Do you ever have the urge to pack up some clothing and a few books so you can run away for the weekend? Head out to the woods or near a beach?

I so often find myself wishing for a vacation dedicated to reading. Alas, I can’t always afford to set out to an a-frame cabin on the Oregon coast with a stack of books in tow. Having an at home reading retreat can be an inexpensive and fun way to change up a weekend at home.

Due to the recent winter weather and being snowed in, I dedicated this past weekend to a reading retreat. I ended up reading a total of 717 pages, which meant I finished two books. And after being in a reading slump for a few weeks, I consider that a major success!

Here’s how I set myself up for a successful at home reading weekend:

scheduling

A reading retreat can feel a bit more special by simply scheduling a specific day for the retreat. Instead of deciding that you’re going to read today, plan it out a few days in advance to build some excitement.

You can even schedule even more granularly, and look at what you want to be doing each hour. My partner made a rough schedule for each day, and it looked like this:

• 8:00am – A fun breakfast & coffee
• 8:30am to 12:00pm – Read to your heart’s content
• 12:00pm – Lunch break
• 12:30pm to 1:30pm – Board games
• 1:30pm to 5:00pm – READ READ READ
• 5:00pm – Dinner time
• 6:00pm to End of Night – More reading

Breaking up the day with board games and fun meals helped us stay more focused while reading. Plus, it was nice to step away from the books and take time to discuss the material we were reading.

pick out fun snacks

Prior to a reading retreat, my partner and I take a trip to Trader Joe’s and pick out some snacks. Our rule is for each of us to pick one frozen item, one sweet item, and one savory item. We also love cheese, so we got materials to make a charcuterie board. We save these snacks for the reading retreat and only break them out then.

Saving new snacks you’ve never tried before can help build more anticipation for the reading retreat. Have fun with it!

meal planning

In addition to planning out what snacks will be consumed, we also plan meals to make over the weekend. We typically pick out breakfasts and dinners to cook up. In the past we’ve done french toasts, soups, and other cozy meals. This time, we felt pretty lazy and ended up heating up a Kringle from Trader Joe’s, and made a box pizza.

Cooking something that takes time, like soup, can help break up the day. Being active in the kitchen gives you time to think and talk about your books, and generate excitement for the rest of the day. Or, you can choose to make something a bit more simple so you can keep plugging along with your reading.

choose books you plan to read

Be specific about the books you plan to read. I know I have a long TBR of books I intend to read someday. It’s very easy for me to get lost in my bookshelves, stunned and unsure of what to read next.

I like to pick out books I am excited to read, and sometimes even new books before a reading retreat. A quick trip to Barnes & Noble can make the event much more exciting.

Recently, I’ve been loving my library’s new book selection. I picked out a stack of books to check out and read over the retreat. I feel much better when I have to DNF a book or if I don’t like the book when my consequence is simply returning it to the library, and not a hole in my wallet.

And don’t be afraid to DNF books during your reading retreat! You’ll have a much easier time if you’re reading books you enjoy.

designate cozy spots

Having a few different locations to read in throughout the day can help break the reading day and boost focus. We had a couple of blankets strewn around the house; on the couch, in office chairs, and in the bedroom. We also moved some furniture around to create a second “couch” using two armchairs.

I know my partner and I can’t read in the same room without distracting each other (we can’t help but talk about our books!). Having multiple reading locations really helps minimize distractions if you’re reading with others!

digital detoxing

A reading retreat is a great time to remove yourself from screens. I like to turn my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and leave it in a separate room. It feels so good to disconnect from social media and other worries. I’m so attached to my phone these days, and I am easily distracted by apps like TikTok and Threads.

We are also sometimes intentional about putting down video games or TV shows, depending on the circumstances. Decide what electronics will work best for you during this time!

lastly, read!

Not much else to this step. All you have to do now is read!

Having an at home reading retreat is a simple way to make reading at home a bit more fun. It can be inexpensive, and is a great way to get closer to your yearly reading goal. I hope this advice helps you plan your next reading session!

And a cozy weekend reading retreat vlog will be posted to my YouTube channel. Check it out for more inspiration!