Still Learning: Recultivating the Habit of Reading in a Full Season of Life |

Still Learning: Recultivating the Habit of Reading in a Full Season of Life

on December 30, 2025 by Jami Balmet 0 comments

(Listen to this blog post if you are short on time! Excuse my cold voice and the 3 year making noise in the background! 😂)

There was a time when I rarely went anywhere without a book tucked into my bag. Reading was part of the rhythm of my days, early mornings, quiet afternoons, evenings before bed. It was something that filled me up and spilled over into my home and family life.

And then… somewhere along the way, that rhythm faded.

The past few years have been full in ways I never could have anticipated. Multiple cross-country moves. My son being badly burned and spending eight long days in the hospital. My own health issues quietly demanding more of me than I had to give. In the middle of all of that, reading slowly slipped off my priority list.

And honestly? That’s okay.

A season of not reading is not the end of the world. Some seasons require everything you have just to stay afloat. But as I look toward 2026, I feel a gentle nudge to return to this habit, not out of guilt or obligation, but because reading has always been deeply life-giving for me.

Reading fills my soul. It gives me fresh ideas to bring back to my family. It inspires me, teaches me, and helps me think more clearly about God, our world, and the work of running a home. It gives me true rest, rest that doesn’t involve screens and scrolling, but quiet presence and focus. I can’t overstate how important reading has been in shaping my heart, my faith, and my homemaking over the years.

And yet, my reading life has fizzled lately. It’s honestly a miracle I read much at all in 2025.

But this isn’t about looking back and dwelling there. It’s about understanding why this habit fell away, without shame, and discerning what God might be inviting me into now.

As I reflect, a few things are clear.

First, my health was at rock bottom for much of the year. My energy was so low that even reading felt like too much at times. Second, 2025 was wildly variable. When I look month by month at what our family walked through, it makes complete sense why reading didn’t happen the way I hoped. You can only be deeply intentional about so many things at once. Third, I was trying to force myself through a stack of books that just wasn’t serving me in that season. I love stretching my brain with dense, challenging reads—but when that keeps me from reading anything at all, something needs to shift. And finally, I simply didn’t have it in me to make reading a priority. Plain and simple.

A few weeks ago, Jason asked me what my reading goals for 2026 were going to be. At the time, I had a pretty sour attitude about planning anything for the year ahead. I felt flat. Overwhelmed. Not particularly excited about goals or lists or plans. So I shrugged and told him, “Eh… I probably won’t plan any.” He knew I didn’t really mean it and just let it go.

But the question stuck with me.

Is this a season where I need to lay this habit down? Is God calling me to use my time differently right now? Or is this a season where He’s gently calling me back—inviting me to trust Him with my time again and carve out small pockets for reading? Is He asking me to be a little less distracted this year, and a little more focused?

I’ve been praying about it for the past couple of weeks, and slowly, something has shifted. The excitement has returned, not in a loud, dramatic way, but quietly. I went around the house and gathered the books I’ve been meaning to read. Some are heavier, more challenging reads. Others are lighter and easier. This time, I’m intentionally spreading them out, giving myself space to enjoy both.

More than anything, I’m simply working to recultivate the habit of reading again.

Just like remembering to take vitamins or carving out time for movement, reading is one of those habits that requires discipline before it feels natural again. But it’s a discipline I know improves my life, and by extension, the life of my family.

So for 2026, I’m setting an overall goal of 104 books, which breaks down to about two books a week. For me, this is a challenging but doable goal once reading is back in my regular rhythm. It’s high enough to encourage me to choose reading over television or mindless scrolling, but flexible enough that if I only hit one book in a week, I’ll still consider that a win.

And truthfully, the number isn’t the point.

The real goal is consistency. Presence. Rebuilding a habit that has long been a source of nourishment for me.

A few years ago, a goal like 104 books would have been completely unrealistic for me. Back then, I was still rebuilding the habit of reading at all. For me, reading comes fairly naturally once it’s part of my daily rhythm again, so this year, I’m not starting from scratch.

If you are starting from scratch, though, that’s wonderful. Truly. I’d recommend beginning with something simple, like two books per month. Most standard nonfiction books can easily be read over a couple of weeks at a gentle pace. Start small. Celebrate every book. This isn’t a competition – it’s about enriching your life.

As part of that, here’s my Quarter 1 reading list: books that reflect my interests and curiosities in this season, not a prescription for anyone else:

If you’re hoping to read more this year, whether that means two books a month or just a few quiet pages before bed, I hope you’ll feel encouraged here. This is simply me learning out loud again, one habit and one season at a time.

What is your reading goal for 2026?

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