How many books do you have piled up on your bedside table, just waiting to be read? Maybe you’ve got some books a friend recommended months ago or a few leadership books you swore you’d start on your last vacation. You have the right intentions, but somehow life (and scrolling on social media) always seems to get in the way.
The irony is that most of us genuinely want to read more. We’ve heard all the amazing benefits of reading (check out a few of them, here!), yet finding the time and building the habit feels surprisingly difficult.
What if we told you that being a reader doesn’t require hours of free time? By making a few little adjustments, reading will become a natural part of your routine … and one of the most rewarding habits you build!
Give yourself a goal (but keep it small).
No need to set a crazy ambitious reading goal (i.e., reading a book every week, 100 books a year). While these goals sound impressive, they’re often difficult to maintain and, honestly, even take away from the actual joy of reading. Start super small.
- Read 10 pages per day.
- Set aside 15 minutes to read before bed.
- Read one chapter during your lunch break.
Don’t worry about finishing as many books as you can, as quickly as possible. The real goal is to make reading a regular part of your routine and have fun doing it.
It's ok to put a book down!
One of the biggest mistakes with reading? Forcing yourself to finish a book you’re genuinely not enjoying. There are way too many good books out there to read something that feels like homework.
If a book isn’t grabbing your attention after making a reasonable effort, move on. Reading should never be just another task on your to-do list; it should be something you look forward to!
Make it easy.
Make reading convenient for yourself. If your book is tucked away on a shelf while your phone is always glued to your hand, guess which one you’re most likely to spend the most time on?
Here are a few ways to make reading more accessible:
- Keep a book on your nightstand.
- Carry a book in your bag.
- Download an e-book app.
- Listen to audiobooks during your commute, walks, or workouts.
The easier it is to read, the more likely you are to do it!
Habit stack.
By now, most of us have heard of habit stacking, right? This is where you attach a new habit to an existing one (read up on the benefits, here). Try attaching reading time to something you already do every day.
For example, read while drinking your morning coffee or right before you go to sleep each night. Attach it to something you already do consistently, and it starts to feel automatic.
Keep a running list of books.
Have you ever finished a really good book and then spent weeks trying to figure out what to read next? Avoid that gap by keeping a list of books that interest you. Goodreads® is a great spot for this, as well as keeping track of books you’ve read!
Ask friends for recommendations or save titles that you see online. That way, when you finish one book, you’ve already got the next one waiting!
One page is better than nothing.
Some days, you’ll read an entire chapter, other days, you may only manage to get in a few pages before bed. Both count!
You build a reading habit by remaining consistent. A few pages read here and there may not feel like a ton, but those few pages add up to books, and those books add up to knowledge and growth. That’s the real goal.