When I started this 52-week experiment, I made a list of habits I wanted to add, remove, or completely transform. Some were about stopping self-sabotage. Others were about bringing back the things I loved but had pushed aside because I was “too busy.”
Quick Summary: A Life Coach for Women on Reclaiming Reading Time
We all have the same 24 hours, but the things that truly fill us up often get pushed aside for “more important” stuff. As a life coach for women, I see this constantly: women quietly giving away the exact hobbies that would refill their energy.
Where the Time Actually Goes
When you track where your time goes, you start noticing sneaky “time vampires” scrolling social media, falling down a Netflix rabbit hole, “just checking something,” and resurfacing an hour later. A life coach for women would call this the gap between where time actually goes and where we think it goes.
Time and energy are connected. Every decision either invests in our energy or drains it. My old “I don’t have time” excuse fell apart fast; I somehow had time for episode after episode of Ted Lasso and couldn’t stop laughing through the new series Leanne. I do have time. I just chose to use it differently.
Why I Let This Habit Slip
When I first put together my 52 habits, reading was at the top of my list, not just for weekends, but as a daily ritual. I rediscovered my love of reading during the 75 Hard challenge, where it’s one of the non-negotiable tasks. I looked forward to it every day; curling up with a book and my favourite tea felt like a luxury.
But when that challenge ended, so did the habit. Almost two years later, I’d barely picked up a book. As a life coach for women, I know this pattern well; the thing that once felt essential quietly disappears the moment life gets busy again.
What Reading Gives Back
For me, reading isn’t just a pastime; it’s self-care. There’s something nostalgic about holding a book, calming and grounding. As a life coach for women, this is exactly the kind of small ritual I encourage clients to protect fiercely. So I’m swapping nightly screen time for story time, tracking how it shifts my sleep, energy, and mood with my Oura Ring, the same measurable, honest tracking I encourage women to use inside Promise Kept.
This habit journey started as a way to improve my health and finally follow through on my promises to myself. But it’s become more. I’m taking better care of myself, speaking more kindly to myself, and noticing how I speak about others- the same identity-level shift I explore with women inside Reclaim Her, and exactly the kind of quiet self-worth work a life coach for women cares about most.
James Clear’s Atomic Habits has been pivotal, not just in understanding how habits work, but how to actually live them. This is one habit I know is worth keeping.
Conclusion
I’m starting with a book that’s sat on my shelf for years, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I’ll share my thoughts once I finish it. If you have book recommendations, I’d love to hear them. If you’re ready for the same kind of life coach support for women to help you reclaim what you’ve pushed aside, you can learn more about Transformational Coaching or read about working together on my Work With Me. Do you have something you once loved but “don’t have time for” anymore? Maybe it’s time to dust it off and make it yours again.
FAQ’s
Why swap screen time for reading instead of just cutting screens?
Replacing a habit works better than removing one outright. Reading gives the mind somewhere else to go instead of leaving a gap.
How does reading actually affect sleep quality?
Unlike screens, books don’t emit blue light or keep the mind overstimulated, which supports the kind of wind-down sleep actually needs.
What if I genuinely don’t have time to read?
Track your time for a few days first. Most people find pockets of time already going toward something less restorative.
Why does a life coach for women focus on something like reading?
Because reclaiming small personal pleasures is often the first sign someone is prioritising themselves again, not just everyone else, and it’s a pattern a life coach for women watches for closely.
Does the type of book matter for this habit to work?
Not really. What matters most is consistency and genuine enjoyment, not reading something “impressive” or productivity-focused.