Let's Talk TBRs

Ah yes...the infamous TBR. If you're anything like me, it is an ever evolving list that only continues to grow as you take the advice of others on what books you should (or maybe should NOT) read.

But let me back up just a smidge. Maybe you're looking at those three letters and thinking "What in the Sam Heck is a TBR?" Thankfully, this is a very easy question to answer. Simply put, when we say TBR we mean "to be read." Essentially the list of books that you either already own that you plan to read in the future, or a list of books that you haven't yet purchased but would like to read at some point.

For some people *ahem* definitely NOT me *cough cough,* this list can be dozens if not hundreds of books long. Which might seem a little bit far fetched, but when access is so high, it's hard not to add to the list when you hear of a book you think you might enjoy. Because truly, there is no shortage of really good books out there! I mean, hello? New books are CONSTANTLY being published! And, there's DEFINITELY no shortage of people raving about the books that they fell in love with.

On a personal level, my physical TBR (The books that I have already purchased and/or have on my Kindle) is roughly around 45-50 books. And don't even get me STARTED on the books that I have yet to purchase but still want to read! I could blame this on the never-ending recommendations from Booktok, my inability to manage my impulse control at a book store, or the fact that I just enjoy owning books, but really it boils down to one thing: I will forever be a lifelong reader.

This means that my list of books I want to read will likely never end, because I will always be craving the next adventure within the confines of the written word. And I think there is something of beauty in that. If you really are someone who enjoys reading to the extent that I do (or even if you are a much more casual reader), knowing that this a ride you will never have to leave makes it part of the fun! And it makes it easy to let those titles continue to stack up.

However, I think there is balance that needs to be struck at a certain point.

For one thing, it is a little bit unrealistic to have hundreds of books that you're likely not going to get through in a timely fashion. Especially when you consider that you will come across hundreds more that you want to read as new books are published. Having a lot of books around isn't inherently bad (in fact, I encourage it!), but it definitely can be a burden if you aren't ~actually~ reading any of the ones you buy. Whether that burden be spacially or financially, it is still worth recognizing. Maybe take stock of where your physical TBR is at today, just to get a good jumping off point moving forward.

Secondly, having too many books on deck can lead to what I am officially coining as "TBR Paralysis." This is when you have SO many books on your list that need to be read that you are incapable of making a decision, and therefore either don't read anything, or fall back into your comfort reads as a way to avoid making a decision and ultimately feeling like you chose wrong. Have you ever felt the impulse to start a new show but then instantly became anxious because you're not sure if you will like it once you start? It's the same with reading. We can effectively work ourselves into anxiety by giving ourselves too many books to choose from!

This is where I have been at for the last week or so. I actually made a TikTok (Shameless plug for you to follow me @thebookishlifeofchels if you don't already...I am funny as hell!) about it because I have SO many freaking books on my TBR that it has been extremely difficult to make a decision on my next read. It's both discouraging and exhausting! And not only that, but having too many options means I also have too many opinions. That can make it increasingly difficult to make a choice when I feel like I am going to let someone else down by what I decide. I have been able to make some decisions to tackle the list, but it took me a lot of internal convincing to do so.

So where can you go from here? I suggest doing your best to block out the noise. I mentioned before that access is everywhere for people recommending books that they enjoy. Whether it is on BookTok, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, or Instagram, it can be really overwhelming to get all of those recommendations KNOWING you're going to love them, but not knowing what to do when you suddenly have hundreds of more books on your list than you had previously. If that feeling is overwhelming to you, or if you simply need to take a break to tackle the list you already have, THAT'S OKAY! Take a break from seeing all of that information, and get really nice and cozy with the list you already have. No shame in protecting your current TBR until it's a little shorter!

Next, make a plan to tackle the books on your list. Maybe this looks like setting a Goodreads goal for the year. Maybe it's gauging where your mood is at and grouping books together based on that that you can read in a row. Maybe it's setting a timeline for the books you have that you want to read. Any/all of these will help you get really clear on the direction of where you want to go moving forward. In a future blog post I will talk about Mood Reading, but if you're unfamiliar with this, Google it! You might find it helpful to know more.

And lastly, don't let yourself or anybody else shame you into thinking that you have too many books on your list! I have mentioned a few times to various people how many books I have on my list, and I often get a look of shock. And I understand the reaction, I do. But like I said before, this is a never ending ride. People who enjoy reading will ALWAYS be able to find a new story that invites them in. And for that reason, there is absolutely no shame in keeping yourself and your TBR open to new possibilities.

Trust your gut when it comes to your stories and let yourself rock the list that feels best to you! And if it gets a little out of control? Take a moment to reign it in. No shame in blocking out the world to protect your TBR moving forward!

Rock the reading game babes!

Love always,

Chels