Keep calm and read a book! (ft. bakerdays)

You know I love books by now… Everyone knows I love books. They are my calling. My soul-mate. My one true love. I honestly do not know what I would do without books and the incredible stories and lessons then hold within them. I’ve loved books ever since I was little and it was my mum which firmly got me into reading, after she used to read to me of a nighttime, tucked up in her bed when my dad used to work nights. We got through Harry Potter and Narnia and since then, I started reading Jacqueline Wilson books religiously. I’ve never lost my love for books and reading although it has dwindled in places down the line. Like when I was 18 and would much rather be drunk multiple nights a week rather than getting lost in my favorite books!

Although I’ve since rekindled my love for reading, built a blog and a business around books, there’s still times where my reading dwindles again for whatever reason. A tough time at home or with my boyfriend. A bad mental health day. A busy week. But I think that’s normal, for people to get into reading slumps for a variety of reasons. However, what I personally find very damaging for myself is when I neglect books in the times where I need them most. Reading isn’t a chore (even if it’s a review copy!). Reading isn’t a lesson in school that we hate but just have to endure. Reading is pleasure. Reading and books is an escape and a friend who is there for you when sometimes, nobody else is. And I want to take that mind-set into next year and try and keep a consistent love for reading and remember that my books are there to be read and to be loved even in my darkest times.

And today, I wanted to do a post about why you should keep calm and pick up a book in the new year! Why maybe you should venture into new and unknown territory and add “read more” onto your New Year goals list. Why you should vow to read more and reap the benefits in the New Year!

Oh and shout out to bakerdays for the cake featured in this post! This is not a sponsored post as I won this cake from Beth Louise but I chose the design specifically for this blog post and I can also confirm that it is a bloody good cake! I’d highly recommend bakerdays for their letterbox cakes (I have previously worked with them before, here) and you can find their website and their huge range of gorgeous cakes here! Anyway, on with the list!

1. It’s inspiring and motivating: You may meet some characters who totally inspire you and in turn, motivate you to do better in your own life!

2. It’s escapism: There’s nothing wrong with putting things in place for if you need a time out. The New Year is all about goals, goals, goals and pushing forward in your career, your travels, your life. But don’t forget that it’s important to have down time, too. You don’t have to be on it 24/7 and reading is a great escape which allows this.

3. It teaches you things: And I don’t mean picking up a book from the library on “how to garden“, teaching you how to garden! Although that’s great if that’s what you want to learn (personally, I’d love to learn how to garden a bit more next year!) but even fiction books can teach you a whole bunch of lessons about life, love and yourself which you can take with you throughout the year.

4. It’s not expensive: Reading could possibly be one of the cheapest hobbies out there. Make the most of your local library! Because then you’re supporting your local community, too!

5. It’s good to step out of your comfort zone: Try new books, new authors, new genres. For me, I want to try an audio-book next year because that’s something I’ve never done nor wanted to do. Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t always mean big, huge things like moving to another country! We all grow by doing things weren’t not 100% sure about at first and that counts for little things as well.

6. You may find something you love that you weren’t aware of: If you’re not already an avid reader, I’d always suggest just trying things. And if you don’t like it, whatever. But you never know, you might find an author or a genre that you absolute adore and boom! You’ve got a new passion.

Are you aiming to read more in 2018? What are your reading goals? Any books you’re hoping to tackle next year? Or do you have anything to add to this list? Let me know and let’s chat books!