why i miss reading

i used to read loads.

i used to work just over an hour away. this meant that everyday i would have at least one newspaper (the sun), one magazine (wired, q), one or two work-like books (some planning / digital stuff) and maybe a novel or two on the go (all sorts of genres: SF, thriller, modern greats, gangster & crime, UK and international authors. from pulp fiction to booker prizes... but nearly always bought from the recommendations at waterstones)

(actually interesting aside here - all non-fiction tends to be bought on amazon. most fiction tends to be bought in a book shop).

Now i live 25 mins away and get the bus in - and normally i've got my laptop on to keep on top of the 1000 of emails i get every week. And since i now live with my fiance, there's less reading at home now too.

I hadn't really thought about the fact i was reading less until i met an old colleague who asked 'what books have you read that i should - you've probably got through about 30 since i last saw you'. i think i'd read about 2.

well immediately, i suddenly felt a bit stupid. this person had me down as someone who talks about books. in fact it was clear that a lot of our conversations were often sparked by what we'd been reading (normally in the work / planning arena, it has to be said).

reading less meant talking less.

i then when i thought about it i started to worry that i wasn't filling up my brain with new ideas and thoughts from loads of different places. all i was reading was the work that i was doing - where's the new stimulus?

reading less meant thinking less.

now that reading doens't come naturally to my day, i need to plan it in. i need to have a goal and a focus. a reading list that rewards me when i get through it...