Book Coma
Trying to navigate the overwhelm of reading desires
I know I’m not alone on this topic.
We’ve all been there. The moment you find yourself in a book coma.
It’s that feeling of simultaneously wanting to read every book in sight and yet realising there simply isn’t enough time, energy, and eyeball endurance, even brain bandwidth to do so.
As a well seasoned sugar addict, a book coma is like the same sensation you get from having a sugar rush and then a sugar crash.
This weekend I have quite a few books I’d like to dive into.
But how does one cope with the delightful yet dizzying sensation? When I feel like this, I end up not reading at all. Which is rather frustrating. I find myself being easily distracted by social media and doom scrolling, when really I should be reading. God damn phones!
It’s the weekend, so I’m going to try and have a digital detox for a few hours, I daren’t say for the whole day, because quite frankly it won’t happen. Although I have managed to survive without my phone for 3-4 days. Last year I hosted ‘digital detox’ retreats. Mainly due to the fact that I needed one, so I decided to host one.
Would you join a digital detox retreat?
They are brilliant and you do get the opportunity to read, feast, snooze, sea swim, walk, talk, rest, recuperate and the list goes on without the distraction of social media and the relentless WhatsApp notifications. I even provide each guest with disposable cameras so they can capture the weekend delights without having to reach for their digital devices.
If like me, you’d like to prioritise your reading this weekend, and banish those book coma vibes, here are a few strategies I’ve implemented on my digital detox retreats…
Set Reading Goals - prioritise an hour or two and leave your digital device in the car or locked away from where you decide to spend and hour with your book.
Diversify Your Book Selection - explore new genres and topics that might reignite your passion for reading.
Master The Art Of Did Not Finish - contrary to popular belief, it’s ok and perfectly acceptable not to finish a book - dare you to be a book rebel!
Seek Recommendations - lean on the book reviews of fellow readers and trusted writers and critics.
Remember Reading Should Bring Joy - don’t forget the simple pleasure of reading. It’s not about how many books you consume, it’s about the worlds you explore, the emotions you feel and the knowledge you gain.
So why not join me and relax for an hour or two, take a deep breath and dive into the pages of a good book - one at a time!
Until the next time
Take care & stay safe xxx
Oh man, we've definitely all be there! The phrase 'buying books and reading books are two very different hobbies' keeps wandering around my brain lately! I would love to do a digital detox, too. I often find it's a case of 'the watched phone never rings' and if I do hit flight mode and chuck the thing in a drawer, even for a few hours, that's the window when people actually start trying to get hold of me, and I panic I'm not available for a family emergency! Think lots of us are still learning to find balance in this digitally-dependant world. I'll be reading in my garden this afternoon, where it's too bright to see a phone screen!
Not sure I could not finish a book 🧐