Resolving to read in the New Year

Zadie Smith once said, “When you practise reading, and you work at a text, it can only give you what you put into it.” It’s a sentiment that resonates with me deeply, especially as I find myself working at a bookshop but struggling to carve out time for reading in my own life. In fact, I last finished a book two months ago.

There’s a place for routine in reading, but right now, that routine seems to be struggling to find its way into my life. I’ve realized that I can only build one new habit at a time, and it usually takes me around seven months to adopt a new healthy habit sustainably. This year, reading consistently—the books I buy or receive—has been my stumbling block.

I won’t sugarcoat it—digital distractions are real. The one habit I’ve managed to cultivate is using an app to listen to psalms and scripture-inspired words each morning and night. But I can’t help but wonder—how long will it take me to replace this digital habit with the practice of reading a psalm with my eyes, rather than my ears, before bed?

As we step into this new year, I think there’s something for all of us in this struggle. Many of us may carry the weight of the year we’re leaving behind. In an age where we’re all both creators and consumers in the digital world, how do we maintain our priorities and nurture our minds before we surrender to comfort and numbness?

The quality of time we spend with a text—the attention we give it—is what truly transforms us. And this year, I’m determined to find new ways to read, because I’m tired of discovering literature that excites me, only to fall back on scrolling or listening to pre-recorded words.

If you, too, are looking to read more in 2025, perhaps the best resolution is to read for pleasure, not as a chore. Let’s remember that the joy of reading is what will keep us coming back, and that’s where real change begins.

Are you ready to explore the power of reading and the battle against digital distractions in this age? I know I am. 

If you're like me and often don't know where to start when committing to getting out of a reading-rut, a good place to start is with our top books of 2024!

 https://octoberbooks.org/collections/our-top-books-of-2024