“Ask your doctor if reading is right for you.”

A few years ago, I started developing a slight tremor. It didn’t bother me, except when I signed books or the rare occasion I had to write a check. I thought it was just from drinking too much caffeine, so I decided to live with it. (I could retire from a lot of other foods, but I couldn’t live without my caffeine.) When my doctor noticed the tremor, he recommended I see a neurologist. He wanted to make sure that something serious didn’t cause it.

The neurologist examined me and gave me an EEG and an MRI. The good news: Everything in my brain is fine. I have no signs of stroke, tumors, shrinkage, or zombie bites. I can control the tremor through medication, and we picked out a good option. He also said I have some slight age-related cognitive decline, which is affecting my short-term memory. He said that I can combat this through brain-stimulating activities, including crossword puzzles and reading.

Yes, my doctor prescribed reading.

I already do a lot of reading, but it’s usually for work. With my busy schedule, I don’t dedicate enough time for quiet reading. (And I have a growing TBR pile that isn’t happy about it, including some reviews I promised people I’d do.) Over my health journey that I’ve been on for the past two years, I’ve had to dedicate time for other healthy activities. I had to enforce my sleep…