I have found that I struggle to read at the same time as writing (not literally, of course, because it is impossible to do the two simultaneously), however I find that I go periods of writing a lot and reading a lot — and if I am writing a lot, I cannot read a lot. It feels as though it's using the same parts of my brain, or the same parts of my cognition, but in two separate ways. Perhaps it's a bit of an overload. Not to mention that reading or writing is like being at either side of the fence.
Both writing and reading bring me so much joy, so when I feel that I can't do either — whatever the reason — it is frustrating. For some reason, because of this, I apply more pressure on myself, creating a vicious cycle.
Read yourself to sleep
This is a good one, because young people are told that if they read twenty minutes a day, it will improve their writing skills and vocabulary (which it will!).
I find as an adult it is more useful to consider the fact that reading can quiet our mind and help us sleep, and therefore feeling like we can read for as long as we like before actually falling asleep. There is a sense of freedom in that: the time between getting into bed and falling asleep being entirely dedicated to reading. It may be ten minutes, or it could be hours — either way you are subconsciously establishing routine.
Read for longer periods
We can pick up a book and read for two minutes or ten minutes, of course, but I find in order to truly engage with a book, make progress, and understand the connection between the characters and the plot — which is ultimately what makes reading engaging — we need to spend a longer period reading, to lose ourselves in the plot. In my opinion, one of the best things about reading is being able to lose ourselves in the plot and the characters; the moment when we forget that the words on the page are just that words on the page. On the other hand, it is sourly disappointing when we realise that words on the page are just, in fact, words on the page. If you are reading fiction at this moment, you'll realise it is not real, as much as you would want it to be (crushing, I know).
We need to read for longer periods to feel the benefits of reading. If we read for shorter periods of time, of course we are making progress in the book itself, but we are not giving ourselves enough time to actually relax and think about what we're reading. Reading for shorter periods of time, it feels as though we are just reading to make progress in the book. We can't necessarily connect ideas and feelings, which ultimately allow us to glean something from our reading experience.
Read what you enjoy
Go easy on yourself. Again, reading is meant to be enjoyed, and not become a chore. So if you feel that reading a children's book, or reading young adult fiction because it may be more interesting to you, then buy all means do that. In the same way that children should be pushed if they are excelling at their reading.
I know some people feel shame about reading different genres or reading different types of books, but sometimes an easier reading experience allows us to better engage with what is being said. I say this because a lot of people assume that in order to be a reader you need to read and enjoy the classics, but for a lot of people these are not enjoyable or accessible. What I'm saying is in order to enjoy reading you have to give yourself the best opportunity to access reading, and you need to feel as though you can relate to it in some way. For example, I like to read fantasy books, but sometimes I just find them far too overwhelming, due to the depth and the longevity of the writing. Sometimes, we just need to give ourselves a break and read something different. That way, we can then focus on enjoying the book — rather than feeling as though we have to drag ourselves through it.
Consider reading non-fiction
You may already do this, but I say this because — when comparing fiction and nonfiction — they are written differently (regardless of the fact that their content is obviously different). What I mean by this is, with fiction, a lot of the book is establishing the world, establishing the imagery, engaging your imagination and your emotions — as well as driving the plot. However, nonfiction is often (not always), written as those somebody is speaking to you, and therefore it is more accessible in that sense. It can help that non-fiction is often about something or somebody we already know, or can connect with, so there is that extra incentive to connect with what is being said. The difference is — speaking for myself — that I am more likely to read fiction that I otherwise have not engaged with before if the plot or the troops are something that I particularly like. I'm willing to try something new. However, with non-fiction, I do stick to topics and particular people that I am interested in. How it is written about is not so much an imperative as it is with the fiction. But again, this is just my perspective, and I hope that if you read about my perspective then you can use it to inform your own.
Use different forms in formats
We live in a time where you can get the same book in paperback form, eBook, audiobook. This means there are a plethora of opportunities for you to be able to engage with reading in ways that suit you best. I know some people that have one book in each format — so that they are essentially reading three or four books the same time. In this case, it helps to read four books of four different genres, so as to not confuse yourself. It is also worth considering that some forms are more passive and less energy draining than others. Meaning that if you are listening to an audiobook, you can do other things at the same time, or you can just sit there and relax; it just requires you to listen. Whereas if you are reading a paperback, you have actually have to hold the book and read the text. This sounds really trivial, but if you are tired in the first place it can mean a lot. In this case audiobooks in particular are helpful, in terms of not feeling like your time is ‘wasted’ by reading. Not the reading is by any means a waste of time — but life can get very busy, and therefore we need to prioritise. E-books are especially good on the go, because you can carry a lot of books without taking up as much space as you would have to carry one or multiple paperbacks. You may find that over time you favour E-books more than you do paperbacks. I find that, physically, I prefer E-books, but sentimentally I prefer paperbacks, because I love having pages between my hands. The experiment of trying to figure out what works best for you adds sense of adventure with reading.
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