how to start reading again
from someone who was a voracious reader until high school and is now getting back into it in her twenties.
start with an old favourite. even though it felt a little silly, i re-read the harry potter series one christmas and it wiped away my worry that i wasn't capable of reading anymore. they are long books, but i was still able to get completely immersed and to read just as fast as i had years and years ago.
don't be afraid of "easier" books. before high school i was reading the french existentialists, but when getting back into reading, i picked up lucinda riley and sally rooney. not my favourite authors by far, but easier to read while not being totally terrible. i needed to remind myself that only choosing classics would not make me a better or smarter person. if a book requires a slower pace of reading to be understood, it's easier to just drop it, which is exactly what i wanted to avoid at first.
go for essays and short stories. no need to explain this one: the shorter the whole, the less daunting it is. i definitely avoided all books over 350 pages at first and stuck to essay collections until i suddenly devoured donna tartt's goldfinch.
remember it's okay not to finish. i was one of those people who finished every book they started, but not anymore! if i pick up a book at the library and after a few chapters realise i'd rather not read it, i just return it. (another good reason to use your local library! no money spent on books you might end up disliking.)
analyse — or don't. some people enjoy reading more when they take notes or really stop to think about the contents. for me, at first, it was more important to build the habit of reading, and the thought of analysing what i read felt daunting. once i let go of that expectation, i realised i naturally analyse and process what i read anyway.
read when you would usually use your phone. just as i did when i was a child, i try to read when eating, in the bathroom, on public transport, right before sleeping. i even read when i walk, because that's normally a time i stare at my screen anyway. those few pages you read when you brush your teeth and wait for a friend very quickly stack up.
finish the chapter. if you have time, try to finish the part you're reading before closing the book. usually i find i actually don't want to stop reading once i get to the end of a chapter — and if i do, it feels like a good place to pick up again later.
try different languages. i was quickly approaching a reading slump towards the end of my exchange year, until i realised i had only had access to books in english and that, despite my fluency, i was tired of the language. so as soon as i got back home i started picking up books in my native tongue, which made reading feel much easier and more fun again! after some nine months, i'm starting to read in english again without it feeling like a huge task.
forget what's popular. i thought social media would be a fun way to find interesting books to read, but i quickly grew frustrated after hating every single book i picked up on some influencer's recommendation. it's certainly more time-consuming to find new books on your own, but this way i don't despise every novel i pick up.
remember it isn't about quantity. the online book community's endless posts about reading 150 books each year or 6 books in a single day easily make us feel like we're slow, bad readers, but here's the thing: it does not matter at all how many books you read or what your reading pace is. we all lead different lives, just be proud of yourself for reading at all!
stop stressing about it. we all know why reading is important, and since the pandemic reading has become an even more popular hobby than it was before (which is wonderful!). however, there's no need to force yourself to be "a reader". pick up a book every now and then and keep reading if you enjoy it, but not reading regularly doesn't make you any less of a good person. i find the pressure to become "a person who reads" or to rediscover my inner bookworm only distances me from the very act of reading.
hey girlies, it's mindy here <3 and guess what?
it’s here. the season of reinvention. the kind of fresh start that smells like new perfume, feels like sun-warmed skin, and looks like a completely elevated version of you. you know that feeling? when your life is about to change, and you can feel it before it even happens? yeah. that’s this.
howeverrrrrr, your next era won’t just magically appear. you step into it. you create it. you decide that you’re not the same person you were in winter, and suddenly? you’re not.
this is your guide to entering your next era like she would. gracefully, intentionally, effortlessly. because this is your season. let’s make it a good one.
every new era starts with a decision. before you start buying new clothes or changing your routine, ask yourself:
who is spring-you? • what does she look like? how does she carry herself? • what does she prioritize? what does she no longer tolerate? • what kind of energy does she bring into a room? • how does she make people (and herself) feel?
you don’t need to have all the answers, but get a vision. because stepping into your next era isn’t about wishing you were that girl. it’s about becoming her.
