The Problem Isn't Time — It's Habit
Most people who say they don't read enough aren't actually short on time. They're short on reading habit. The average person spends several hours a day on their phone; redirecting even a fraction of that attention toward a book would transform most reading lives. But knowing that doesn't make it easy. Here's how to make it stick.
1. Make Reading the Path of Least Resistance
Your environment shapes your behaviour more than your willpower does. If your phone is on the nightstand and your book is in another room, you'll pick up the phone. Fix the environment first:
- Keep a book on your bedside table — not your phone charger.
- Leave a book on the sofa, in your bag, and at your desk.
- Use a dedicated e-reader rather than a reading app on your phone (fewer distractions).
- Set your phone to charge in a different room at night.
2. Attach Reading to an Existing Habit
Habit stacking — attaching a new behaviour to an established one — is one of the most reliable ways to build consistency. Consider:
- Read for 15 minutes every morning with your coffee before checking your phone.
- Read on your commute instead of scrolling.
- Read for 20 minutes before bed instead of watching one more episode.
You don't need a big chunk of time. Fifteen consistent minutes a day adds up to roughly 10–12 books a year at an average reading pace.
3. Give Yourself Permission to Quit Bad Books
Nothing kills a reading habit faster than grinding through a book you're not enjoying out of a sense of obligation. Life is too short and there are too many great books. The "50 page rule" — giving a book 50 pages before deciding — is a useful framework. If it hasn't grabbed you by then, move on without guilt.
4. Use Audio Strategically
Audiobooks count. If you drive, exercise, cook, or do household chores, those are all potential reading hours you're currently leaving on the table. Audiobooks work especially well for:
- Non-fiction and narrative history
- Memoirs and biographies
- Any book with an excellent narrator
They work less well for dense academic texts or books with lots of charts and data — stick to print for those.
5. Set Realistic, Process-Based Goals
Goals like "read 50 books this year" can backfire — they push you toward shorter, easier books and make reading feel like a chore. Instead, try process goals:
- "I will read for 20 minutes every day."
- "I will read before I look at my phone each morning."
- "I will always have a book on the go."
These goals build the habit, and the books will follow naturally.
6. Track What You Read
Keeping a simple reading log — even just a list in a notebook — creates a sense of progress and momentum. Apps like Goodreads make this easy and also help you discover your next read. Seeing a list of books you've finished is genuinely motivating.
The Takeaway
Reading more isn't about discipline or finding hidden hours in your day. It's about making small, deliberate changes to your environment and routine. Start with one change — a book on your nightstand, 15 minutes every morning — and build from there.