How to Plan the Perfect Readathon
If you’ve never had a readathon, take this as your sign to start planning one.
Readathons are awesome. If you’re in a reading slump, they can help you get out of it. If you’re already reading a lot, they’re a fun way to challenge yourself. If you’re somewhere in the middle, they can motivate your to up your reading game or help you maintain the habit of reading.
Either way, they’re super fun.
If you’re planning on having your very own readathon, make sure to follow these steps. They’ll help you ensure you have a fantastic time getting through your TBR pile.
1. Get inspired
What better way to get inspired than to watch fellow book lovers go through their own readathons?
YouTube has countless videos on BookTubers documenting their readathons. My personal favorite is Ruby Granger, mainly because her videos are extremely chill and relaxing to watch.
Before you begin, browse through YouTube and find a BookTuber you like. Watching them go through their readathon will surely inspire you to have your own.
2. Set a time and place
Once you’re good and motivated, your next step is to pick the time and place for your readathon.
If you’re just starting out, I wouldn’t recommend anything longer than 2–4 hours. Remember, this isn’t a competition and you don’t win anything for forcing yourself to read for long hours. The goal is to have fun.
As for location, I’d recommend you find a place that is comfortable, has good lighting, and has minimal distractions.
3. Pick your reads
We’re getting to the good stuff. It’s time to pick your books.
For this, browse through your physical and digital collection of books and pick a few that you’ve been dying to read. But don’t limit yourself to books you already have. In fact, I’d use this time as the perfect excuse to go to the bookstore.
Just be careful about how many books you pick for your readathon. If you’re only reading for 2 hours, having a pile of 10 books can may feel overwhelming. Pick the number of books that make sense for the duration of your readathon.
(If your goal is to read a lot of books, you can always pick a bunch of super short books. Cheating? Maybe. But, hey, it’s your readathon. You set the rules.)
4. Gather your resources
Planning a 2–4 hour readathon means little if you have to get up every 5 minutes to get something. So save yourself unnecessary breaks and gather your tools before you begin.
When I say tools, I mean things like a water bottle, snacks, a comfortable pillow, a warm blanket, and maybe even your pet (doggos and reading go well together!).
Anything you need or think you might need should be collected and taken to your chosen location.
5. Ready. Set. Read!
That’s it! You’re ready to start your very own readathon. Just remember, the most important thing about a readathon is your enjoyment.
Don’t set unrealistic reading goals for yourself. Don’t force yourself to finish a book if you’re not enjoying it. Most importantly, don’t force yourself to continue the readathon if it stops being fun.
Let me know how your readathon went!
TLDR
Planning a readathon can be as simple as following 5 easy steps. Here’s what to do:
- Get inspired by watching BookTubers go through their own readathons
- Pick a time and place to have your readathon
- Pick a realistic number of books you want to read
- Make sure to have resources such as snacks, blankets, and water
- Start reading!
