Restarting My Physical Book Reading Habit in 2026
Somewhere between work, deadlines, milestones, and life's many tabs open in my head, I stopped reading physical books.
Well, it wasn't done intentionally. Nor did it happen dramatically. The habit just kind of fizzled slowly... as I moved on in life, especially after giving birth.
As I said, the habit slipped away. And it was replaced by scrolling, skimming, saving things I never returned to, and telling myself I'd "get back to books when things calm down."
But things never really calm down, do they? Haha.
Returning to Physical Books
So in 2026, I'm choosing something small, old-fashioned, and deeply personal: I'm returning to physical books.
The rule of thumb: No e-books and audiobooks, articles, summaries, or even content for work. They should be real books with covers, pages, bookmarks.
I'm looking forward to real moments of being unreachable because there's something grounding about holding a story in your hands. There should be neither notifications nor multitasking. Just me myself and a world that unfolds one page at a time.
This shouldn't be about productivity. It isn't about finishing X number of books. It's about reading for presence, not speed.
It's about reclaiming attention, rebuilding patience, and remembering how good it feels to sit with a story and let it stay with me.
The Peculiar Children Series by Ransom Riggs
I've already gathered the books I want to begin with a full Ransom Riggs collection of Peculiardom waiting on my shelf. I've collected them throughout the years.
Now, I plan to re-read the first three books slowly, intentionally, and with joy:
1) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
2) Hollow City
3) Library of Souls
Then, followed by the next three books.
4) A Map of Days
5) The Conference of the Birds
6) The Desolations of Devil’s Acre
Finally, I'll complete the universe with these two companion books:
7) Tales of the Peculiar
8) Miss Peregrine's Museum of Wonders
Then I'll blog about them, not as a critic, not as a reviewer. Just thoughts, feelings, moments.
Maybe this is a midlife thing. Or a healing thing. Or maybe this is just me choosing to spend my time more gently.
But I know this: 2026 is the year I return to books. And I'm excited to begin again.
Wish me luck.
And if you've been thinking about doing the same, maybe this is your sign too.
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