The Tranquil Vintessa

When I was younger, it was nothing for me to finish a book in a weekend. I’d get completely lost in the fantasy, the characters, the world, and honestly, I still do, just differently now.

These days I listen to more audiobooks. I can scroll, do dishes, clean, or even drive while getting swept up in a story. And I genuinely love audiobooks for that reason. But for me, nothing quite compares to sitting down with a physical book.

There’s something about slowing down. The quiet. The stillness. Choosing something less stimulating to feed my mind.

Lately I’ve noticed I get bored scrolling or watching TV, but still feel oddly compelled to keep doing it anyway. So instead of fighting myself, I tried something simple.

For every page I read, I let myself scroll for a minute just enough to scratch the itch before getting bored and returning to my book. I did that through one book, then another. Eventually it went from one page, to one chapter, to reading for long stretches without even thinking about my phone.

Now sometimes I forget about it completely.

And honestly? Sitting on my balcony on a slow rainy day with tea or a glass of wine, reading while the rain falls softly in the background, feels like the perfect kind of gentle stimulation.

So if you’ve been struggling to focus on reading again, maybe try working with your attention instead of forcing it. It helped me ease my way back into books without making reading feel like a chore.

I also have a collection of favorite physical books and audiobooks linked in my Tranquil Vintessa bookshop if you want to start your own reading ritual.