Can You Actually Read 800 Pages a Day and Not Be Mindless on Your Phone?

It's time to put down the phone and start living a more balanced life. If you read about 800 pages of online stories a day, it implies that you might be neglecting other areas of your life. While excessive screen time can certainly be a concern, it might be more about the perception of how you are spending your time rather than the actual activity itself.

Perhaps it isn't the activity on your phone that is the problem, but rather the belief that you are spending too much time browsing and neglecting other aspects of your life. Isolating yourself and not participating in family or social interactions is not healthy or productive.

TheReality of Reading 800 Pages a Day

Lets break down your reading 800 pages a day into perspective. The average novel page contains around 250-300 words. For simplicity, let's use 250 words. The average adult reading speed is 200-300 words per minute. Reading and understanding might take longer, considering internalization and pauses for thought. So, generously, let's say you can read and understand comfortably at a rate of 1 page per minute. Without any breaks, this would take over 13 hours to read 800 pages.

Even if you were exaggerating, it's still concerning to spend this much time on one activity. The average teenager needs 8-10 hours of sleep per night. If you are truly reading 800 pages a day, you are leaving little time for other activities, including sleep. As a parent, I would be very concerned if my child was doing anything for more than 13 hours a day. Neglecting every other area of life for one hobby is not healthy.

Alternative Options for Persuading Your Parents

If you are still dealing with your parents' concerns and want to address them constructively:

Kindle Paperwhite: If you truly are reading, get a Kindle Paperwhite. This can be a tangible proof that you are engaged in genuine reading activity. Your parents will be able to tell the difference between scrolling through social media and actually reading a book. Share Your Love: Engage your family in your reading passion. Write reviews on Goodreads and share them with your family. Start a blog about your reading experiences. Create video book trailers to post online. Start a book exchange program at your school. Raise money for your school or library. Volunteer at your local library events or help out with book clubs. Discuss Your Phone Time: If your reading is actually social media use, you need to differentiate between true reading and browsing. All reading is beneficial, but social media involves very short texts with minimal cognitive engagement. Work out guidelines and rules for your phone time with your parents.

By involving your family and demonstrating that you have a genuine interest in books, you can help them understand the value of your hobby.

Good luck and keep reading!