I think we’re all making adjustments to the new world we find ourselves in. I plan to talk more generally about how it’s affected me later, but I want to talk now about how it’s affected my reading. I’m sure other book lovers are feeling this, too.
Normally, I have about four books going at once: a physical book, an ebook, an audiobook on CD, and an eaudiobook. I read the physical book when I’m home, I read the ebook when I’m at work or waiting at the doctor’s, I listen to the audiobook in my car, and I listen to the eaudiobook when I’m working out, cooking, or doing something else around the house. It’s a good balance and I get to enjoy a little bit of each story every day.
Well, that was before. With COVID19, I’m not driving to work and my kitchen table is also my office. I don’t have a morning commute and instead, have some downtime before I start my workday.
I wake up in the morning and do some light exercise, listening to my eaudiobook. I then take a break to read my physical book for a while until I need to start my workday. Instead of breaking for lunch, I either do an indoor bike ride or go for a run while I enjoy my eaudiobook. In the evening, I read my physical book again.
So there’s a lot less time for my ebook and my physical audiobook. I’ve been trying to pick my ebook up when I think about it, but I don’t think about it much. And I’m not driving much at all but I’ll volunteer for errands periodically so I can have some time in my car to work on my audiobook. They’re both going very slowly when I usually have a good amount of time for each in my day.
So I’m adjusting. I know I’ll go through eadiobooks faster so I’m lining them up for a quick transition to another. I’m finally getting through the large shelf of physical books I’ve been neglecting for a while. And I’m enjoying it all a lot.
We’re all adjusting to this new normal. Our daily routines have been completely changed. I know I’m not alone and I know these are minor adjustments to have to make. I’m not trying to complain; I’m trying to discuss how I’ve adjusted and I’d love to hear what adjustments others have made. Libraries may be closed, but their online resources are still available and so valuable. I hope others are taking advantage of them. We’re lucky to live in a digital world.
Until next time, write on.
You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!
Taking On a World of Words 
This Covid is seriously bringing about changes in our lives
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I’ve read five books in the last week… they were short Kindle Unlimited books though.
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Still counts! Great progress.
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Thank you!!
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Oh and I’ve read six actually since I started working from home in the last week of March. I don’t read on the clock but I do take an hour lunch break and read 20 minutes before starting work.
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All that time adds up fast! I love my AM reading break. And I try to read if I ever start thinking the phrase ‘I’m bored.’ Happy reading!
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Same here!! I also try to replace social media time with reading time but don’t quite have that one down yet.
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I got an email from Audible reminding me to keep listening to the audio book I was listening to on my commute. It’s such a good book but, like you said, when your commute is now from the bedroom to the living room, it cuts down on audio book listening time.
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I found cooking time is good for me to listen to audiobooks on my phone. This is the only thing I miss about my commute. Happy reading!
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My reading has changed too.I used to get my books from the library, great piles of them which I read quickly to get them back before the due date and the next pile arrived. Now I am reading books I have at home- the first one was in our pile for the charity shop- I decided to re-read it- nothing challenging, just a slight mystery set in Tuscany- so relaxing. Now I have started a re-read of Gone with the Wind- a big book- no rush to return it, and so I am going at a leisurely pace and enjoying every word- having to wonder why I borrowed so many at once before and charged through them.
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I hadn’t noticed my reading pace being affected but life is a little more leisurely lately so I wouldn’t be surprised. We do have more time to enjoy our books now. I hope Gone With the Wind treats you well. Happy reading!
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I just finished my first book since being at home for over 2 weeks. It has been quite an adjustment working from home and homeschooling my 2 little ones. I thought, “Oh great, more time for reading!!” and that statement could not have been more wrong, hahahaha. Now that I’ve had some adjustment time it’s easier to work reading in to the “new norm” now. Hopefully I’ll pick my reading pace back up!
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Good luck! I’ve had a lot of things take time to adjust to this new normal. We’ll get the hang of it soon. Happy reading!
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My primary reading time was the 45-minute long bus commute to and from work. Since I work from home now, the biggest change in my reading habit has been to consciously take time out of my day to read. Because otherwise, I will just keep doing things and suddenly it’ll be bedtime. And I hate reading around bedtime. I get too sleepy
My primary book source is the library, which is closed. I, luckily, got four books from there two days before it closed. But I’m almost out. I dug out the few books I own that I hadn’t read yet. Either way, my reading frequency has decreased by a lot.
But now, after renewing my subscription to Scribd, I have access to a lot more audiobooks and have been enjoying those.
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I adore Audiobooks! It’s a great option. I’ve tried loaning books fo family members and a friend is sending my husband books in the mail. We’ve become our own libraries and it’s really fun. Happy reading!
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I’ve found I can’t quite get into my usual reading mojo either – It’s crazy times! I hope you are well.
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Thank you. I think it will take us some time to find a new normal routine. We’ll get there. Happy reading!
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I’ve been finding reading more or less anything difficult over the last few weeks. I haven’t listened to any audiobooks at all, my mind wanders too much. I’m also finding romcoms are pretty much the only kind of book I can read.
On the plus side I’ve finally picked up a couple of physical books that have been sitting on my shelves for months. Am hoping once I find my focus I can get into the backlist even more.
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The backlist is my goal. I have a few shelves that I hope to get caught up on. But the focus struggle is real. I think I’m craving fantasy. Happy reading!
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