💌 homework: write a “who i am becoming” list. every morning, read it and align your actions with it.
okay, let’s be real, if you’re still waking up late, scrolling aimlessly, and letting your day run you, then you’re not in your next era yet. A next-era girl moves with purpose.
✨ spring routine shifts that change everything:• morning air & sunlight first thing (no more waking up in the dark, scrolling your phone. get up. let the light in.) • romanticize your mornings. set the tone. music, skincare, something warm to drink. make it feel luxurious. • clear the mental clutter before you start your day (brain-dump your thoughts, plan your top 3 priorities). • move your body in a way that feels good (walks, pilates, stretching. something that makes you feel light and energized). • have a “main character” moment daily. a walk with your best playlist, a solo coffee date, a journal session that makes you feel aligned.
💌 homework: pick one thing to add to your morning routine that makes you feel like her. do it tomorrow.
the quickest way to upgrade your life? stop carrying things that aren’t meant for you anymore.
what doesn’t belong in this season of your life? • self-doubt, comparison, playing small • people who drain you, situations that make you feel stuck • habits that keep you stagnant (procrastination, mindless scrolling, overthinking)
your next era requires space. clean out your physical space, your mental space, your emotional space. release.
💌 homework: do a “spring cleaning” of your life. unfollow accounts that make you feel less-than, clear out old messages, declutter your space. make room for what’s next.
listen, you don’t need a full wardrobe reset to enter your next era. but a small aesthetic shift? instant mindset boost.
✨ easy aesthetic upgrades that shift your energy:• a new signature perfume. something fresh, floral, clean. every time you wear it, you step into your next era. • spring-inspired outfits. soft colors, breezy fabrics, put-together but effortless. you’re that girl now. • elevated beauty rituals. glowing skin, hydrated lips, soft hair. not just for looks, but because you deserve to feel taken care of. • new playlist energy. your next era has a soundtrack. make a playlist that makes you feel untouchable.
💌 homework: change one small thing about your aesthetic this week that makes you feel like your upgraded self.
too many people sit around waiting for their lives to change. waiting to feel motivated. waiting for the right time. waiting for some external sign.
your next era doesn’t arrive when you feel ready. it arrives when you decide.
the energy shift happens when you start moving differently. • you stop talking yourself out of things and just do them. • you stop second-guessing and start trusting your instincts. • you stop waiting for confidence and act as if you already have it.
💌 homework: stop postponing something you’ve been waiting to do. book it, start it, commit to it. make it real.
💌 energy is everything. walk into every room like you belong there. because you do. 💌 romanticize this reinvention. new season, new version of you. make it intentional.💌 start small but start now. one small shift today = a completely different life in three months. 💌 be delusional if you need to. act like your dream life is already happening. your brain will catch up. 💌 this is your fresh start. take it.
My pronouns in Latin are ista/istam not illa/illam. Please refer to me with all due scorn as the woman of the greatest shamelessness and audacity that I truly am.
I am ready to give my all this exam season. I refuse to let distractions, self-doubt, or temporary setbacks hold me back. Every single day, I will show up for myself with discipline, focus, and determination. Success is about effort, consistency, and resilience. I will push myself to study harder, to understand deeply, and to prepare thoroughly because I deserve to succeed. I will not allow laziness or fear to take control of my mind. I will take charge of my own future, and I will prove to myself that I am capable of achieving excellence.No matter how hard things get, I will not give up. I will keep going, keep learning, and keep improving. I will manage my time wisely, organize my notes, and revise with full concentration. I will believe in myself, even on the days when things feel overwhelming. My hard work will pay off because I am committed to this journey. Every effort I put in today is building the success I will celebrate tomorrow. I am getting stronger, smarter, and more prepared with each study session. I trust in my ability to overcome challenges and come out victorious.This exam season is mine to conquer. I will not settle for less than my best. I will work with passion, with energy, and with the mindset of a winner. I am fully capable of excelling, and I will prove that to myself. I am unstoppable, I am powerful, and I am ready to achieve greatness.
