Nov 26, 2025

These days I feel like my brain is progressively rotting with every minute I spend doomscrolling on social media. And after seeing some success with doing 75 Booked, I figured—why not create my own challenge for 2026 to combat the brain rot?

The Anti-Brain Rot Reading Challenge is a year long reading and critical engagement challenge to help combat brain rot and prevent endless doomscrolling. It focuses on consistency, consuming diverse media with intention, and forming your own opinions. The challenge is designed to be scalable to your commitment level with “advanced mode” for some rules and I will be helping you build your TBRs and figure out your personal curriculums with helpful content throughout the next few months.

I will of course also be vlogging my progress throughout the year and if you stumble upon this later in 2026, don’t fear, you can always join in on the first and third set of rules at any time of the year.

the rules!

these are split into 3 categories focused on creating consistency in your reading habits, being mindful of what media you consume, and ensuring you set aside effort to critically engage with what you consume.

Consistency

• RULE #1: read for at least one 45 min session per day where you annotate what you read

  • the idea is to build a consistent habit of reading while also engaging fully with what you read for 45 mins of the day

  • “annotating” could mean using a pencil on a physical book, or writing notes in a journal while reading a library book, or highlighting passages while you read an eBook

  • ADVANCED MODE: read for an additional 45 mins in whatever format (ebook, audiobook, physical) you choose

• RULE #2: read at least 1 article/essay per month on any topic that interests you

  • this could be something from a reputable media outlet, or a written post from an individual’s blog

  • ADVANCED MODE: change frequency to 1 article/essay per WEEK.

• RULE #3: read at least 1 book by a BIPOC author for every book you read by a white author

  • ADVANCED MODE: choose a higher percentage of books by BIPOC authors to read

Mindful Consumption

• IMPORTANT: you can fulfill multiple requirements with the same book!

• ADVANCED MODE: find a different book for each requirement (i.e. 24 different books!)

• RULE #4: read at least 1 book from the following 10 genres

  • literary fiction

  • historical fiction

  • fantasy

  • science fiction

  • horror

  • romance

  • classics

  • history/politics

  • science

  • memoir/biography

• RULE #5: read at least 1 book from the following 4 formats

  • a play

  • a graphic novel

  • an anthology/short story collection

  • a translated book

• RULE #6: read from at least 1 book from each of the following 10 categories

  • a book with a Queer/LGBTQIAP+ main character

  • a book with Disability Rep

  • a book by an author NOT from North America

  • a book by a Black author who is ALIVE

  • a book by an Indigenous / Native American author

  • a book by a SWANA author

  • a book by a Latinx author

  • a book by an East Asian author who is not Chinese, Japanese, or Korean

  • a book by a South Asian author who is not Indian

Critical Engagement

• RULE #7: create your own critical media journal. write down notes or reviews on each book you read, movie/show you watch, and each article/essay you read

  • focus on distilling your thoughts before seeking other opinions and before sharing your own online

• RULE #8: create your own personal curriculum for the year or for each “semester” of the year (fall & winter + optional summer)

  • could be about anything from learning more about a specific topic, learning a new skill/language, or forming your own literary analysis

  • read 2 books for each curriculum (preferably at least 1 nonfiction, these can overlap with the other mindful consumption goals)

  • try to make use of your local library for research

• RULE #9: do a buddy read or join a book club and discuss at least 1 book with other people

To help with the challenge, my book club, the Boundless Book Club, will be reading a fiction and non-fiction book each month. You can join the book club community by following the instagram @boundless_press and participate in discussions on discord by becoming a free follower here and connecting your account.

If you’re participating in the challenge, I would love to see your TBRs and your content so make sure to tag me @thisstoryaintover on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok and use the following hashtags: #AntiBrainRotChallenge #AntiBrainRotReadingChallenge #2026AntiBrainRotReadingChallenge #2026AntiBrainRotChallenge