I realized that attending reading parties is the perfect low-pressure social activity for me after a long day of working.
Jordan Mautner
After work each day, I found myself feeling mentally exhausted and burned out. Seemingly endless emails and a phone that buzzes long after 5 p.m. left me craving a more balanced lifestyle, particularly one that didn't make me feel constantly available. However, I was struggling to find activities and plans that would actually stick.I know exercise can be mood-boosting, so I tried going to the gym after work. Most of the time, though, I ended up canceling because I was too tired and it didn't sound like much fun.I also attempted to make regular plans to go to happy hour with coworkers. This didn't stick, either, and I didn't exactly want all my social interactions to revolve around alcohol. Instead, I continued spending most evenings sitting on my couch, doomscrolling on Instagram, waiting for my husband to get home from work.At one point, after checking my screen-time settings, I was horrified to realize I was spending an average of four hours a day on my phone.
When I told my friend about my unsuccessful attempts to fix my post-work habits, she suggested I attend a reading party (or Silent Book Club).I'd seen people around the world posting about attending these low-pressure events, where attendees gather to read books independently and silently, then have discussions afterward. It seemed strange to turn an activity I usually do alone into a group one, but I was willing to give it a try. I was skeptical, but the reading party helped me get off my phone in a fun way
