How to Read More Books: Building a Sustainable Reading Habit

Why Most Reading Goals Fail

The common mistakes:

Problem 1: Unrealistic goals

❌ "I'll read 52 books this year!"

• 1 book/week = ~300 pages/week
• If you read 25 pages/day = doable
• If you currently read 0 books = setting up for failure

Better approach: Start with achievable goal (10-12 books/year = 1 per month)

Problem 2: "Should" reading

❌ Reading books you think you should read:

• Classics because they're "important"
• Bestsellers because everyone else is
• Dense nonfiction to "improve yourself"
• Books that bore you to tears

Result: Reading feels like homework, you avoid it

Fix: Read what genuinely interests you (yes, even "trashy" novels)

Problem 3: All-or-nothing thinking

❌ "If I can't read for an hour, why bother?"

• Perfectionism kills habits
• 10 minutes counts
• 5 pages counts

Reality: 15 minutes daily = 15-25 books/year

Problem 4: No system

❌ Relying on motivation:

• Motivation is fickle
• "I'll read when I feel like it" = rarely reading

Fix: Systems > motivation (environmental design, triggers, routines)

The Math: How Much Reading Time You Actually Have

Let's do the math:

Average reading speed:

• 200-250 words/minute (average adult)
• ~1 page/minute (250-word page)

Typical book lengths:

• Fiction: 80,000 words = 300-400 pages
• Nonfiction: 60,000 words = 200-300 pages

Time to finish one book:

15 minutes/day:

• 15 pages/day
• 300-page book = 20 days
• 18 books/year

30 minutes/day:

• 30 pages/day
• 300-page book = 10 days
• 36 books/year

You have the time—it's about allocation, not creation

Step 1: Find Your Reading Time (Hidden Pockets)

Where time already exists:

Morning routine (10-15 min):

✅ While drinking coffee ✅ During breakfast ✅ Before checking phone (critical!)

Commute (15-30 min):

✅ Public transit = prime reading time ✅ Audiobooks if driving (counts!) ✅ Waiting for subway/bus

Lunch break (15-20 min):

✅ Read while eating ✅ Escape midday slump ✅ Better than scrolling phone

Before bed (15-30 min):

✅ Replaces screen time (better sleep!) ✅ Wind-down ritual ✅ Most consistent time for many people

Waiting time (5-15 min):

✅ Doctor's office, DMV, appointments ✅ Always have book/Kindle/phone app ✅ Turn dead time into reading time

Replace one habit (30-60 min):

Time currently spent on:

• Social media: Average 2.5 hours/day
• TV: Average 3 hours/day
• YouTube: Average 40 min/day

Replace just 30 minutes of scrolling = 36 books/year

You're not "too busy"—you're misallocating time

Step 2: Eliminate Friction (Make Reading Easier Than Not Reading)

Environmental design matters:

Physical accessibility:

✅ Keep book everywhere:

• Nightstand (for bedtime reading)
• Coffee table (for morning reading)
• Bag/backpack (for commute)
• Bathroom (yes, really—5 min adds up)
• Car (audiobook ready)

Rule: Never be without a book

✅ Make it visible:

• Books on coffee table (not hidden in shelf)
• Kindle on desk (not in drawer)
• Phone reading app on home screen (not buried)

Out of sight = out of mind

Reduce competing distractions:

✅ Phone in another room during reading time:

• Notifications kill focus
• "Just one text" = 20-minute scroll
• Physical distance = mental space

✅ Delete social media apps (temporarily or permanently)

• Keep on desktop only
• Increases friction to scroll
• Makes reading easier choice

✅ Designated reading spot:

• Chair that's only for reading
• Good lighting
• No TV in sight
• Brain associates spot with reading

Step 3: Choose Books You'll Actually Finish

Book selection strategy:

Permission to quit:

Life-changing rule: If you're not enjoying a book by page 50-100, stop reading it.

"But I spent money on it!"

• Sunk cost fallacy
• Time is more valuable than $15
• Forcing yourself through bad books makes you hate reading

"But everyone says it's amazing!"

