Reading a good novel is an entertaining, exciting, and educational experience. Unfortunately, many of us no longer have time devoted to reading. Do not worry! A whole novel can be read in one day if you know how.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing to Read
Step 1. Choose a book that you will enjoy
The choice of book has a lot to do with your motivation to complete it. If you don't have the perfect book or want to find one that you'll really enjoy, make a list of your favorite hobbies, subjects, and genres. Use the list as a guide when choosing a book to read.
- Gather suggestions from friends and family. You can also visit a public library and talk to a trusted librarian.
- Whatever book you choose, make sure it fits your taste and reading ability. You have to be realistic. Don't choose books that are difficult to follow or that you find boring.
- If you can't choose the book, find a way to get you interested in the assigned book. Try to connect with the character or setting. Let yourself be transported to the time and place described in the book. Imagine what you would do if you were the main character.
Step 2. Consider the length of the novel
If your goal is simply to read any novel in a day, a 200–300 page bestselling novel will be easier to read than War and Peace. Thinner books generally can be read in less time than thick books.
As you become a faster, more focused reader, you can start reading thicker, more challenging novels in one day
Step 3. Find the perfect reading area
The location of reading sometimes has a big effect on reading ability. Choose a quiet and comfortable place without distractions. Turn off tablets and phones. Avoid crowded, busy, or noisy places.
- Don't read in a place that will relax you too much. Beds, hammocks, and the like are inadequate reading spaces as you are likely to fall asleep. Reading areas should be laid out to facilitate concentration on the novel.
- Tell your family or housemates that you are trying to focus on reading. Ask them not to interrupt or interrupt you.
Step 4. Create the atmosphere
There are several ways to create the ideal atmosphere for reading. You can play soft music in the background for more relaxation. If necessary, use earplugs or a white noise machine to drown out noisy neighbors or housemates. Do whatever makes you comfortable and enjoy reading to the fullest.
- No matter where you are, maintain an upright posture with both feet on the floor. This ensures adequate blood flow as well as proper breathing.
- Make sure your reading area is well lit to avoid eye strain.
Step 5. Prepare snacks and water
Snacking on a snack will help reduce the need to put the book aside to eat when you're hungry. Choose a nutritious snack like fruit or a carrot-which you can eat with one hand-and keep it within reach. You also need a glass of water after a snack and to avoid dehydration.
Junk food is not a good choice as a reading snack. Chips, soda, and candy don't contain the nutrients you need to keep your brain fresh and alert. These foods also make you want to snack more and still feel hungry
Step 6. Set goals for yourself
Rest only after reaching the set goals. You can set goals based on time or number of pages. For example, you might decide to read 100 pages before taking a break. Or, you decide to read 30 minutes, then take a 5-10 minute break before reading again.
Step 7. Make a commitment to read the book to the end
Before turning to the first page, tell yourself that you can and will read it in one day. Set aside a specific time to read, and do it.
Sharing these intentions with others will make you more likely to comply. Share your reading goals with a friend or family member
Part 2 of 2: Reading Books
Step 1. Avoid regression
Regression is reading again the part of the novel that has been read. You can avoid regression by using trackers and logs.
- A tracker (sometimes called a pacer) will help you follow lines of text. For example, following lines of text with a pen or finger while reading can help maintain your position in the novel.
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Another way to avoid regression is to take notes. Keeping track of your reactions to events or characters in the novel will help you stay focused. If you have questions about what you read, write them down too. The atmosphere of the novel or the author's style is also noteworthy.
- Read entire paragraphs or pages before taking notes to limit distractions.
- You can take notes on the margins of a separate notebook or pad.
Step 2. Practice speed reading
Speed reading is absorbing more contextual information in a shorter period of time. There are a few tricks for speed reading:
- Look at more than one word at a time. The eye can be trained to absorb a whole line or paragraph as well as a single word.
- Don't stop looking for the meaning of unfamiliar words. Most likely the word has only a small effect on the overall meaning of the text. Try using context to understand the meaning of a word you don't know.
- Visualize everything in detail. The more clearly you can see the characters, locations, and events in the novel, the easier it will be to remember them. This is because you will be reading with the part of the brain that manages visual information as well as the part that processes linguistic information.
Step 3. Take the novel with you wherever you go
You don't have to stop reading if you have to leave the reading area for various reasons. You can listen to audiobooks or read e-books on the train, plane, or bus.
- Some people prefer the physical form of a book, but if you have an e-book reader, you can use it to read more easily while on the road. Take your e-book with you when you have to go. E-books don't take up a lot of space in a backpack or bag like regular books.
- Listen to audiobooks. Bring your audio novel edition with you when you have to leave the reading area. Listening to a novel while driving or walking is a great way to keep progressing when you can't sit down for quality reading time.
- Don't try to replace the actual book with an audiobook. “Reading” an audiobook to completion takes significantly longer than reading a novel in text form.
Step 4. Take a break
After enough time has passed, give yourself a short break. Refresh yourself and splash water on your face. Refill water and snacks. Refresh your mind for the next round of reading focus.
- The amount of reading time before a break varies from person to person. Experienced readers may want to read an hour or so before a break, while slower readers may want to take a 30-minute break.
- Since you want to finish a novel in just one day, the longer you read without a break, the better.
- If after a while you just stare blankly at the page, repeat the same passage of text, or are generally distracted, put your novel down and take a break. Refresh yourself by walking around the house for a few minutes or grab a snack.
Step 5. Enjoy
Try to immerse yourself in the action and forget where you are at the moment. This can make you read more and speed up the process. Concentrate on the story and enjoy what you read.
When you're done, reflect on what you've read and share the experience with friends
Tips
- Try to always read faster and more focused.
- Don't neglect work and other responsibilities during the day.
- If you can't finish the book, don't worry. Think of it as a learning experience and try to find a way to read faster next time.
- Focus on what you read.
Warning
- If you feel dizzy, have an intense headache, or experience other discomfort, stop reading and take a break. Don't push yourself too hard.
- If you no longer enjoy it, you may need to stop. Reading should be fun.
- If you feel your eyes are starting to close, go to sleep. Maybe you're tired. Never force yourself to keep going.
- Don't confuse speed reading (reading anything quickly) with skimming (reading only a selected part of the text). You may miss important details when skimming a novel, and then get confused.
- Novels should be enjoyed. Try not to read a novel marathon in one day unless it's absolutely crucial for an exam or assignment.
