November Readathon CHALLENGE

Read at least 20 pages per day for all 30 days of November.

Study RESULTS

The study involved participants engaging in November Readathon October Challenge for 30 days. Data was self-reported, using a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree) across various health and psychological metrics. The analysis includes both quantitative data and qualitative based on responses from 406 participants. Since the goal of the study is to measure the impact of doing a certain activity for a month quantitative data is presented for participants with high adherence rates (90%+ challenge completion).

Physical Health Impact
Based on data from participants who completed 90%+ of the Challenge
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Neutral
Somewhat Agree
Agree
Strongly Agree
Physical Health Improvement
I feel my overall physical health has improved as a result of doing this challenge.
avg: 4.5
Energy Levels
I feel I have more energy throughout the day.
avg: 4.4
Fitness Improvement
My overall physical fitness level has improved as a result of doing this challenge.
avg: 3.7
Endurance Improvement
My physical endurance has improved because of this challenge.
avg: 3.7
Flexibility Improvement
My flexibility or mobility has increased.
avg: 3.6
Pain Reduction
I have experienced less physical pain or discomfort.
avg: 3.7
Strength Improvement
I feel physically stronger as a result of doing this challenge.
avg: 3.6
Sleep Improvement
My sleep quality has improved.
avg: 4.8
Mental Health Impact
Based on data from participants who completed 90%+ of the Challenge
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Neutral
Somewhat Agree
Agree
Strongly Agree
Mood Improvement
I have experienced a more positive mood during this challenge.
avg: 5.6
Calm and Relaxation
I feel a greater sense of calm and relaxation during this challenge.
avg: 5.7
Concentration Improvement
My concentration or focus has improved.
avg: 5.4
Stress Reduction
I have noticed a reduction in feelings of stress or anxiety during this challenge
avg: 5.3
Difficulty
Based on data from all participants
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Neutral
Somewhat Agree
Agree
Strongly Agree
Challenge Enjoyment
The challenge was fun for me to do.
avg: 6.3
Difficulty as Daily Routine
It would be hard to make this challenge a part of my daily routine
avg: 2.5
Resource Consumption
The challenge was time & resource consuming.
avg: 3.2
Adverse events
I had adverse events that I directly link to doing this activity (sickness, injury etc).
avg: 2.3
Plan to Continue
I plan to continue this practice beyond the challenge.
avg: 6.2

Quantitative Findings

Analysis performed on high-adherence participants (90%–100% completion rate).

Key Trends & Scores (Likert Scale 1-7)

The strongest outcomes of this challenge were psychological and behavioral rather than physical.

- Enjoyment & Habit Formation (Highest Scores): The most universally agreed-upon outcomes were that the challenge was fun (Mean: 6.43/7) and that participants plan to continue the practice (Mean: 6.38/7). This indicates high sustainability for the intervention.

- Mental Health Benefits: Participants reported strong positive effects on their mental state. Significant improvements were noted in Calmness (5.70), Mood (5.63), and Concentration (5.43).

- Stress Reduction: There was substantial agreement that the challenge reduced feelings of stress and anxiety (Mean: 5.31).

- Ease of Integration: Participants largely disagreed with the statement that the challenge was hard to fit into their routine (Mean: 2.28), suggesting that finding time to read is more accessible than perceived prior to the challenge.

Strongest Correlations

A correlation analysis reveals a distinct "Mental Wellbeing Cluster":

- Mood & Calm (r=0.75): There is a very strong link between positive mood and a sense of calm; as one improved, so did the other.

- Stress & Concentration (r=0.66): Reductions in stress were strongly linked to improved ability to focus.

- Habit & Difficulty (r=-0.52): A moderate negative correlation confirms that those who found the challenge easier to integrate into their day were significantly more likely to plan on continuing the habit.

Qualitative Findings

Analysis performed on all participants, including open-ended responses.

Beneficial Aspects

Participants frequently cited the challenge as a tool for reclaiming their time and attention. Three dominant themes emerged:

- Digital Detox: A recurring theme was the replacement of "doom-scrolling" or phone time with reading. Participants valued breaking the addiction to screens, noting, "Less phone time, more reading" as a primary benefit.

- Structure & Ritual: Many found the routine itself more beneficial than the specific books read. Terms like "sacred ritual," "reset me time," and "bedtime routine" appeared often. It served as a grounding anchor in their day.

- Cognitive "Reset": Users reported that the act of deliberate reading helped retrain their focus. One participant noted, "The most beneficial aspect is reading the pages deliberately and gaining my focus even when reading doesn't feel good."

Extraordinary Experiences

While many participants reported "None" (implying the benefits were subtle and steady rather than shocking), several interesting discoveries were shared:

- Rediscovery of Self: Several users reported "rekindling" a lost love for reading, realizing they were capable of consuming far more books (e.g., 4+ in a month) than they thought possible.

- Knowledge Acquisition: Specific mentions of learning about complex topics (e.g., "how nuclear plants work") highlighted the educational value.

- Social Connection: A few participants turned the solitary activity into a communal one, reading with family members, which enhanced the enjoyment.

Summary and Conclusions

Executive Summary

The "November Readathon" challenge was highly successful in promoting mental well-being and habit formation. Participants who adhered to the daily reading goals reported significant improvements in enjoyment, mood, and calmness, with a strong intention to continue the practice. While physical health benefits were less pronounced—as expected for a sedentary activity—the data reveals a robust "mental wellness cluster," where reading consistently correlated with reduced stress and improved concentration. Qualitatively, participants celebrated the challenge as a successful mechanism for "digital detox," replacing screen time with a "sacred" daily ritual.

Conclusion

The data suggests that the November Readathon acts less as a physical challenge and more as a mental health intervention. It effectively displaces high-stress habits (screen usage) with a low-stress, high-focus activity. The high "Habit" score suggests this challenge is an effective "gateway" intervention that successfully converts sporadic readers into daily practitioners.

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