Aah, readathons! Both the bane and the benefit of a bibliophile’s life. And they come in all shapes and sizes. From marathons that encourage us to tackle lengthy texts, such as Tome Topple; or sprints that are about knocking off as many titles on our tbrs as possible, such as Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon.
These compressed times of fevered reading give many readers the focus they require to smash through their unread books, but they can also be a little overwhelming for the unprepared and the uninitiated. We’ve got the lowdown on how to have the most successful readathon with the minimum of stress and the maximum of productivity.
Plan ahead
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Readathons can be as fun or as stressful as you want them to be. If you have a major homework deadline or are closing a massive deal in work then perhaps it is best to skip this readathon and find another, at a more appropriate time for you. The Little Book Owl has this handy readathon tracker that can let you know of any events ahead of time.
If you are planning on participating, then see what tasks can be completed ahead of time and what can be left until after the readathon is over. This is where all you bullet journalers will be one step ahead, here. The more organised you are before the readathon, the more time you will have to relax and revel in some stress-free reading.
Get social media savvy
This one goes hand-in-hand with the last tip. Before the readathon begins, note down where any reading sprints, discussions, or mini-challenges are being hosted, so you can keep up to date with the social part of the readathon.
If you’re a booktuber, blogger, or bookstagrammer it could also be handy to pre-make your channel content for the duration of the readathon. Hand written notes of important plot points or tabbed quotes you want to remember can also make reviewing after the readathon that much easier.
Organise your TBR
A strict reading list might make some cringe with fear but for others, such as myself, this is the order I need in my readathons! There is nothing worse than wasting an afternoon of prime reading time flicking through all the books on my shelves, as I try to find the one that will take my fancy.
I normally create a rather overambitious TBR about a week before any readathon, which allows for any taste changes I may have. I prefer shorter books in a variety of genres and have normally already pre-read the first few pages to ensure the pace and tone is suited to my current reading mood.
Mix it up
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Staring at white pages for hour after hour can take its toll on both your eyes and your wellbeing. Mix it up by ordering in a few audiobooks from Audible or your local library. Listen to them while you take an invigorating walk or unwind with some stress-free activities.
Mix it up even more
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Whilst most read on their bed in their house, it can be productive to take yourself out doors for a change of pace and atmosphere. Try a quiet cafe for some ambient reading time or, if the weather is nice, relax in a local park or scenic area.
Know what works for you
As stated above, for me readathons are about whizzing through all the shortest books on my shelves, so I can feel super satisfied with the hefty number of completed books at the readathon’s close. For others, they might work best battling through one longer text as opposed to a multitude of mini ones. Know what you prefer and stick to it, regardless of what others are doing.
Get the snacks in
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For me, this is one of the most fun parts of my pre-readathon prep, because ya’ girl likes to eat! The day before, I make my grocery run and try to purchase a good combination of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy snacks.
For my main meals of the day, some of my favourite dishes are to slow-cook stews or soups in a crockpot, or to pre-make a batch of delicious and refreshing smoothies to freeze until I need them. Mug meals are another favourite, as they require the minimum of fuss and dish washing afterwards.
For the health conscious, carrot batons and celery sticks dipped in hummus or peanut butter make for mess-free and delicious reading snacks. And for a delicious treat (because you are a goddamn reading warrior and you deserve it!) you could try this simple recipe for banana chocolate chip muffins.
Get your comfy on
Readathons were made for duvet days and your comfiest and oldest of chilling clothes! Find your prime reading spot and prep it with pillows, throws and (of course) your snacks. Throw on anything that makes you feel cosy and you are all set for to read, read, read!
Thanks for making this post – starting the Readathon for Dewey this weekend so I need all the tips I can get