i read a book a week for a year and it changed my life

Summary

In this video, Elena reflects on her achievement of reading a book a week for an entire year, sharing the benefits and challenges she experienced. She discusses how reading has expanded her perspective, improved her focus, and enhanced her mental health. Elena offers practical tips for incorporating reading into a busy life, such as using a Kindle, limiting distractions, and choosing books that excite you. She also highlights the importance of adjusting reading goals to fit personal interests and goals. Finally, Elena lists all the books she read and encourages viewers to set their own reading goals.

Takeaways

• 📚 Elena set a goal to read a book a week for an entire year, successfully completing it.
• 🎓 She values reading as a way to continue learning after finishing her formal education.
• 🧠 Reading helped Elena expand her perspective, improve her focus, and boost her mental clarity.
• 📖 Fictional books reignited her love for reading, leading her to explore more diverse genres over time.
• 🕰️ Elena emphasizes the importance of finding time to read, even by cutting down on other activities like TV or social media.
• 📱 Using a Kindle and the Libby app helped her read more by making books easily accessible and portable.
• 📝 She recommends marking up books or taking notes to better retain information and engage with the content.
• 🚫 Elena advises not to force yourself to finish books you're not enjoying, and instead, focus on books that truly interest you.
• 👥 Having an accountability partner, like a friend or social media, can help you stay on track with your reading goals.
• ⚖️ While she enjoyed the challenge, Elena acknowledges that reading a book a week might not be for everyone and suggests setting personalized reading goals.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to set a goal of reading a book a week for a year?

The speaker was motivated by a desire to get back into reading, especially after having more time in 2020. This led to the decision to challenge herself to read a book a week in 2021.

How did the speaker's reading habits evolve throughout the year?

The speaker began by reading a lot of fictional books to rekindle her love for reading. As she progressed, she gradually moved on to more complex subjects like politics, history, and minority experiences.

What are some of the benefits the speaker experienced from reading regularly?

The speaker noticed an expansion in her perspective, an improvement in focus and attention span, better mental clarity, and enhanced self-awareness. Reading also provided her with a broader array of knowledge and opinions.

What tips does the speaker offer for maintaining a regular reading habit?

The speaker suggests starting with books that excite you, cutting down on TV or social media time, using a Kindle for convenience, utilizing the Libby app for free books, and limiting distractions while reading.

How does the speaker choose the books she reads?

The speaker is a fan of Goodreads and uses it to set reading goals and track progress. She also likes the ability to create her own educational or entertainment experience by selecting books that interest her.

What does the speaker mean by viewing reading as a 'muscle'?

The speaker likens reading to a muscle that can be strengthened over time with consistent practice. The more you read, the easier it becomes, leading to faster reading speeds and better absorption of information.

What are some potential downsides to setting a goal of reading a book a week?

The speaker notes that setting such a goal can limit the types of books you choose, as you might avoid longer or more complex books that require more time to digest. It’s important to adjust your reading goals based on your interests.

How has reading regularly impacted the speaker's mental health?

The speaker found that reading provided mental clarity and helped her feel better about herself, especially when she replaced mindless social media scrolling with reading.

What role does accountability play in the speaker's reading journey?

Accountability was crucial for the speaker, who used Instagram to post updates on her reading progress. This public commitment helped her stay motivated to reach her goal.

Why does the speaker recommend marking up books while reading?

The speaker recommends marking up books, especially non-fiction, to help retain information. Highlighting and underlining key points makes it easier to refer back to important sections later.