@bloomzone
while they’re busy talking, you’re cooking your dreams in silence, and when it’s served, they won’t be able to handle the heat.
THIRTEEN (2003) dir. Catherine Hardwicke JENNIFER'S BODY (2009) dir. Karyn Kusama ORPHAN (2009) dir. Jaume Collet-Serra BLACK SWAN (2010) dir.Darren Aronofsky HELTER SKELTER (2012) dir. Mika Ninagawa I, TONYA (2017) dir. Craig Gillespie LAST NIGHT IN SOHO (2022) dir. Edgar Wright THE SUBSTANCE (2024) dir. Coralie Fargeat
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your life is not on hold, this is your life!! every day is all there is!!!
“omg you’re so creative. how do you get your ideas” i hallucinate a single scene in the taco bell drive thru and then spend 13 months trying to write it
as someone who struggles with depression, cleaning my room and getting my life together is a struggle.
having a reset routine can help bring me out of a funk and lift my spirts a little.
i'll be completely honest i have a pretty bad depression room going, and my depression has taken over my life these past few months. so even though this is my sunday reset routine, i haven't done it in a while. but i've had enough. i'm determined to dig myself out of the hole i put myself in. and the first step for me is doing my sunday reset routine.
music, stretch, and workout
i am resetting my whole routine, and the first thing i prioritize is my physical health. when i'm in deep into my depressive cycle, i don't prioritize my physical health at all. in fact, i find that my physical & mental health overlap a ton. so in order to properly reset and get off on the right foot, i need to move my body in a positive way.
2. wash bedsheets
bed rotting is my favorite activity during my depression. so, it's a must to clean my sheets and make my depressive rat's nest into a cute bedspread again.
3. put away dirty and clean clothes
i always make piles of dirty and clean clothes when i start to get back into bad habits again. it always starts with cleaning my clothes but not folding/putting them away. this is usually a majority of what's on my floor in the first place, so this frees up a lot of space and immediately makes the room look 50% better. my favorite thing to motivate me to do this (& make it more fun) is putting on a mindless tv show in the background (i always watch greys anatomy).
4. clean & get rid of dirty dishes
i usually stack up some cups and bowls during this time. so now is a good time to start getting rid of these items and bring them down to the kitchen. i unfortunately dont have access to a dishwasher, so i need to handwash all of my dishes, but this would definitely go by faster with one!
5. wash dirty clothes
by this point my bedsheets have most likely finished in the wash and i've sorted through all the clothes on my floor, so now it's time to finally get the giant pile of dirty clothes tackled. as a uni student living in the dorms (don't worry, i have a private room), scent beads are my favorite go-to to feel comfy and more at home when i wear my clothes.
6. pick up and take out trash
my trash and recycling has definitely piled up at this point (in my room and in their respective cans). i'm also halfway through my routine and i most definitely need some fresh air for a minute. this step may be inconvenient (especially as a uni student who has to lug their trash cans to their uni dumpsters somewhere on campus) but its also a good way to get some vitamin d (and add to my daily steps!).
7. clean & tidy surfaces
i dont know how it happens but there is always some mystery gunk on my desk (usually from my makeup), so all my surfaces need a serious wipedown. i also find this the most satisfying part!
8. vacuum/sweep (my least favorite...)
i may not always do this step, mostly because i absolutely loathe vacuuming, but after this recent depressive episode, my floors need a good vacuum. so unfortunately, i must do what needs to be done...
9. make my bed and put away clean clothes
the finishing touches. i'm tired at this point, and this is where i usually call it quits and tell myself that i will fold and put away my clothes later. but i have to call myself on my bullshit0; i will not fold and put it away later. i have to do it now. a useful tip is imagining your crush (or just a hot celebrity) is coming over. now i want my room to be perfect for them!
10. light a candle and pat yourself on the back
this is a safe space and you deserve to be proud of yourself! even if you only did one thing in this routine... because that's one more thing than you did yesterday <3
xoxo