On July 13th, 2017 I posted my most popular post of all time A Book A Day for the Rest of the Year? a post that I never expected to get so much attention that blew up to have more then 200 likes and 100 comments. I was filled with a inner sense of insanity. I never expected to be able to accomplish such a lofty goal and I didn’t not at first. I had given up thinking there was no way and I could never do it, but I came across an article about how much time the average human spends on social media and watching tv in a year and it got me to thinking. If I spent that time reading would I be able to accomplish that goal I had once set for myself?
The thing is, it worked. Since August 30th, 2017 onward I have read a book every single day. I have kept this up for 16 straight days and I couldn’t be happier! At first, it was mostly about getting into a rhythm that worked and setting for myself a plan of action of how I could make reading a book a day sustainable for myself. At first I started out with some books I had already started reading since I always read more then one book at a time and that helped me transition into starting to continuously finish books. Then after those books were finished I got into the habit of reading a few chapters of the next book I wanted to start to make it a little easier to finish for the next day. After that, more and more I started and ended the complete book in the same day and it has become a ritual.
As the days went by and I continued to finish a new book for that day I started to feel like it became surprisingly manageable. I even came up with a game plan for books that are 450pgs and beyond so I could make them manageable. After I finished with the book I dedicated myself to reading for that day I would read a few chapters of the longer book (or really several of the longer books) until I could diminish the size of it enough so I could dedicate a day to reading that book.
However, with all the technicalities and the how’s of reading a book everyday, you may wonder if I was truly absorbing and enjoying what I was reading each day. The answer to this too is surprisingly… yes. I have never been happier with myself and with all the affect the stories I have read have impacted me. During this time I have read more 5 and 4 star reads then I feel like I have all year and I have come to really feel what it was that drew me to reading in the first place. Reading so many amazing books and feeling so happy with how I’ve decided to rededicate my spear time is why I feel like I am going to continue this for as long as I can. I have fallen in love with reading all over again and that is the greatest gift this experience has given me.
Thanks for reading! I will definitely give more updates on this in the future! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
-Till next time!
I would love to read a book a day π
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You should try it! Maybe for a week or so just to see if it is manageable for you. It’s so liberating in so many ways!
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No chance I am afraid π₯ busy family life and a full time job! But in the future definitely π
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Heyyy……..GREAT WORK, TIANA!!! ππππππ
I am still on my challenge too! I mean, I just LOVE the busy feeling that comes with it, don’t you? I mean, apart from all that regular stuff and the assignments, it’s a nice change and boy, does it pushes us off the hook during the early days!! I did not start with previously read books like you and maybe that’s why it was a bit harder.
And I like the idea of sort of …..uhh….”re-sizing” the longer books over time so it becomes manageable. THANKSSS!! I am going to implement it from now on.
VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!! π π IT’S SURPRISINGLY CALMING- READING A BOOK A DAY. π
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Isn’t it! It feels so good! Almost therapeutic in a way. I’m glad that your continuing to do this as well! The resizing thing does make everything feel so much less intimidating. Also, idk I just feel more right with myself, this challenge just makes you feel good in so many ways.
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Heyyy……..GREAT WORK, TIANA!!! ππππππ
I am still on my challenge too! I mean, I just LOVE the busy feeling that comes with it, don’t you? Apart from all that regular stuff and the assignments, it’s a nice change and boy, does it pushes us off the hook during the early days!! I did not start with previously read books like you and maybe that’s why it was a bit harder.
And I like the idea of sort of …..uhh….”re-sizing” the longer books over time so it becomes manageable. THANKSSS!! I am going to implement it from now on.
VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!! π π IT’S SURPRISINGLY CALMING- READING A BOOK A DAY. π
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Before this week I never thought it would be possible for me to read a book a day….but I am off work and I have finished a book everyday this week!
It certainly put a dent in my arc pile!
I am back to work next week so dont think I will be able to sustain it but it felt good whilst it lasted!
Good luck on your journey π
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It feels good doesn’t it! So long as it doesn’t make you feel like your doing to much then it becomes almost therapeutic and oddly calm. It’s a great feeling!
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It makes me feel calm when I see my tbr pile going down!!!! π
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I love that you’ve taken on this challenge and I’m feeling inspired thank you!! How do you choose what books to read?
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I just prioritize arcs first and then I read a few of the book just on my shelves as I feel like reading them. It’s mostly something I choose Day by day.
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Great post! People often ask me how I manage to read so many books, and I always reply by asking them how much TV and social media they take in per day.
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It really is so true. If you replace the time you use to watch tv and look mindlessly at social media it becomes surprisingly easy to take on this challenge.
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That’s awesome work, and it sounds like you have a system going that works really well! I think that once you get into any books, it’s easy to read and get engrossed, you just need to pass that first milestone. Out of curiosity, do you ever fear like there are too many stories in your head all at once?
