Booking Time to Read

At a time when technology is more important than ever in our daily lives, I recently made a big change. About three months ago, instead of picking up my cell phone to read emails and the news when I wake up, I started picking up a book. I now spend the first 30 minutes of my morning reading a physical, hard copy book with pages to turn by hand, not with a swipe. Stepping away from my routine has been a big adjustment, but one that has been highly beneficial. 

Switching my time to reading a book for the first 30 minutes each day has provided me with a more relaxed, controlled start to my day. While my book list has primarily consisted of nonfiction, earlier this year I read an interesting Harvard Business Review article about the importance of incorporating fiction into our book choices. The article noted, “Research suggests that reading literary fiction is an effective way to enhance the brain’s ability to keep an open mind while processing information, a necessary skill for effective decision-making.” Whether you are more a fan of fiction or nonfiction, I encourage you to try starting your day by reading every day. 

Here are books I have recently read:

• Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results; An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
• The Way of The Seal: Think Like an Elite Warrior to Lead and Succeed by Mark Divine
• The Energy Clock: 3 Simple Steps to Create a Life Full of ENERGY – and Live Your Best Every Day by Molly Fletcher
• Leadership Strategy and Tactics by Jocko Willink
• Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead by Jim Mattis and Francis J. "Bing" West Jr. (currently reading)

I am always looking to add good books to my list. What books have you read recently? Are you currently reading a book you would recommend? How have you changed any of your daily habits this year because of a book or article you have read recently? 

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Don Antonucci serves as Senior Vice President of Growth for Blue Shield of California. He has more than two decades of experience in the health care industry and is the host of “Healthy Dose of Dialogue” podcast available on Apple iTunes or Spotify. The monthly podcast invites healthcare leaders to share fresh perspectives and engage in healthy dialogue about marketplace trends and industry insights impacting health care today.