Every book lover dreams of dropping all responsibilities for a day and doing nothing but reading. On BookTok, the 24-hour Read-a-thon trend has helped many book lovers turn this dream into a reality. All you need to do to join in the fun is pick a few books from your TBR list, set a timer, and set out to read for 24 hours straight. It is the perfect excuse to plan a bookish weekend with friends, or just for yourself, and read the entire day away.
It seems easy enough, right? But it takes more planning than you may think to read for an entire day. Here we will give you the best tips and tricks to make your 24-hour Read-a-thon a success.
So you want to do a 24-hour Read-a-thon, what now?
Whether you are someone who likes to plan things down to the minute or live spontaneously, there are a few decisions you have to make while your Read-a-thon is still in the planning stages that will help your success. The more you prepare before you start the clock, the more time you will be able to spend reading once the 24 hours have begun.
First, you will have to pick a day to waste away between the pages of a book. You can choose how you will schedule out your 24 hours, but it is important to plan a hard start and finish time. Some people like to make an entire schedule, planning in break times and time for meals or a change of scenery, while others just take a break when it feels right. Do whatever is best for you!
Choosing Your Spread
A 24-hour Read-a-thon is a great excuse for you and a friend to stock up on books from your local library or bookstore. Many BookTokers choose around 3-5 books that they will plan to read during the span of 24 hours. This will vary depending on what type of books you like, the length of the books you choose, and how quickly you can read them, so it will be different for everyone. I think it is always better to be overly ambitious when it comes to your spread. The last thing you want to do is run out before the 24 hours are up.
I would recommend either reading a series that is likely to keep you invested for hours of reading, or mixing it up with various different stories from different genres, some light and some heavier, so that you have a change in pace and you don’t get bored. Another fun option is to do a book club-style Read-a-thon where everyone reads the same books and you can debrief during your breaks.
Comfort is Key!
Location is an important thing to consider. You will want to prepare a few cozy locations for reading so you can move around if you start to get antsy. These spots should be comfy, since you will be spending long periods of time at each, but not too comfy where you may find yourself drifting off to sleep too often.
Get outside if you can, reading by the pool or beach if you’re lucky, would make 24 hours go by in the blink of an eye. If you prefer the indoors, light a candle, make sure there is good lighting, and have extra blankets to get super comfy and really set the vibe. I also recommend going to a coffee shop or restaurant with your books for a nice change in scenery and a meal.
Fueling Up
It is important to eat and fuel up for a long day of reading. Lots of snacks and coffee are an absolute necessity. When you start getting hungry, order your favorite take-out, then eat and debrief with friends about how your books are going. I love the idea of setting up a little coffee station for when you are getting tired but want to keep reading. I have also seen BookTokers make energy drink mocktails.
Eventually, no matter how much coffee or energy drinks you bring, you will probably have to take a nap. When you can’t keep your eyes on the page any longer, go to sleep for a few hours. You will wake up refreshed and ready to start reading again.
On Your Marks, Get Set, Go!
Once you have your snacks and caffeine, your cozy reading spots, and most importantly, your books, you are ready to set the timer and get lost in reading. You can be as strict or as lenient with the timer as you choose.
Slow and steady wins the race. Take breaks as often as you need to. If it’s a nice day, go for a short walk and get some fresh air. If you need to stay indoors, maybe do a quick stretching exercise to refresh your mind before you get back to reading. Just remember this event is meant to be fun, and there is no wrong way to do it!
Happy Reading!
Once you have hit 24 hours, you can walk away feeling accomplished and relaxed and having knocked a few books off your TBR. Make sure to do a debrief with your friends at the end about which was your favorite and least favorite book that you read. We hope you have the best 24-hour Read-a-thon imaginable! Happy reading!
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Find more recommendations on our Bookstr Team Recommendations bookshelf on Bookshop.
