Taking a Reading Vacation
I was talking to my friend Cathy the other day about her summer plans. She said she was stressed that she wasn’t able to organize a vacation this year because of her kids and a new job, and her work is going to get even more hectic after Labor Day. She was hoping to finish some books that have been collecting dust on her kitchen table.
“Why don’t you take a reading vacation?” I told her.
“I am only going to have three days off in August,” she replied. “How would I do that?”
I’m glad you asked! A reading vacation can be as long or short as you want and you don’t have to travel to a faraway place to do it. You can go to the park or beach for the day or be in a quiet space in your library or even in your home for a couple of hours. As much as I advocate for printed books, sometimes a Kindle Paperwhite or the Kindle app on your phone is more convenient for reading on the go. I get through a lot of books on my phone while traveling on Amtrak, a plane, or even just on the subway or bus around town.
But if you want a tech-free reading experience, go with printed books. I know a woman who gives a Christmas gift to herself every year and books a room at a fancy hotel overlooking a pretty beach just to read books. Along with her books, she also brings wine and her favorite robe to lounge in. She has food delivered to her room, and she only checks her email once a day.
I wasn’t able to get away on vacation this summer either, but I did spend my few free days sitting on my favorite bench in a park for a couple of hours catching up on some reading.
A reading vacation is ultimately not about the physical location, but rather the mental location a book takes you. So if you are still bummed about not going anywhere this summer, books are always good and cheaper alternatives.