In the past few months, I heard mention several times of Naomi Alderman’s Couch to 5K for reading program. Her original post about it is here.
Well, on Sunday I saw a new post floating around from her, link here. This one was called “we can get your brain working properly again by December 31st“.
Basically she’s running Version 2.0, this time a November through the holidays challenge. The subtitle said: “the Couch to 5k for reading is back! I know my title sounds extremely Paul McKenna. But: you will have more focus, more calm, more control, it will feel you have more time in every day. Really.“
She also said, “And now it is autumn. The nights are drawing in. It is a perfect time for reading, and we’re doing it again!”
I decided, I WANT TO DO THIS! I was intrigued by it over the summer, but our summer was nuts. But she’s right, autumn/ winter is the perfect time for cozying up with something warm to drink and reading.
I know I’m sort of talking to the wind here, as most readers of my blog are VORACIOUS readers who read 50-100+ books a year, if not more.
It’s not that I never read. I actually do! I just usually read in very little snippets of time, and I definitely don’t always do it every day. I read a fraction of what most of you read.
According to my book spreadsheet, I have completed 8 books so far in 2026, I DNF 1 book (after reading over half…), I have 1 audiobook from Libby I’m almost done with (the only audiobook on my list- it’s not really my thing), and I have 2 regular books in process currently. So all in all, that’s about 12.
I’m not looking to suddenly become a 100+ book/year reader. I just want to notch the habit up a little. I want reading to be a more regular part of my life; I don’t really care how many books I read.
Typically I read books pretty slowly and carefully. (I have come to the realization that I think because I so frequently skim-read patient charts and data all day long for work, this might be why when I read for pleasure, I have to consciously really slow down. Otherwise my brain feels like it’s in “work mode” or something!)
The article I linked has various levels of this challenge. I opted for Level 2, and I had AI turn it into this nice printable pdf with checkboxes. 🙂
As you can see, it includes 1-2 “longer reads” per week. I do feel like I’m sadly a bit out of practice at sitting still and reading for a longer stretch like that!
I like that the amount per day feels very realistic and doable for me, overall.
Here are a few responses from people who did Naomi’s challenge last time as to benefits they saw:
- helped with anxiety
- improved focus generally
- gave a sense of control over the day
- makes time feel more expansive
- inspired people to start writing
- felt more empowered to take time for themselves
- started to challenge them in all sorts of other ways
I’m happy to say I don’t really spend a lot of time just scrolling around on my phone anymore; I still have Facebook limited to 5 checks a day of <5 minutes a time, and blocked completely between 8-5. The less I use it, the less I feel like checking it all the time, anyway. Some days I don’t check it at all anymore, which my sanity and stress levels thank me for.
For me, I’m choosing first thing in the morning as my first reading session (literally the moment I sit down with my tea, I’m cracking my book; it’s only a few minutes right now!). Doing it right away ensures nothing bumps it.
The second session will be in the evening- ideally a sunroom session or in bed. (The sunroom session while sitting upright is better, because no matter how good the book is, I get soooo sleepy when I try to read in bed!!)
We’re literally talking a mere 5 minutes a session right now- there is no possible way I can say “I don’t have time” for that. 🙂 Even if I didn’t progress past the 10 minutes per day, hey- that’s 70 minutes a week! A significant dent can be made in a book in 70 minutes.
There are so many amazing books in the world and I really want to read more of them!! I also truly believe it’s good for my brain.
Has anyone else tried the Couch to 5K reading program?
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for lots of leftovers from Ethan’s soccer banquet on Sunday, so I haven’t had to cook this week yet. 🙂
