The Reading Problem Most People Have
Many people want to read more books. They buy them with good intentions, start them with enthusiasm, and then gradually lose momentum somewhere around chapter three — where the book lives on a nightstand for months, quietly judging them. Sound familiar?
The challenge isn't usually motivation. It's structure, environment, and the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves. This guide offers practical, honest strategies for reading more — without turning it into another item on an already crowded to-do list.
Reframe What "Reading More" Actually Means
Before changing any behaviour, it helps to get specific. "Read more" is vague. More useful targets might be:
- Finish one book per month
- Read for 20 minutes before bed every night
- Read during my commute instead of scrolling
Clarity about what you're actually aiming for makes it far easier to build the habit — and to recognise when you're succeeding.
Find Your Reading Windows
Most people assume they don't have time to read, but reading windows are often hiding in plain sight:
- Morning: Before checking your phone, even 15 minutes with a book sets a very different tone for the day
- Commuting: Public transport is ideal; for drivers, audiobooks count
- Lunch: A book instead of your phone during lunch makes the break feel genuinely restorative
- Pre-sleep: The classic reading window — and it has the bonus of reducing screen exposure before bed
- Waiting time: Appointments, queues, and pauses throughout the day add up surprisingly quickly
Make Your Environment Work For You
Your reading habit will be as convenient as you make it. Practical environment adjustments include:
- Keep a book (physical or e-reader) somewhere visible and easily accessible
- Put your phone in another room during designated reading time
- Keep a book in your bag so you always have it available
- Use a single, well-organised reading app if you prefer digital — avoid switching between too many platforms
Give Yourself Permission to Quit Bad Books
One of the biggest reading killers is the sunk-cost fallacy applied to books. Many people slog through books they're not enjoying because they've already started them — and the experience poisons their reading habit as a whole. It is always acceptable to stop reading a book that isn't working for you. Life is short and the reading list is long.
A useful test: if you haven't felt any urge to pick it up for two weeks, it's probably not the right book for you right now. Set it aside without guilt. You can always return to it later.
Read Multiple Books at Once (Or Don't)
Some readers thrive with several books on the go — a non-fiction title for mornings, a novel for evenings. Others find this fragmenting and prefer to finish one before starting another. Neither approach is objectively correct; the best method is the one that keeps you reading consistently.
Audiobooks Are Real Reading
If you're a commuter, frequent exerciser, or someone who does a lot of manual tasks, audiobooks are an excellent way to absorb books you might not otherwise have time for. The experience is different from reading text, but the ideas and stories still enter your mind and stay there. Don't dismiss them as somehow less legitimate.
Track Lightly, Celebrate Genuinely
Some readers find that tracking their books — even in a simple list or a notebook — adds a satisfying sense of progress. Others find it turns reading into a chore. Try it and see how it feels. What matters most is that reading remains something you do because you enjoy it and find it valuable — not another metric to optimise.