My taste in reading ranges widely, and it’s difficult sometimes to fulfill all of my interests. I love philosophy as much as I love French literature. And if I pile readings for my degree on top of it, it gets irritating because I can’t read everything I want all at once.

That’s why I’ve rejected the idea of reading one book at a time, and favored consistency over pages read every day. Now I like to read a consistent amount from three different books out of three different blocks of my day.

Mornings: Philosophy

Philosophy books are usually quite dense, that’s why I like to wake up early and read 20 pages before getting my day started. This alleviates the anxiety of not reading enough philosophy during my day.

Train rides: French novels

As a part of my degree, I have to read Madame Bovary and L’étranger in the original French. My train ride to university lasts for about an hour, and it’s usually a great pastime to read in another language for a short window of my day.

Evenings: Literature

This is the block where I tackle my class readings, and now the unit’s going through a broad survey of Gothic Literature. It’s a great way to wind down since the material is not too difficult to enjoy before going to bed.

When I read in this way, I’m never bored with my reading, and it also allows me to connect ideas from three different spheres of reading. It’s great for writing essays and the act of reading no longer fills me with dread.