Hour 21: Non-Reading Activities

[Jamie]

We focus a lot on the reading part of these events, but how are you doing with the self-care parts? Are you staying hydrated enough? Are you taking breaks to stretch and move around each hour? These last few hours are where we really feel it if we've been sitting too long or not eating or drinking enough.
Do you have any self-care habits you find are really helpful for readathons like this one? Any favorite exercises?
If you need to, now is a great time to drink a glass of water and stretch for 5 minutes, by the way.

[Penny]

Non-reading? I've had to make dinner (when really I wanted to order take out). We're about to eat a late dinner here in New Zealand before I get some hard-core last hours reading done :D

[Jamie]

Penny wrote: "Non-reading? I've had to make dinner (when really I wanted to order take out). We're about to eat a late dinner here in New Zealand before I get some hard-core last hours reading done :D"

I had grand ideas about cooking actual dinner while listening to audiobooks right about now, but it is 2am here, and boxed pastries with coffee sounds like about as much 'cooking' as I am up for right now. At least I am a natural night owl, but I always underestimate how exhausting it is at 2am after doing a readathon since 6am. Next time maybe I'll get some frozen dinners for this part. :)

[Penny]

Jamie wrote: "Penny wrote: "Non-reading? I've had to make dinner (when really I wanted to order take out). We're about to eat a late dinner here in New Zealand before I get some hard-core last hours reading done..."
Good plan re: frozen dinners :D

[Christy]

Beach walks for me (while the sun was up in any case) and, yes, drinking plenty of water.

[Lena]

Christy wrote: "Beach walks for me (while the sun was up in any case) and, yes, drinking plenty of water."

I am completely envious of this! This would be my dream come true!

[Lena]

I have a young teen who is experiencing her first "crush" on a boy who is also showing her some attention. So a lot of my day was spent with "mom, guess what he did/said" and helping her sort through her excitement and feelings. Middle School is fun. lol

As for self-care, I tried to take small breaks to do some small house chores...mainly to get up and moving, but also so I didn't feel like I was neglecting things. Also, when I got so tired last night that my book kept falling on my face, I opted to go to bed and sleep so that today I wouldn't feel like a complete wreck. For future read-a-thons I need to work out the snack side of things. I end up eating/drinking too much junk & now my stomach feels off this morning.