• Your taste ≠ their taste
• Different books for different people
• No shame in DNF (Did Not Finish)

The 50-page rule:

Give every book 50 pages (or 10% for long books). If not hooked, move on guilt-free.

Exception: Classics/challenging books may need 100 pages to click

Match book to energy level:

High energy (fresh, alert):

• Dense nonfiction
• Complex fiction
• Challenging classics
• Philosophical texts

Low energy (tired, stressed):

• Light fiction
• Thrillers, mysteries
• Graphic novels, manga
• Comfort re-reads

Don't force Dostoyevsky at 11 PM after exhausting day

Genre diversity prevents burnout:

Alternate between:

• Fiction and nonfiction
• Heavy and light
• Long and short

Reading slump cure: Switch genres entirely

Step 4: Track Without Pressure

Gamification and accountability:

Goodreads (or StoryGraph):

Benefits: ✅ Track books read (satisfying to see list grow) ✅ Set annual reading goal (but don't stress if you miss it) ✅ See friends' reading (social motivation) ✅ Discover recommendations

How to use without pressure:

• Set conservative goal (better to exceed than fail)
• Update as you finish (not mid-book obsessively)
• Don't compare to friends reading 100 books/year (quality > quantity)

Habit trackers:

Simple methods:

• ✅ Calendar X's (don't break the chain)
• ✅ Bullet journal reading log
• ✅ Habit tracking app (Habitica, Streaks)

Track: "Read 15 minutes" NOT "Read 50 pages" (time-based easier to control)

Reading journal (optional but powerful):

For deeper engagement:

• Favorite quotes
• Thoughts/reactions
• Key takeaways (nonfiction)
• What you learned
• Rating/recommendation

Benefits: Retention increases, creates record, makes reading feel meaningful

Step 5: Formats and Tools

Use all formats to your advantage:

Physical books:

Pros: ✅ Tactile satisfaction ✅ No screen eye strain ✅ Display on shelf (visual progress) ✅ No battery/tech issues

Cons: ❌ Heavy to carry ❌ Need good lighting ❌ Can't adjust font size

Best for: Home reading, leisurely weekends

E-readers (Kindle, Kobo, Nook):

Pros: ✅ Carry 1,000+ books in one device ✅ Built-in dictionary (click words instantly) ✅ Adjustable font size ✅ Backlighting (read in dark) ✅ Sync across devices (read on phone, continue on Kindle)

Cons: ❌ Upfront cost ($100-250) ❌ Less "real book" feel ❌ Battery life (though lasts weeks)

Best for: Commuters, travelers, frequent readers

Budget option: Kindle Paperwhite ($140 often on sale for $100)

Phone/tablet apps:

Apps:

• Kindle app (free)
• Apple Books (free)
• Google Play Books (free)
• Libby (library books free!)

Pros: ✅ Always have phone with you ✅ Free apps ✅ Read during any unexpected waiting

Cons: ❌ Distracting (notifications, other apps) ❌ Eye strain (backlit screen) ❌ Temptation to switch to social media

Best for: Filling small time gaps (waiting room, line, commute)

Audiobooks:

Platforms:

• Audible ($15/month = 1 credit, or pay per book)
• Libro.fm (supports local bookstores)
• Libby/OverDrive (library audiobooks FREE!)
• Spotify (growing audiobook catalog)

Pros: ✅ Multitask (drive, cook, exercise, clean) ✅ Professional narration (great for some books) ✅ Speed up playback (1.25-2x) ✅ Accessibility (vision issues, dyslexia)

Cons: ❌ Retention lower than reading (for some people) ❌ Can't easily skim or flip back ❌ Bad narrators ruin books

Best for: Commuters, people who "don't have time" (you do—during chores!)