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Nope! I think of it the same way you might think of a movie. We all watch so many movies and tv shows at once and it’s easy to remember their stories and how they affected us when we watched them. For me it has always been the same while reading. Especially while reading a book I have fallen in love with. You don’t end up forgetting it.
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That’s excellent, I definitely wish my brain worked that way. I’m reading five different books at the moment and I definitely have to pause and compose myself as I switch between them. It takes a few pages to readjust to the voice!
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I would love to do this! Unfortunately my reading time is confined to after work, once the kids are in bed.
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That’s understandable, but so long as you make yourself some time for reading each day I think going at your own pace is good.
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That’s awesome that you fell in love with reading again and that reading a book a day was successful for you! π
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Thanks so much! It is such an amazing experience!
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You’re welcome! Oh I bet it is! π
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This sounds really great and I have been able to read a book in one day in the past but I always find the I never have time (and not because of social media). I’m always doing assessments or making study cards or going out with friends, and so, if I’m lucky, I can read a book in a week. But a day? I have school for 7 hours most days.
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It’s definitely not something that fits everyone’s schedule. I really wanted to try it only to see if I could and now I’m addicted! It’s really helped my tbr and idk I just feel good about myself, and I think that’s the best part of it all.
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I read a lot, but reading a book a day would be.. well, awful. Awful in a way that I would do it, really I would, if only I didn’t have my household chores to keep up with, haha. My boyfriend would kill me if I said I wanted to read a book a day, because we both know I already tend to neglect doing chores just so I can squeeze in more reading time. *oops* But since I can easily – most of the time – finish about three books a week, I don’t think it’s that necessary. Although it would be an amazing and easy way to tackle my huge TBR-piles…
Congratulations to you, though! Awesome to read that it’s actually possible AND you still enjoy every single one of them!
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It is not always something for everyone, but I found a way to make it work for me and I’m loving it! It’s been more rewarding then I could have ever hoped it to be!
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I’m happy you feel that way about it! Even though it probably isn’t something for me; I do admire you for succeeding at it. π
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I like to be able to read a book in a day, sometimes I have distractions or things that need to be done that prevent me from doing so. I feel like I enjoy a book more though if I read it in one sitting.
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I think I’ve been getting to get that feeling as well! Enjoying a book all at once instead of in little sections here and there. It feels really new for me though, but I am definitely enjoying myself.
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I feel like you get the whole story at once to analyse instead of getting bits and pieces and chancing forgetting something.
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Yeah, I think that is true as well. It’s a very different kind of reading experience. It’s nice to have the whole picture sooner rather then later.
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I wish we had more hours in the day to be able to do this all the time!
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That is very impressive! I did the 50 books in a year thing and that was a challenge. Way to go. Can’t wait to hear more about your reading adventures.
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I’m now 20 days in and I’m still feeling really really good about it! I’m so excited to see how far I can take this!
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Reblogged this on Didi Oviatt and commented:
Great short and sweet post by the Book Raven! I find myself weaving in and out of this book a day zone. How quickly do you typically get through a book? How often do you go on reading binges like this? I do it about once every two months and it typically lasts a couple weeks. I love the feeling of being well read and accomplished in devoured books. I also love the feeling of clearing the writing pallet, like I can find my creativity as a writer from a new angle and a fresh start! Great Post!
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Thanks so much for the reblog! I really appreciate it!
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Absolutely π
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This is so awesome! And inspiring, haha! I can’t say I’ll start doing this, because currently I’ve been reading a lot of longer books and school is rather unpredictable, but I have gotten in a much better routine and read a book every couple of days. It’s extremely rewarding and I’m so excited that it worked for you! I may give this a shot for a month soon; I definitely love the idea. π
Also, just curious- are you in school? Maybe I’m just crazy, but you are remarkable at getting things done! XD
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I do a class online for college work, but it’s only 1 class at a time, but I do work at least 5 hours everyday m-f and then about 8 or so selling candles at a farmers market on Saturday with my sister. So I have a decently busy schedule, but I just keep trying to find ways to balance out my time and it ends up working out for me.
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Ah, that makes sense. I know it’s all about priorities. π Still, you are amazing at managing time, haha!
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Thank you! I do my best! Some days I do crash though or get distracted by YouTube and then stuff doesn’t get done
but I’m proud that most of the time things work out.
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I can totally relate! I’m working on managing my time better as well.
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I wish I could prioritize more time for reading, but I commend you for sticking to that schedule!
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Itβs been difficult, but I am definitely proud of how many more books Iβve read recently because of it!
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Maybe I’ll have to try it someday!
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Great article, i really enjoyed reading it and was inspired by it. I listed a few books I believe is great on my blog as well, give it a look and tell me what you think. https://venablestory.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/so-what-are-the-best-books-you-could-read/ Thanks
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