My journey with novels began years ago when a friend introduced me to Wattpad. At first, reading was simply a way to pass time and enjoy stories. Over time, however, it became my primary form of entertainment, and I started noticing that it was affecting other areas of my life.

I usually read novels to pass the time or clear my head, but I often end up spending far more time reading than I intended.

For example, when I get stuck on a programming problem and I need to clear my head, I read novels. The problem is sometimes I get too engrossed into reading that I spend the rest of the day reading, instead of returning to the problem I left.

Some novels grip me so completely that stopping feels impossible. A recent example was Path of Dragons on Royal Road. I began reading it during my exams and ended up spending time on the novel that should have gone into studying.

I have tried different ways to reduce the hold novels have on me, but I always find myself stuck reading a novel at the wrong time.

For example, I stopped reading complete novels, and I switched to ongoing novels, where new chapters are released periodically, sometimes daily. The issue with this solution is when I’m done with my work for the day and I’m looking for something to read. I’ll end up looking for a new novel to try, and one of those novels can ensnare me.

Last night, I deleted all the novels I was currently reading. I hoped that making fantasy novels less accessible would reduce the temptation to read them. The strategy worked, at least partially. Today, I only read four chapters of Cleaver of Sin, an ongoing fantasy novel, instead of spending hours immersed in it.

Even while writing this article, I find myself looking for alternatives to reading novels. I recently downloaded a book on machine learning in the hope that it would occupy my attention when I am tempted to start another fantasy series.

The strange thing is that reading itself is not the problem. Some of my favourite stories have inspired me, entertained me, and helped me relax. The challenge is that I rarely stop when I intend to stop. I am still searching for a balance between enjoying novels and making time for everything else that matters.