What Are Reading Sprints and Why Should I Do Them?
What Are Reading Sprints?
When you're overwhelmed with notifications, emails, messages and to-do lists, it can feel impossible to get your leisurely reading in. In today's busy world, what is often considered a hobby is now considered a luxury.
If you're thinking of sprints from a running perspective, you're on the right track. No, you're not running with a book in hand- but I can contest that, it is dangerous. Been there, done that. While running sprints challenge you to run as fast as you can in a short period of time, reading sprints are similar to that.
Picture short, focused bursts of reading, without any other distractions. Sounds great, right? That sounds like a great way to tackle that growing TBR pile finally!? Agreed. This is why I have loved being a part of reading sprints with friends. We have a pre-determined amount of time that we'll be reading for, and a set "break" time that we chit-chat during, before returning to the reading sprint again. They're a great way to connect with new people while also reaching your reading goals.
Typically, a sprint lasts 10 to 30 minutes, in which you focus entirely on reading during that time and push yourself to read as many pages or chapters as you can. Then, you'd break for anywhere from 5-10 minutes to share progress or chat about anything with your bookish members in the sprint with you. It offers a sense of support, accountability, and encouragement to get through your set goals.
Being a member of The Bookshop Bibliophiles can create a sense of camaraderie and make reading feel more social and fun. We have reading sprints twice a month and an end-of-month book discussion, where we discuss the Book Club Pick for that month. It's so lovely to get to know each other through the pages and screens that can otherwise feel isolating.
How Do Reading Sprints Work?
The Bookshop Bibliophile Reading Sprints will use the Streamyard platform to share the facilitator's screen and use the chat window to communicate with members through The Bookshop NL's YouTube Channel "Beyond the Bookshop". Sprints will follow the following schedule:
1. Set a Time Limit: We will either decide on a time together or have a pre-determined reading and break length. Often, there will be 20 minutes of reading and a 5-minute break.
2. Pick Your Book: Choose the book (or ebook) you want to focus on. It doesn't have to be the Book Club's pick of the month. Just make sure it’s something you’re excited to read because enthusiasm helps you power through the sprint and get as much read as possible. Alternatively, if you want to power through a sluggish book and need the extra motivation to do so, pick that book. The accountability does help you focus more.
3. Start The Timer: When I press the timer on our virtual room's screen, you will completely immerse yourself in the book and silence your phone. The goal is to avoid all distractions and focus on the book entirely.
4. Sprint, Sprint, Sprint: Read as much as possible within the allotted time. The focus is on reading, not multitasking. It’s about quality engagement with the book. This is also an excellent opportunity to annotate books, which helps you get into the setting and focus on the details.
5. Break and Reflect: We will take a short break once the timer goes off. You can get up and stretch, use the washroom, and take care of any messages or tasks that need to be addressed during this time. We will also use this time to chit-chat and connect about our books, reading goals, the kind of day we're having, how we're feeling, etc.
6. Repeat as Desired: This set time of 25 minutes reading and a 5-minute break will repeat for the desired amount of time, or set time depending on the session length.
Why Are Reading Sprints Beneficial?
Setting timers has been shown to help with task completion in many areas of life, and reading is no exception. Knowing that you are focused on a single task for a short period makes it easier to stay committed and complete that goal. In our busy lives, having a calming ambiance of a reading sprint room, with background music and limited distractions, sprints make focusing on getting pages turned easier. Many people find that reading sprints help them read faster, too. The sense of urgency with the set amount of time allows them to get into the book and flip through faster.
Additionally, the sense of community that comes along with reading sprints offers a fun way to connect with other readers and learn about other books that you may also want to read! Because we're always looking for a way to add more books to our TBR pile? Right?
How To Get Started With Reading Sprints
Whether you're looking to read more books, read faster, boost your concentration, or simply add a bit of excitement to your reading routine, reading sprints offer an enjoyable, fun solution. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time.
So, set the timer, grab your book, and start sprinting, or join us in our reading sprints as a member of The Bookshop Bibliophiles and enjoy the sense of community in our little corner of the internet.