How I read a book in just four days.
Reading is one of the few things I enjoy doing, and I recently set a new challenge for myself. When I started reading in 2020, my goal was to be able to finish a book. It didn't matter whether it took 6 months or the whole year; it meant a lot to get to December 31st and think, “I finished a book.”
In this blog, I’ll share some of my experiences and tips on how I managed to finish a book in four days.
If you have ever done anything, you will know that there will always be someone who is better than you and someone who you are ahead of. There are people who have been running for years and can finish 5 km in under 20 minutes, and there are others like me who can do 5 km in 40 minutes (proud runner here). As you read this blog, resist the urge to compare yourself to others and embrace the opportunity for personal growth. It took me 4 years to get here; it might be longer or shorter for you. To some, 4 days might be too long to finish a book, but this is a big win for me.
Here’s what I did to finish the book in 4 days.
1.Pre Decide: Decide on your challenge and commit to not letting yourself down. If I were going to do this one thing I say matters, I would be the last person who stood in my way. We are often so strict about making sure we don't ruin our reputation with others but with ourselves. I decided upfront that I would push, and in 4 days, the book would be done.
2.Choose the right book: There is a specific area of my life that I have dedicated my time to improving this year; that is the reason I chose the book. For me, reading is not just a hobby; it is an opportunity to learn from others. If someone has already written about “how to run your first marathon” and my goal is to run one, I'm going to listen to that person. If the book is not going to help you move your life forward and towards a goal, you will likely get bored along the way.
3.Scheduling time to read: What gets scheduled gets done! After my quiet time, I grabbed my book. Throughout the day, I had the book with me. In every room, if I wasn't sure what to do, I read. 1 hour before bed, I read. This helped me to prioritize reading over other activities. If I didn't need to do something, I immediately excused myself from it, and I read. I uninstalled WhatsApp and all other apps that often distract me; it saved me a lot of time.
4.Do what the book says: I try not to fall into the trap of consuming too much information and not applying. When you take time out at the end of each chapter to do what the chapter requires, it encourages you to learn more. James 1:22-24 (MSG) says, “Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are or what they look like.” The books are there to help us reflect on and change certain things in our lives. After all the reading, we have to take action.
Finishing a book in four days was an exhilarating challenge that I enjoyed thoroughly. By choosing the right book, allocating time to read, and using effective techniques, I was able to immerse myself much sooner than I expected. I encourage other readers out there to try this challenge with a book that excites them. It can be in 30 days or 2 months; start with what works for you. Happy reading!