Books

I usually have a good amount of theory lined up, but I do get more paralyzed by choice of fiction to read, yea!

No I just pick one and if it's not it I put it down and pick up another.

No, because there is no reason to feel bad about not finishing something you don't like. This isn't eating vegetables for 10 year olds. You're an adult and can choose what you like and don't like. If you don't like something, there isn't some group of people standing over your shoulder judging you for your tastes.

Also, I don't get super invested in books. If I'm reading a book that is not that good, I can be fine finishing it if it isn't a very long book. It's (usually) not physically painful. I can also be fine putting down a book I'm really loving for a long time if my life is really busy. I'll pick it up when I get a chance.

No, I keep a TBR and use a random number generator to select my next read. I have no problem DNRing because I have no problem finding new titles that look interesting and life is too short to read them all. Why should I waste my limited time on this earth reading something I'm not enjoying? Who does that benefit?

This is why I love the library because I DNF all the time

Nothing wrong with DNF-ing. If a book doesn't suit you, move on. If I watch a tv show that everyone raves about I give it a maximum of 3 episodes and then move on if I don't like it (eg. Andor Season 2). Not for me at this point and maybe come back some point in the future. Same with books. If a book hasn't held my interest in 30ish pages I put it aside for something that will. Sometimes I go back. Too many books and too little life to spend time fretting.

I've been primarily reading/listening to books through my Libby app, and I keep a handful on hold at all times as well as a tagged list of books that have caught my eye, as well as by authors or narrators that I've enjoyed in the past.

Whenever I finish one book I can immediately see what's up next in my holds and if that doesn't appeal to me I can pick a book out of my interesting books list. There's usually something that fits the right vibe for me and if there's not, I can find something I'm likely to enjoy because it's by an author I like.

I've actually got pretty good at setting aside my usual preferences to just grab something new and random. It's worked pretty well so far and I've discovered and read things I never would have otherwise. Usually I just browse the shelves and pick stuff out that stands out for one reason or another. Also, if your library is like mine they have 'grab bags' where you can request a librarian to put together a random assortment of stuff. Right now I'm reading 'Audition with a Fox', about a girl undergoing a religious training under the tutelage of the fox trickster god and the other book is 'The Anubis Gates' set in 1900 Egypt and dealing with Egyptian occult beliefs and time travel. Both things I wouldn't have typically picked up...well Anubis Gates probably but the Audition with the Fox book not likely.

Oh, god no. I always have a pile of things taunting me. Which one's next? I dunno, whatever's on top? LOL.