An overdose of reading?

My 7-year-old son asked, "Mommy, can you drink too much water?"

"Yes, you sure can."

"But water is good."

"That's true, but too much, too fast, can make you sick."

You can easily visualize this when it comes to food, right? Broccoli is good for you, but if you eat too much for dinner, you'll be tossing and turning past bedtime with a gassy tummy.

Or is that just me? 🥺

This is true of (almost?) everything that we intake, even noble intangibles like books.

Have you ever gone on a voracious reading spree, knocking back book after book, never feeling full? For whatever reason, your capacity is limitless. That's fun.

But there are other times when you finish one book and then flat-out stop reading for a while. You may find yourself DNFing everything you start. Even the idea of diving into a book feels a tad depressing.

Why is that?

Over the years, I've come across an interesting idea from various sources, in various forms, and it goes something like this: When people ingest a ton of input (feverishly reading, listening to podcasts, watching TV, scrolling social media) it results in a blockage.

We need a period of mental rest to wipe the slate.

When we do that, the brain relaxes. It doesn't feel like an overinflated beach ball, ready to burst.

By reducing our input, we create space.

Space for what?

Hm, mental digestion, perhaps? There's room for our own thoughts—not other people's thoughts—to rise to the surface like a miraculous axehead. Dare I suggest that, by doing this, we create a sphere of quiet so that God's voice can be heard?

Many people say that this exercise results in increased creativity. After clearing their mind of all that clutter, they experience a gush of creative output. They're writing, sketching, cooking, designing, or painting like mad.

So, if you're feeling like you're overfull of books (or whatever media) right now, feeling like you have no appetite for anything, then consider taking a rest.

Try it, and see what happens next.

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Meet Kori Morgan, Author & Founder of Inkling Creative Strategies

If you’ve got a soft spot for rock bands and show tunes, for bicycles and monster trucks, then Kori may just be your soul sister.

She’s an author of both fiction and nonfiction. When she’s not writing, she’s mentoring authors on their creative journeys.

​Take a few minutes to check out her picture interview on Library Binding.

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As always, I'll leave you with one irresistible indulgence—this one's for you, Narnia fans.

Your devoted,

Michelle

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