Boost your brain with a year-long reading challenge

I embarked on a reading challenge at the start of this year, and I am loving it. I should preface this by saying that I read a lot already but fancied upping my game. The benefits have been numerous, and I can see this being an ongoing thing.

Being a bit of a nerd, I chart a lot of things about my life. I note how many words of fiction and non-fiction I write per day, how steps and press-ups I do, my weight, how many hours I practise doing art, and so on. It keeps me on track. I’m self-employed and work from home, so there is always a danger I might sit on the couch and watch Netflix for a month and not notice. The passing of time works differently when you work from home. (Which reminds me of a book.)

I also do an annual review, which led me to check how many books I read last year. It turned out to be a measly 17. It was actually a couple more as I read several paperbacks but was using Kindle reading to keep track, so they didn’t get counted. I am now using Goodreads, where I can add anything.

So what are the advantages of a reading challenge?

• The main one is obviously that, as challenges go, it’s one of the more fun ones. Trying to hit 10,000 steps a day or drink shitloads of water can be dull. Reading a book can be done on the couch, in bed, or on a toilet. I also read while brushing my teeth and shaving, although my wife says that’s weird.
• It is good for the brain. Reading has been linked to various cognitive advantages, such as improved memory, increased vocabulary, and enhanced comprehension skills. By participating in a reading challenge, you’re more likely to make reading a consistent habit, leading to long-term cognitive benefits. Embiggen the noggin.
• Reading can even help you to live longer.
• In a similar vein, reading has been shown to improve focus and concentration. This was why I switched from reading on my iPad to reading on a Kindle. Focusing on just one task improves the ability to concentrate on just one thing. Science says so.
• An advantage of reading more is that you are more likely to try different genres. If you’re just reading a book a month, deciding on your next read can feel like a huge choice. I often agonise over what to read next. When you are reading a book a week, it is not such a big deal. I can go from The Murderbot Diaries to Great Expectations in a single bound.
• If you are into the social aspect of things, then Goodreads is… good. There are lots of people doing a similar reading challenge, and you can all chat and support each. I should add that I do not. I would rather just read. But some people seem to love it and generally just chat about books.

There are other benefits such as fiction increasing empathy and imagination, and so on. tl;dr – reading is great.

The only negative I have found is that I am pacing my books to stay roughly on target. I am reading The Wheel of Time series at the moment, and they are hefty books. I am about to read the sixth one, and it is 1000 pages and 300,000 words. That’s three or four normal books. Fortunately, I am also reading the Dresden Files, and they are all a bit shorter, so I will read one before launching into something more epic. I might even read an Agatha Christie to pull ahead.

So, not really a massive downside.

I started my reading challenge on the 1st of January. And it has been going well. I’m only a couple of weeks from equalling last year’s recorded total. By actively tracking everything I read, it has dawned on me that I read a LOT of science fiction and fantasy. Time to mix things up. Another advantage.

I am already feeling smarter and longer lived. Why not join me?