Am I reading too much?

I put books that I am clearing out on the wall outside.. They always go.. several neighbours do the same..

I sometimes think I haven’t enough time left in my life to do all the reading I’d like . You keep on with the good work and never feel guilty.

After having no time to read whilst bringing up two children when I was working part-time and then working full time for many years, I feel that reading is a total luxury and I can never get enough reading time now that I'm retired. Enjoy every minute of reading as many books as you can.

Allira. I wonder where you lived. Our buses in Herts had a notice asking passengers not to expectorate - and I remember asking my Mum what it meant. “Spitting” was her answer.

Fellow book worm here, i waited many years to be able to read whenever I wanted, it is my greatest pleasure, i use audio books when doing chores or on car journeys and physical or kindle books whenever i can 😊

Nobody has mentioned Audible a way of reading whilst doing chores so no need to feel guilty!

La Crepescule I agree with everyone that you can never read too much!

If you’re thinking about doing something more, maybe keeping a notebook of your own book reviews would be a good idea.
Decades ago, when my children, nieces & nephews were kids, being a bookworm paid off and I made a list of all the books I’d read that they might like to hear. 35+years later, they all love reading and spend time reading to their own kids💜

I still keep a list of books I read, and I often get screenshots of books that someone’s reading with a “Have you read this yet?”message. Keeps me busy!😁

When I was little my mum used to say that reading is the key that unlocks the world.

So true

No you can’t read too much. If you think it interferes with the need to do things round the house or garden or walking the dog, use an audio book so someone reads to you.
As a child when we weren’t allowed to read at the breakfast table, even though dad had a newspaper, we read the cereal packets.
Some days I maybe spend too much time reading on social media, but that’s almost like a conversation.

When would I not read? When I’m out and about being social.

Read too much. NEVER!

If you can look around your house and the cleanliness suits you ok then keep reading.
In my house , I keep thinking " I really should .. .. . "
Trouble is books are much more interesting !

You can only read too much, if you do so without glasses when you should be wearing them, or with glasses, if you use them at all, of the wrong strength.

OP: you take daily exercise for your body by walking your dog, and daily exercise for your brain by reading - this combination of activites for mind and body staves off senile dementia - so carry on.

You also see other people when volunteering, so I honestly do not think you need worry about your lifestyle. (It sounds very like mine, so I may be prejudiced.)

I assume you also have meaningful conversations with your dog, as I do with my cats (when no other human being is nearby to hear.)

You can never read too much , as far as I am concerned. I have always been an avid reader, and see no reason to stop being so. What a huge choice you have, there will be books on whatever you are interested in, whether instructions on how to make or do something, books you love to share, books that give you peace of mind, when things are tough. Personally, I have at least one book by the bed to read at night and if I wake in the night, then another by my usual chair in the lounge. When I worked in london, I always had a book in my bag, to cope with going in the tube, which as a claustrophobic took some effort. But if I could get a seat then bury my head in my book could manage the trip. (The only time when size and lightness to carry, were part of the reason for choice.) In bad times, old favourites cheer and calm, Jane Austin comes to mind but so many it isnt fair to chose one author. I love biographies - but of people who have done something - not the so called celebrities, . Enjoy reading of travellers from the past and of course I belong to the library. Despite buying various books in a local bookshop my favourite is to get into a secondhand bookshop. That sense of surprise where you will find something you knew nothing about. When I find a new author the pleasure in reading everything else they ever wrote. Oh yes , I am a reading addict and intend to continue to be so for the rest of my life. I am only 79 so must live for another 20 years to try and read all the books that I intend to read now and of course more will arrive!! What other hobbies, let you enjoy yourself without disturbing anyone else, be ecologically sound by passing on your books to others and sharing with others. The pleasure of teaching children to read and see them become great readers. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you can have the pleasure of a book to cheer your day. at little or no cost. Dont even feel the slightest bit guilty, you are joining a huge group of people who are keen readers and welcome you to their midst. How lovely , when you can recommend a new author to another reader, or to have a chat about the latest book you are both reading. Enjoy your reading without the slightest bit of guilt. Join us all, and you will find books to calm you down, books to excite you and all in between. You also know that you will never run out of something to read. Come and join us and welcome

Since I got a Kindle, I've kept winning awards from them for reading a lot! There's nothing attached to the prizes - just the honour! 😄

I've been a keen reader since I started reading - I would literally read the back of the sauce bottle at meal times if I had nothing else to read!

So you're asking the wrong person about reading being bad for you ... No, how could it be? I've been stuck at home with chronic pain and fatigue, if I couldn't read I'd have to watch television, and that can feel like a real waste of time, sometimes. (Though I'm not knocking it for entertainment).

Do you go on the Good Reads site? People write reviews of what they're reading and recommend books for people to read. That might make reading feel more productive.

LaCrepescule

I’ve always loved to read and since retiring I spend hours every day with my nose in a book. I have a healthy social life, am out walking every day with the dog and also volunteer but I can’t help thinking I should be doing something a bit more productive.
I know how good reading is for us but is it possible to read too much?

Definitely not! Unless that's all you're doing (and you're not) I don't think you can read too much.

Reading takes you to places you've never been. Reading introduces you to people you wouldn't meet. Reading gives you an insight into wealth, glamour, poverty, religion, history... the list is endless. It can make you laugh, cry, love, hate even. Reading is everything. Never stop! As for chores: a quick whip round when you've got visitors and a clean plate to eat off is all you need (possibly clean undies too - lol). But, having said that, I read in my pjs. xx

I'm a book addict and visit my local, wonderful library every week. I feel happiest when I have a pile of books next to my bed..

Life is for reading. That's my opinion anyway. I've spent quite a lot of time reading.

I read 100 books a year so I’m definitely going to NO. Reading fiction has been shown to help ward off dementia and gives me hours of pleasure

Babs03

God no. Read as much as you like. I love reading and will never ration myself, life’s too short.
Enjoy.

👏👏👏👏👏

Read, read and then read some more, I cannot imagine a life without reading.

I agree. You can never read too much. It's my favourite occupation these days

Continue reading. I once felt like you, rather guilty about the amount of hours spent with my nose in a book. No more, as I'd spent a good part of my life, enjoyably so, looking after others, and not having much time to read, apart from study, I now emerse myself in my books, anyway too cold for gardening at the moment!!

Thank you all for your posts. A couple of you have suggested that if other things are neglected due to reading, then it might be an issue but that’s not the case with me.
My favourite pastime as a child/adolescent was to get comfy with a book and that’s the case now. During the intervening years I simply didn’t have the time but now I do 😊

I was being productive last night.......snuggled up and reading on MrA's side of the bed - he always has cold feet and likes to get into a warm bed