Recently, I hit the number I’ve been waiting to see for a while now, 1,000 consecutive days of reading for one hour per day. I celebrated the event with a card from my wife that read, “You sparkle like a princess… and you deserve to celebrate like one,” and some Reese’s Thins. What can I say, she gets me, but that’s another post for another time.
1,000 days in a row is kind of a big deal. But to do something for a minimum of an hour for 1,000 days in a row was a little daunting. I read at home and while traveling, sick and tired (often sleepy), on family vacations and work trips, even on a cross-country road trip with a childhood friend. Most of my reading was in the mornings, but there were occasions when I was dog tired and had to finish reading before bed to keep the streak alive. Oh, and I read in all kinds of locations: beds, cars, planes, and trains (okay, not trains, but that would have been cool), in lines, waiting rooms, and next to pools. You get the idea.
Why It Started
My friend Jeff likes challenges. And, knowing me as he does, he also knows he can pretty much throw any challenge my way and I’ll say yes. The first challenge Jeff ever threw my way was hosting an event to build 48 nonprofit websites in 48 hours. And, well, 11 years later, with over 1,300 nonprofit websites built during our 48-hour hackathons (see 48in48.org for more info), I’d say that challenge went pretty well.
This time, Jeff texted and asked if I was up for a reading challenge. I was pretty busy at the time, you know, with a few gigs for money, five kids (who take all the money), and my army of fedoras to catalog and manage. So, I told him I could do a reading challenge and commit to 15 minutes a day, though that would be a stretch (subtext: he should be grateful for my generous offer). But Jeff isn’t one for timid goals, so he recommended an hour a day. And, being the great negotiator I am, we compromised on an hour a day for our challenge.
How It Started and How It’s Going
At first, reading for an hour a day was tough. Focus is not my strong suit. With a light dose of undiagnosed ADHD, lots of distractions, poor discipline, and already stretched time, I dove in anyway. Getting through an hour each day was brutal, but I did it (while watching the clock).
Most great habits start this way, I suppose. Brutal at first, then easier over time, and eventually enjoyable. And that’s what happened. At first, I just got through it by sheer will, but eventually that turned into joy.
Now I can (and prefer to) read for the full hour at one time. I love how it sets up my day. I’m a very slow reader, like, embarrassingly slow. I remember once, about ten years ago, I found a speed reading test online and took it. I was a little above average (I pushed myself). So, after I took it, I smugly asked my wife to take it to see how we compared. Let’s just say… we don’t. Like, at all. I’m average at best, and she’s superhuman or something. It’s not even close.
Slow reading, for one hour, at the start of my day has a beauty to it. I start the day slowly, wading into it like cool water, and acclimating over time until I start to enjoy it. It sets the tone for my day in a way that nothing else can, and I love that. And I think, because of this habit, I have better focus, better thinking, and calmer, more intentional days overall.
Lastly, and I don’t want to sound smug, so please forgive what I’m about to say, carving out an hour a day has not been that hard. I steal the time from things that add less value to my life. Reading one hour a day leaves a little less time for TV, video games, and social media. Those are the buckets I steal the time from. And if I’m honest, I still probably have too much time available in those buckets anyway.
A Few Things I’ve Learned About Books and Reading
Over my 1,000 days of reading, I’ve read a lot of different types of books. The two types and authors I’ve enjoyed the most might surprise you. I’ve loved reading about Stoic philosophy from Ryan Holiday (and just finished his latest book, which I recommend), and I’ve loved reading Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere books (about 18 full-length novels and around 4,000,000 words in total).
I’m typically not a fan of fantasy books, but I learned that the right author can make you love a genre you never thought you would. Sanderson did that for me. I’ve also never been into philosophy, but Ryan Holiday’s approach to the material captured me, and I’m a better person for having studied it.
Reading is a practice in empathy. It allows you to see through the eyes of another person, to feel what they feel, think how they think, and glimpse reality through the lens of someone else’s perspective. This is more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. It expanded my perspective and helped me see the world in new ways, making me a better human.
Reading is also an exercise in enjoying the now. So often in my reading, I’m looking for the plot to advance while missing the beautiful moment the author has created on this very page. I’m learning to enjoy the prose, and the moment, as well as the overall plot.
And lastly, reading, and life, is about attention. A good book, and the person sitting next to you, require your full attention to be engaging. Half attention is the same as no attention. You know the feeling of having read an entire page and then realizing you have no idea what it said? That’s the worst. Attention is precious, more precious than we realize, and reading (and people) require all of it.
What I Would Tell Myself on Day One
An hour of reading per day is doable. I work 40–55 hours a week. I have five kids. I have hobbies, game with friends (Fortnite and VR games—yes, I’m a nerd), do things with my family, sleep 7–8 hours per night, work out (a little, also in VR), etc. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I’m not super disciplined (believe me, I wish I was); I’m just a guy that committed to reading and then did it.
Abandon books quickly. Life is too short to read even mediocre books. If I’m reading a book and I find myself wondering if I should abandon it, I should, and do. By the time the thought has materialized, the book is already disappointing me, and it’s time to move on. There is no shame in abandoning books. It just makes more room for the great ones.
Find and read great books. There are so many books to choose from, and I’m noticing that most of the popular books are just that—popular, not good. I’ve started looking for older books to read. Books that are time-tested and still hold up. If I could go back, I would add more of the classics to my list and fewer of the self-help gurus that frequent the podcast circuit and whose books I can summarize in one to three sentences (or one to three words). Find books that are thoughtful, beautifully written, and captivating. They’re out there, you just have to look (or ask).
The Bigger Lesson and Final Thoughts
For me, the biggest lesson is how reading shapes my character. It has made me a better husband and dad. It’s made me a better entrepreneur and leader. It’s made me a better thinker and doer. It’s made me a better human. And that’s the point.
The practice of reading for one hour per day has also shaped my life. It’s not easy, that’s part of its value. It shapes every day, consistently calling me to quiet focus. It shows me there are more practices for me to embrace, more for me to do, and new adventures that await.
If, by some miracle, you’ve made it this far in my ramblings, let me say this to you: If you are interested in doing a challenge like this, you can do it. All it takes is the commitment to start, a place to sit, and a good book.
If you’re wavering on whether or not you should try a challenge like this, do it. There is no downside, only the opportunity for growth. And what could be better than that?
Start today. Start small. But start. A reading practice is a life-changing thing. You won’t regret it.