You’re peeling your eyes away from the pages of your book to see that it’s 2am. But there are only 103 pages left. ‘Sleep is for the weak’, you think, turning another page…And then your husband comes out of the bedroom still half-asleep, to set your book down for you and make sure you get a few hours of sleep.
I can’t be the only one.
Back at writing after taking some time away – I’m doing my best to write for pleasure and not to add extra stressors in, so I’ve been diving back into the world of reading, an old hobby that’s been missing for too long.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about manifesting happiness, boosting productivity, and finding ways to help work through anxiety and/or depression episodes.
Bringing reading back into my day-to-day life is something important. It used to be a habit to come home and read as a way to escape into another world, relieve stress, and temporarily forget about anxiety.
And habits are way more important for our mental health than I realized.
According to Duke University studies, habits account for approximately 45% of any given day. We are creatures of habit – craving routine.
We are who we are because of our habits. Because of what we choose to do every day.
Can you start the day without that cup of coffee? It’s a result of your habits. Do you run late for everything? It’s a result of your habits. Are you in shape? It’s a result of your habits.
So in 2021, I’m adding in a really simple habit from an article I came across:
Take 21 minutes a day to read.
Forming this routine helps to not forget about getting a little reading in, and is a simple way to keep my sanity. From improved memory to a little at-home therapy, reading has many benefits for mental health.
Lately, I hadn’t been able to find books that I’ve been sticking with. I’d get a third of the way through before starting up a new book. But through a company benefit at work, I was able to enroll in a Book of the Month club.
My latest reads were incredible.
Happy I decided to take advantage of this fun benefit, my first pick was a novel titled Bringing Down the Duke, by Evie Dunmore. A quick read, it’s described as “a little feminist, a little romantic, but mostly just fun–and downright dirty on top of that”. This quick take couldn’t have been more spot on.
Bringing Down the Duke, a short review
Annabelle, the main character, is one of the first women to attend Oxford University. Daughter of a vicar and with a hefty amount of emotional baggage, Annabelle is brilliant yet destitute. Her scholarship for Oxford requires participation in the rising women’s suffrage movement, and her bold intelligence lands her in charge of recruiting influential men to stand behind the movement, and ultimately, the Duke of Montgomery. The Duke is, of course, championing the opposing side of Britain’s politics under the heavy heels of the Queen.
It’s a good read, let’s say that.
But even more enrapturing was The Wife Upstairs, by Rachel Hawkins. I finished it in two sittings because I literally could not put it down. As if every other page was a plot twist, a juicy detail unveiled, a new emotion felt towards an old character.
The Wife Upstairs, in review
Broke and hiding from her past, Jane becomes a dog walker for rich suburban residents in Birmingham, Alabama. People rich enough to not notice the thrill Jane gets grabbing a piece jewelry from their mansion before calling it a day.
Soon enough, Jane meets Eddie. Eddie, a mysterious, extraordinarily wealthy widow. His wife, Bea, and her best friend’s recent drowning in a boating accident left whispered rumors throughout the town. But, as they fall for each other, Jane sees the opportunity before her – safety from her past. Protection and a new life heading into the future. Eddie’s wife Bea might be gone, but Jane begins to feel haunted by her legend – as if she’s a pale imitation of the wife before her.
Hauntingly good.
Leave a Reply