I’ve always loved to read. Ever since I was a little kid, reading was my favorite hobby to fill my time. I inhaled series after series, whether it was Percy Jackson and Harry Potter in middle school or The Hunger Games in high school. Reading brought me a level of joy that was unattainable with any other hobby. The imagination it called for and the worlds created by the printed pages created a feeling like no other.
I hit a roadblock when I started college. My academics were demanding and my club commitments time consuming. I felt my connection with books slipping from my fingertips even as I desperately fought to hold on. Midterms pulled my attention and homework became the priority. And the less I read, the more tired I felt each day. A lethargy was pulling me under the surface, to the point where doing anything enjoyable felt like too much work after the busy day came to an end. I fell into a reading slump like no other.
This semester, as I begin my third year of my college education, I’m making a decision to not let the demands of life keep me from what I love to do. Yes, being a dedicated student requires giving a lot of time to school requirements, but I have to remind myself that I’m not just a student. While each student is connected at a minimum through ties to education, each one is also full of niches and nuances that make every one different, and individuals would lose who they truly are if they let slip the parts of life that bring them joy. Being human is about being balanced: getting that studying in while also indulging your hobbies whenever possible.
I set myself a goal to read at least one chapter of a book a day. In terms of achieving this goal on a daily basis, I’m far from perfect, but I can see a distinct difference in my routine. And, ultimately, I even feel a difference in my energy levels, too. The more I read, the more awake and aware I feel of my surroundings.
The instinct to go on my phone whenever I have a moment of time is slowly starting to seep away, although not entirely. School requires I’m on my laptop a lot, so by reading a physical book and spending less time on screens, I can feel the fogginess in my head that comes after a long day less and less.
Hobbies are important, whether yours is reading like me or something else, like crocheting or playing an instrument. Having interests that we engage in makes us who we are, just as much as our academic skills. Never forget to indulge in the activities that bring you joy.