# @jessicagaffney on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CYFRr2AP6l2
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/16930811-jessicagaffney-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/69f81aa3ff.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-12-29T21:49:40.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Jess (@jessicagaffney) — https://gondola.cc/jessicagaffney

## Caption

During 2020, the initial COVID year, I read A LOT with the excess downtime. More than I probably ever have. 
I reignited a childhood passion that I had lost. Then once life picked back up in 2021 I didn’t prioritize making time for it, and I honestly felt the difference in my mental health. 

The thing is I always feel so calm after reading. The calmness of my mind after intellectually stimulating activities like reading or journaling or even podcasts, removes my least favorite qualities about myself and moods I can get in when my mind is not centered on what’s important. 
After time spent reading, I do not feel any resentment or defensiveness or sadness from comparison or antsy or not enough. 

I feel grounded and empowered by my mind from the ideas I get whilst having a calm headspace. In this mindset I authentically feel more grateful for what I have and who I am. 

It seems silly that such plain mundane activities like reading can make me feel all of these things, but it truly does. I feel more patient and have more inspired thinking that day or week after delving into other’s thoughts deeper than my day to day conversations. 
This alone should be enough to convince me to do it more, but really I just need to set aside the time each day to really make it happen. 
[Insert any New Years resolution lol] 

Reading makes me a better person. It puts me into a mindset that allows me to often look at the bigger picture with a calm mind no matter what genre. And this is the mindset I want to be in the majority of the time– which is why I will prioritize reading, once again, into my life in 2022.
I’m excited for new books and to revisit old favorites.✨📚

If you’ve made it this far drop any book suggestions in the comments below!!👇🏼

#reading #newyear #intentions #2022 #calmmind #mindful #priotities #mentalhealth #positiveoutlook #healthylife #happy

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## Tags

reading, happy, priotities, 2022, positiveoutlook, intentions, healthylife, mentalhealth, calmmind, newyear, mindful

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