’t done anything BUT reading. However, even though I love what I study and (most) articles and books that I have read for University, the time and motivation to spontaneously pick up a book, I won’t say for pleasure, but on my own just because I feel like reading it, are gone. Reading takes up a lot of time and, mostly, energy. After spending a day reading, writing, and attending lectures for University, I have not got it in me to continue the process of endlessly paying attention and thinking.
Obviously, I try to shift the paradigm and be happy for the fact that I continue reading so much and that my studies are somehow a source of entertainment. But I would love to read the books that I put on my “to-read” list 6 years ago. Or if not those, new ones, because let’s face it: my interests change all the time.
It could be said that I spend too much time hanging with my friends and family or consuming mindless tv and cinema, but these are all hobbies that I like to have and do not want to give up. For instance, I also like to paint for fun and to take photographs, yet I do these sporadically because movies and tv shows take precedence for me. And I am happy this way. I am also content with the balance that I found in writing for University, for websites such as Her Campus, and managing to keep a daily journal for myself (even if I can’t wait to finish my master’s thesis so I can go back to creative writing). But reading is still the rock in my shoe. I do hope that once I leave University, I will be able to dedicate myself to books and get lost in the pages instead of checking their number constantly. I hate the feeling that I am putting something off for future me to solve and that I cannot control my own life. At least I am thinking about it and problematizing it… So much for social sciences studies!
But what would that say of me if I only came here to complain and not try to provide a solution for those who are in the same situation? I was watching this YouTube video by Ahsante the Artist, and while all her advice were great, the one that stuck with me was renting audiobooks from the library. I know, who would have thought? Such a life-changing tip! But the reality is that I have never tried audiobooks and I am a bit sceptical. However, I am going to give them a go – not to multitask as showed in the video, as I want to strive to live a simple life without the hustle of productivity, but to just sit or lie down listening to it. If it works and it somehow mimics the feeling, I will come back to share my thoughts. If you don’t see me writing about it again, it probably did not work, and hopefully, I will be done with my thesis and going through the pages of Kafka on the Shore by Murakami.