What's working for me
and a handful of audiobook reviews
It’s Monday (I checked)! And I’m determined to get back into the rhythm of newsletter writing. Today I’m sharing a lesson learned, routines that are working for me right now, and a handful of audiobook reviews.
Lesson learned: reaching out
I’m no beginner when it comes to deployments anymore, but I’m not a seasoned veteran-spouse, either. My husband has been away for several trainings, a handful of rotations, and two major combat deployments (currently on the second), so I’ve learned some coping skills. However, each deployment is different—for example, he has never been gone during a global pandemic—and teaches me something new about myself, about us, about stress and how to deal.
My friends are wonderful about checking in with me, asking how I’m doing, and setting up phone dates to make sure I’m doing okay. But I am not wonderful about reaching out to them when I am sad, lonely, or bored. As a sensitive introvert, I tend to go into my shell under stress, and I prefer to deal with my emotions alone.
However, now that we’re in the midst of social distancing, and we’re all lacking connection, missing loved ones, and feeling generally anxious, I find that I am much more inclined to get in touch with friends, request what I need, and be honest about how I’m feeling when asked. I’m not the only lonely one, and it has helped me recognize when I need to process alone versus when I need interaction in order to feel better. And it turns out that interaction almost always makes me feel better.
So, I’ve been quicker to say yes to phone calls and video chats with friends who live states away. I’ve been better about calling my mom when I feel like processing something out loud. I’ve been sharing more recipes and articles and topics of conversation, and it boosts my mood.
I’m always happy to make time for my friends when they need a shoulder or a laugh or a pep talk. And even when the world is open, and we’re busy with work and social lives and activities—I know they’re happy to do the same for me. And I need to remember that.
What’s working for me: two routines
1. Two weeks ago, I started splitting up my work week like this:
Monday & Wednesday: teaching
Tuesday & Thursday: copywriting
Friday: catch-all and personal projects
“Chunking” your week is not a new concept, but I tried it once before and struggled because perfectionism got in the way. I thought that in order to “do it right,” I needed to be rigid and specific about which tasks I completed on which days. That does not work for my brain, nor is it the point of this routine. The point is to give your days a focus and to set priorities. I always end up working on teaching and writing Monday through Thursday, but on certain days, one or the other takes priority. It helps me stay on task, be more productive earlier in the day, and look forward to the end of the week, when I wrap things up and build in some free time to brainstorm, dream, and plan. This might not work with every job, but it works with my mish-mash of a career, especially in these weird times when I can’t get out to a coffee shop or library to power through some projects.
2. Although my inclination is to keep binge-reading romance novels (and there’s nothing wrong with that), there are other books I need to read for podcasting, reviewing, or just because I want variety. I’m a multiple books at a time kind of reader, but that means it takes me longer to finish books, which occasionally stalls my reading life, which bums me out. Dedicating certain books for certain times of day helps me work through my reading stack without getting stuck and sets my brain up for success. Here’s my current reading schedule:
Morning/Afternoon break: Beloved by Toni Morrison (for a future Novel Pairings episode) or How Long ‘Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin
Evening: The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Right before bed: whichever romance is downloaded on my Kindle
This makes it sound like I spend my whole day reading, when really, it’s just small chunks of reading at a time (and on the weekends I throw all rules out and read whatever, whenever I want to). This routine works for me because it signals to my brain which “reading mode” it needs to adopt. During the day, when my brain is already in work-mode, reading books that make me think or require more dedicated analysis works well. Before bed, I need something comforting and familiar, and the steady pace of a romance novel works best.
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Audiobook reviews
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary: Snarky humor combined with a creative premise, plus chapters and chapters of slow-burning sexual tension make this contemporary romance stand out. Listening via audiobook felt like watching a romanic comedy movie play out in my head, and the narrators were excellent.
Most Likely by Sarah Watson: This fun YA novel skews older, which I enjoy. A group of best friends and high school seniors navigate relationships while grappling with their futures. At the very beginning of the book, readers learn that one of these girls will be the first female president of the United States, but we don’t know which one until the very end, which makes for a page-turning guessing game.
Open Book by Jessica Simpson: A solid celebrity memoir full of juicy details and a peek behind the curtain at the music and movie industry, this was a fun listen. I never paid much attention to Simpson’s career, but I recognized much of the pop culture around her narrative, and she did a great job narrating.
The Upside of Being Down by Jen Gotch: Probably more suited for true Gotch fans, this personal memoir was boring for me. Gotch addresses some important points around mental health awareness, but her narration was monotone, her stories were vague, and I only finished listening because it was so short.
A few more things
Be on the lookout for a new episode of Novel Pairings this week. We’re discussing Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, plus really fun YA pairings.
Curtis and I were able to record a new episode of He Read She Read, with zero technical difficulties! If editing goes well, we hope to keep up with our schedule.
Here’s the ASMR room I’ll have on while I work this week: Outdoor Cafe
You can keep up with my book reviews, podcast news, and photos of my dog at @chelseyreads, @hereadsheread and @novelpairingspod on Instagram.
Have a great week, friends!
Chelsey