Pro tip: Audiobooks absolutely count as reading

Step 6: Reading Strategies for Nonfiction

Get more from informational books:

You don't have to read cover-to-cover:

Permission to: ✅ Skim chapters that aren't relevant ✅ Skip to interesting parts (use table of contents) ✅ Read conclusion first (especially business books) ✅ Read 20%, get 80% of value (many nonfiction books repeat points)

Not cheating—it's strategic reading

Active reading techniques:

Highlight/underline key points:

• Physical books: pencil, highlighter
• E-readers: built-in highlighting
• Creates reference for later

Margin notes:

• Reactions, questions, connections
• Makes reading interactive

Chapter summaries:

• After each chapter: "What were the 3 main points?"
• Forces engagement, improves retention

Step 7: Build Rituals and Triggers

Make reading automatic:

Habit stacking (link to existing habits):

Formula: "After [current habit], I will read for [time]"

Examples:

• "After I pour my morning coffee, I will read for 15 minutes"
• "After I sit down on the subway, I will open my Kindle"
• "After I brush my teeth at night, I will read in bed for 20 minutes"

Piggybacking on established habits = easier adoption

Cue-routine-reward:

Reading ritual example:

Cue: Bedtime alarm (10 PM) Routine: Change into pajamas, plug in phone (different room), read in bed Reward: Satisfying end-of-day relaxation, progress toward reading goal

After 2-3 weeks: Automatic, no willpower needed

Common Reading Obstacles (And Solutions)

Troubleshooting:

"I'm too tired to read"

Solution:

• Read earlier in day (morning, lunch)
• Choose easier book for tired times
• Audiobook while resting
• 5 pages counts (don't force hour sessions)

"I can't focus/mind wanders"

Solution:

• Eliminate distractions (phone away, quiet space)
• Start with 5-10 min (build focus stamina)
• Engaging book (if mind wanders = wrong book)
• Physical book instead of screen (fewer distractions)

"I'm in a reading slump"

Solution:

• Read something completely different (genre switch)
• Comfort re-read (favorite book from past)
• Graphic novel/manga (different format)
• No pressure (take break if needed)
• Listen to audiobook (lower barrier)

"Books are expensive"

Solution:

• Library! (free books, e-books, audiobooks via Libby)
• Used bookstores (50-75% off)
• Little Free Libraries (neighborhood book exchanges)
• Book swaps with friends
• Library book sales (huge discounts)
• Kindle Unlimited ($12/month unlimited e-books)

You can read 50+ books/year for $0 with library card

Reading Goals: Quality vs. Quantity

What actually matters:

Rethinking "success":

Not about: ❌ Number of books finished ❌ Reading fastest ❌ Keeping up with friends ❌ Checking boxes on "must-read" lists

Actually about: ✅ Enjoying the process ✅ Learning and growing ✅ Consistent habit (not perfection) ✅ Finding books you love

Better goals:

Instead of: "Read 52 books" Try:

• "Read 15 minutes daily for 300 days" (habit-focused)
• "Read 12 books I genuinely enjoy" (quality-focused)
• "Explore 3 new genres" (discovery-focused)
• "Finish one book per month" (sustainable)

The 15-Minute Daily Reading Challenge

Start here:

30-day challenge:

Rules:

1. Read 15 minutes every day (no exceptions)
2. Any format counts (physical, e-reader, audiobook)
3. Any genre counts
4. Track daily (calendar X's)
5. No judgment on progress (15 min is success, regardless of pages)

Expected outcome:

• 1-2 books finished in 30 days
• Habit established
• Reading feels natural, not forced

After 30 days:

• Continue 15 min (sustainable)
• Or increase to 20-30 min (if enjoying)

Build sustainable reading habits through systems: allocate existing time (15 minutes daily = 18 books yearly), eliminate friction keeping books everywhere accessible, choose books matching genuine interests not "should" reads, quit books by page 50-100 if not enjoying guilt-free. Use Libby library app for free audiobooks/e-books, leverage multiple formats (physical home, Kindle commute, audiobooks during chores). Employ habit stacking—"After [existing habit], read 15 minutes"—making reading automatic requiring no willpower. Track progress using Goodreads without pressure setting conservative goals exceeding rather than failing. Quality over quantity—12 books genuinely enjoyed beats 52 books forced through miserably. Start 30-day 15-minute daily challenge establishing foundation.