In general, I like a good system. I like creating rules for myself and applying them. It's fun to construct and satisfying to follow. In the end though, it's just a way of making something intimidating feel more manageable and reading the way I do is intimidating even for me. My rules keep me on track or at least close to on track. Every summer, however, I somehow fall behind in reading and the techniques that keep me on track during the school year fail me. Part of that is distraction for sure, but part of it is also that all my lists and rules are about keeping me moving when I don't have the mental space to make decisions. When I have the time and space to consider my options, it appears that all my lists and rules are a little chafing.
Additionally, I often end up putting off reading things I'm excited about in favor of things I think are good for me. It's the reading equivalent of eating fiber. There's nothing wrong with any of that, but somehow I just get bogged down in it when I actually have the most free time for reading. It started happening again this year too. So, I've gone rogue.
I've dispensed entirely with the randomizer and I'm just picking up whatever excites me. While I'm still grabbing things from my lists, I'm not letting a list stop me from picking something up. Patience is all well and good, but not when I never get around to reading things I'm excited about.
Since making that decision, I've blasted through three books: 2 brand new ones and one I've been meaning to get around to forever. It's felt really good, so I think I'm going to keep it up which might be a bit of a challenge on the road trip, but still worth doing.
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