Reading Recs

I’ve discovered something BIG. Big, I tells ya. I know what the key to success is!

Can you guess?

Luck?

No. But it sure helps.

Money?

No. But again, it sure helps.

Good looks?

No, once again. And once again, it sure helps.

The key to success is…

Habits!

That’s right, HABITS. Those little actions, big or small, that you do every day.

Thing is, there’s not some magical set of habits that will work for everyone. I used to think there was. Now, I truly believe that every person can find their own set of habits that work right for them and their own personal preferences and quirks.

How did I figure this out?

I read Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits–to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life by Gretchen Rubin.

Gretchen helped me figure out the answer to so many questions about habits, including the following:

• Why do I find it tough to create a habit for something I love to do?
• Sometimes I can change a habit overnight, and sometimes I can’t change a habit, no matter how hard I try. Why?
• How quickly can I change a habit?
• What can I do to make sure I stick to a new habit?
• Why can I keep habits that benefit others, but can’t make habits that are just for me?

As someone that’s always looking for the “right” set of habits that will make me a more productive, creative, and happier writer, this book was crucial to my development and growth. After reading it, I now think it’s a must-read book for writers and creatives. It’s an awesome resource for understanding yourself and your many habits better so that you can consciously create a happier life that fits YOU.

Hope you’ll check it out and post what you think of it in the comments below.

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is currently writing another novel that is a re-imagining of the Snow White fairy tale set in 1980s Seattle.

I feel like I never have enough time to read. So many great books and so little time. With that in mind, and being in between careers right now, I decided to go on a reading retreat.

Did I go anywhere?

Nope.

I stayed in my cozy townhouse, slept in, ate good food, went for an occasional walk, and read like mad for days.

I’m giving myself two full weeks to transition from being a law school admissions consultant to full-time writer. It’s important to have down time between jobs and especially between careers. I’ve worked hard on my Prelaw Guru business this year and I am burnt out. Since I love to read and never feel like I have enough time for it, it made total sense to treat myself to a reading retreat.

It took some convincing though. The luxuriating side of myself was all for it, but she is often out-voiced by my taskmaster side. But after a day of feeling so exhausted that I barely got up by lunchtime, I finally told my taskmaster to step aside. She’s been in charge for the last six months. It was time for Luxuriating Peg to have the spotlight.

And oh, it’s been so good! I’ve devoured three memoirs so far:

• Hiroshi Kashiwagi’s Swimming in the American;
• Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love; and
• Gabrielle Hamilton’s Blood, Bones & Butter.

I have five more days left and I can’t wait to read

• Anne Serling’s As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling and
• Leonard Pitts, Jr.’s Grant Park (my only non-memoir pick).

I can’t tell you how happy all this reading has made me.

All this is a big reminder to listen to myself. No one knows me better than I do. I need to give myself what I need so that I can put the best of myself into my writing. Now that I know how good it makes me feel, I’m going to make reading retreats a regular part of my self-care.

New year. New insights. Onward!

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a middle-grade novel centered on the question, can enemies become friends? She is also the founder of Prelaw Guru, a law school application consulting company, and the author of The No B.S. Guides for prelaw students.