Take 30 minutes to make a quiet space.

Creating a library for yourself might sound grandiose, but it’s not. Think of it as your quiet place to read. Mine is filled with cookbooks, magazines, garden primers, house books, and the occasional self-development book. You won’t find any ‘fine works of literature’ or titles that are meant for show. 

To build my library I took an old table that was a hand-me-down from a friend. I added a seasoned wooden box as a layer for stacking. Then I started adding books. In the empty spaces I put some objects that were found while thrifting. That’s pretty much it. 

What I love about my library is it’s my quiet place. This year I’ll be adding a chair, hassock, and small side table so I can stash a beverage. Others are welcome to use it, but I find it goes pretty much untouched, since the books have special meaning to me.   

Curling up with something printed feels like a mini vacation. It’s an opportunity to get away from your device. You can’t beat the tactile feel of print in your hands. Even the scent of a book can take you back to a long forgotten library or bookstore from when you were a child. I never was a voracious reader as a kid (I’m pretty sure I’m dyslexic), but I always loved going to a bookstore to look at magazines and picture books. Cut to present day: I’d take reading a book in a comfy spot over anything that streams or shouts at me. Just another way my library helps keep me sane.