Lately, I’ve been enjoying the luxury of not setting a alarm on weekends. My body tells me when to get up and usually it’s around 5 or 6 a.m. So much for attempts to sleep in and get some rest.
I’ve created a cozy reading spot in my living room, perfect for cold winter days.
These quiet mornings have also made me reflect on how my routines have shifted since being sidelined by injury.
Someone asked me recently if I have started any new habits since being placed on injury reserve. Naturally my first thought was obsessing over my injury, Googling recovery times and endlessly scrolling on TikTok.
Are those hobbies? Probably not.
I’ve decided that obsessing does not count as a hobby, no matter how many hours I put into it. Reading feels like much more of a socially acceptable answer than spiralling out of control.
I have delved into hitting my annual reading goals. This year my goal was 50 books in 2025. Thanks to all my free time, I’m a few books ahead of schedule. It feels good to get back into the habit of reading books regularly.
I’ve always believed that reading is like exercise for your brain, and it was drilled into us in journalism school that the best way to become a better writer is to read as much as you can. The more I read, the more I want to write and create.
Of course, I wouldn’t have had this much time to read if I hadn’t been sidelined by my running injury.
I’ve been forced to slow down and in that space I’ve rediscovered the joy of a quiet morning with a good book or late nights lost in the pages of a book I just can’t put down.
What new habits or hobbies have you discovered when life or injury recovery has slowed you down? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
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