Why I love Mondays

hello everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. I turned 26, went horseback riding, and ran 8 miles!

Controversially, I love Mondays. I love structure, so sitting down at my desk after a fluid weekend gives me this resounding sense of purpose. I also really believe in Hot Literati and the work we're doing here, so I'm always happy to work on it.

Read 20 pages before your phone

I like reading first thing in the morning because it's a calm way to walk your mind into the day as opposed to scrolling through news, other people's life updates, and more.

This is also backed up by a ton of research on the benefits of reading.

What I do with my phone now

I used to put my phone in another room when I wanted to sit down and read. It would work for a while, but ultimately, I'd be thinking about who texted me or I'd want to put a nice quote from the book on my story.

Now when I sit down to read, I actually look for my phone on purpose. I open Hot Literati, start a reading session, and keep it next to me to mark interesting sections and annotations. When I finish, I log my pages and see how far I am in the book.

It's really enriched my reading experience and given me that giddy feeling when picking up a book that I used to have as a child.

This month’s book club

Book club voting closes tonight at midnight ET. Henry and June by Anaïs Nin is in the lead. Members nominate, members vote, and we read the winner together this month. We finish with a live finale on October 28.

Nin's writing is so decadent and rich. I think it's perfect for this time of the year.

Try this week

Read 20 pages before you open anything else, every morning through Friday. Use Hot Literati to time your sessions, to mark your favorite quotes, and to discuss the book with other readers.

Founding memberships close on October 31. Members who join before then keep their price for as long as they stay. That includes the book club, the in app writing space, the Academy and your own World.

xo hailo

P.S. What’s the first thing you reach for in the morning? Tell me in the chat room!