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I love reading books, but sometimes I find myself in the habit of watching Booktube videos instead of actually reading. Also, the year is almost over and I haven’t completed my Goodreads goal for this month, which is 30 books this year. Considering that I’m halfway there, I’m not doing too bad. My embarrassing daily average is 7 hours and 5 minutes. If I had spent that much time during the day reading I would have probably finished my TBR list. So, this is why I decided to exchange my screen time for books. Now, follow me on this one-week journey and see if I actually succeeded in learning something from this or if I just made a fool of myself in trying.
Day 1- Thursday
Certified failed in my books. I read during the morning before going to university and it felt refreshing. After I arrived, I went to the library and read a bit more. However, my class after lunch got canceled so I decided to leave early. I got back and didn’t read anymore because I’m pretty anxious about an event that I’ll be attending tomorrow. Those were my last words because I spent around 3 hours on Hulu watching RuPaul’s drag race.
Reading time: 5h and 31m.
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Day 2- Friday
I attended an event at CNE, and while waiting for it to start I read a couple of pages and then got back home. At home, I started reading another book, in this case, an introduction to politics. After starting this challenge, I’ve felt more motivated to tackle the 30-plus books I have on my bookshelf that I still haven’t read yet.
Reading time: 2h and 43m.
Day 3- Saturday
I woke up at 7 am because my mental clock doesn’t shut down, not even during the weekend. I fell into temptation during the morning because I’m used to watching videos while I eat. After that, I did some reading and then finished some work.
Reading time: 8h and 16m
Day 4- Sunday
It took some time for me to realize the level of technology addiction I have, but now I can clearly see it. I find it difficult to not consume media while I’m eating and trying to sleep. However, I did read a bit.
Reading time: 7h and 12 m
Day 5- Monday
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I started the day on a good note. I read for about two hours during the morning. One was while having breakfast, which I found to be a bit hard to concentrate on. I read for another hour as I waited for my class to start.
Reading time: 6h and 40m
Day 6- Tuesday
No reading was done. I spent my free time with my friend. When I got back home, I did some homework. I noticed that my assignment deadlines can really affect my productivity levels. Because I spend so much time worrying about them, I end up reading for fun instead. I then feel guilty. Toxic productivity is what I call this feeling. Key takeaway: there has to be a balance between work and relaxation.
Reading time: 6h and 15m
Day 7- Wednesday
Due to hurricane Fiona, our midterms were postponed. I wouldn’t say I set myself up for failure, but it kinda feels like I did. If I read five pages today, that would be a miracle.
Reading time: 5h and 37m
Final thoughts: I found out that when I set my mind to not using my phone, I’m generally more productive with my schoolwork. I really liked this aspect of doing the challenge even though I couldn’t finish the books I’d already started, a history book about the general history of Puerto Rico and a brief introduction to politics. However, the fact that I’m in midterms throws me into a spiral of anxiety. While I feel overwhelmed, I like to do things that don’t require too much thinking like watching YouTube, Hulu, or Netflix. I felt ashamed of my screen time, but I otherwise can’t lie to myself in saying I succeeded. The learning experience of doing the challenge will be the aspect I’m the proudest of. I can acknowledge that I have an addiction, and I’m starting to figure out what kind of situation triggers itー for example, all the academic tension. Moreover, I’ll implement this challenge in my daily life.
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