diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/favorite.py b/bookwyrm/models/favorite.py
index 9ab300b3..0f7e2d98 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/favorite.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/favorite.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """ like/fav/star a status """
 from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import models
-from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
 from .activitypub_mixin import ActivityMixin
@@ -29,8 +28,7 @@ class Favorite(ActivityMixin, BookWyrmModel):
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """update user active time"""
-        self.user.last_active_date = timezone.now()
-        self.user.save(broadcast=False, update_fields=["last_active_date"])
+        self.user.update_active_date()
         super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
         if self.status.user.local and self.status.user != self.user:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/readthrough.py b/bookwyrm/models/readthrough.py
index 343d3c11..e1090f41 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/readthrough.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/readthrough.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 from django.core import validators
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.models import F, Q
-from django.utils import timezone
 
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
 
@@ -30,8 +29,7 @@ class ReadThrough(BookWyrmModel):
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """update user active time"""
-        self.user.last_active_date = timezone.now()
-        self.user.save(broadcast=False, update_fields=["last_active_date"])
+        self.user.update_active_date()
         super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def create_update(self):
@@ -65,6 +63,5 @@ class ProgressUpdate(BookWyrmModel):
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """update user active time"""
-        self.user.last_active_date = timezone.now()
-        self.user.save(broadcast=False, update_fields=["last_active_date"])
+        self.user.update_active_date()
         super().save(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/user.py b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
index ad43270c..637baa6e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
@@ -195,6 +195,11 @@ class User(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, AbstractUser):
             queryset = queryset.exclude(blocks=viewer)
         return queryset
 
+    def update_active_date(self):
+        """this user is here! they are doing things!"""
+        self.last_active_date = timezone.now()
+        self.save(broadcast=False, update_fields=["last_active_date"])
+
     def to_outbox(self, filter_type=None, **kwargs):
         """an ordered collection of statuses"""
         if filter_type:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/login.py b/bookwyrm/views/login.py
index 6c40e4ce..e96d421a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/login.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/login.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from django.contrib.auth import authenticate, login, logout
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
 from django.shortcuts import redirect
 from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
-from django.utils import timezone
 from django.utils.decorators import method_decorator
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 from django.views import View
@@ -54,8 +53,7 @@ class Login(View):
         if user is not None:
             # successful login
             login(request, user)
-            user.last_active_date = timezone.now()
-            user.save(broadcast=False, update_fields=["last_active_date"])
+            user.update_active_date()
             if request.POST.get("first_login"):
                 return redirect("get-started-profile")
             return redirect(request.GET.get("next", "/"))