How to Read More Books (Even When You're Busy)

The Mindset Shift: Redefining "Finding Time"

The problem with "I don't have time":

You do have time—you're using it for other things.

Average person spends daily:

• 3-4 hours on phone/screens
• 2-3 hours watching TV
• 1-2 hours on social media

Total: 6-9 hours of "leisure" time

You don't lack time—you lack:

• Intentionality about priorities
• Systems that make reading easier than alternatives
• Removal of friction between you and books

Reframe: "I haven't prioritized reading" (empowering) vs. "I don't have time" (helpless)

Strategy 1: The 10-Page Minimum (Starting Ridiculously Small)

Most people set ambitious goals: "Read 30 minutes daily!"

Then fail and quit.

Better approach: Start absurdly small.

The rule: 10 pages per day. That's it.

Why it works:

10 pages = 5-10 minutes (achievable even on worst days)

Math:

• 10 pages daily = 300 pages monthly
• Average book = 300 pages
• Result: 12 books yearly from just 10 pages daily

Psychological magic:

You'll almost always read more than 10 once you start (momentum). But on terrible days, 10 pages keeps the habit alive.

"Don't break the chain":

Calendar with X for each day you hit minimum. Streak becomes motivating.

Strategy 2: Replace, Don't Add

Don't try to "find" reading time—replace existing activities.

Time audit exercise:

Track one week:

• When do you mindlessly scroll phone?
• When do you watch mediocre TV you don't care about?
• When do you fill time with "nothing"?

Common replaceable times:

Morning coffee/breakfast: 15-20 min reading instead of scrolling news Lunch break: 20-30 min reading instead of phone Before bed: 30 min reading instead of Netflix/scrolling Waiting (appointments, transit): 5-15 min reading instead of phone Bathroom: 5-10 min (yes, really—we all do it anyway)

Replace just TWO phone-scrolling sessions daily = 30-40 min reading = 50+ pages

One swap at a time:

Pick ONE replacement to start (don't overhaul everything immediately).

Strategy 3: Always Have a Book Accessible

Reading happens when books are immediately available.

Friction is the enemy:

"I want to read but my book is upstairs" → Scroll phone instead

The system:

Physical book in every location you spend time:

• Living room
• Bedroom
• Bathroom
• Office/desk
• Bag/backpack
• Car (for passenger or waiting, not driving!)

Plus: E-reader or phone app always with you

When moment of downtime appears, book is there.

No decision, no friction, just read.

Strategy 4: The Morning Reading Ritual (Before Life Happens)

Morning is your most reliable reading time.

Why mornings work:

✅ Predictable (unlike evenings) ✅ No interruptions yet ✅ Willpower highest ✅ Sets positive tone for day

The ritual:

1. Wake up (don't immediately check phone)
2. Coffee/tea
3. Read 15-30 minutes
4. Then start day

This single change adds 100-200 pages weekly.

"But I'm not a morning person":

Start with 10 minutes. Your brain adjusts. Even night owls can read 10 morning minutes.

Strategy 5: Audiobooks Transform "Dead Time"

Listening counts as reading—use it strategically.

Perfect audiobook times:

✅ Commute (driving, transit) ✅ Exercise (walking, running, gym) ✅ Household chores (dishes, laundry, cleaning) ✅ Cooking ✅ Yard work ✅ Getting ready (morning routine)

Average gains:

• 30 min commute daily = 1 book every 2 weeks
• 3 hours chores weekly = 1 book monthly
• Combined = 30+ books yearly from "dead time"

Get library card:

Libby app = unlimited free audiobooks. No excuse about cost.

Speed it up:

Listen at 1.25x-1.5x once acclimated (consume 30% more content in same time).

Strategy 6: Read What You Actually Enjoy (Permission to DNF)

Biggest reading killer: forcing yourself through books you hate.

The rule:

Life's too short for bad books. Quit without guilt.

"But I'm 200 pages in!"

Sunk cost fallacy. Those 200 pages are gone whether you finish or not.

Reading the next 100 boring pages won't redeem the first 200.

Permission to:

✅ Abandon books that don't engage you ✅ Read "guilty pleasure" genres ✅ Reread favorites instead of starting new ✅ Read children's/YA books as adults ✅ Skip classics that bore you

The goal is reading MORE, not impressing anyone.

Love thrillers? Read thrillers. Hate literary fiction? Don't force it.

Reading what you enjoy = reading consistently.

Strategy 7: The Page-Turner Strategy

When restarting reading habit, don't start with dense difficult books.

Start with page-turners:

Books so engaging you WANT to read instead of phone.

Characteristics:

• Fast-paced plot
• Cliffhanger chapters
• Easy prose
• Engaging from page 1

Genres that work:

• Thrillers
• Mystery
• Romance
• Fantasy (if you like it)
• Popular fiction

Examples: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Project Hail Mary, The Guest List, Beach Read

Once habit is strong, tackle heavier books.

But rebuild habit with irresistible books first.

Strategy 8: The 5-Minute Rule (Lowering Barrier to Entry)

Biggest obstacle: Starting.

"I'll read after I [check email, scroll Instagram, watch this video]"

→ Never reads

The rule:

Commit to just 5 minutes.

Sit down, open book, read for 5 minutes. Then decide if you want to continue.

What happens:

90% of the time, you keep reading past 5 minutes (starting is the hard part).

10% of the time, you stop after 5—but that's still 5 minutes you didn't read before.

Lower barrier = more reading.

Strategy 9: Physical Book + E-Reader + Audiobook (Same Book, Multiple Formats)

Have the same book in multiple formats simultaneously.

The system:

• Physical book at home (morning reading, evening reading)
• E-reader/phone app (waiting rooms, lunch breaks, unexpected downtime)
• Audiobook (commute, chores, exercise)

Most services sync progress:

Kindle + Audible sync automatically. Pick up wherever you left off.

This eliminates "I don't have my book" excuse.

Book is ALWAYS accessible.

Strategy 10: Social Accountability

Reading alone = easier to skip

Reading with accountability = harder to quit

Options:

Book clubs:

• Monthly selection
• Deadline creates urgency
• Discussion enhances experience

Reading buddies:

• Friend reading same book
• Check-ins and discussion
• Friendly competition

Goodreads:

• Set annual reading goal
• Track publicly
• Friend comparisons

Online communities:

• Reddit (r/books, r/52book)
• Instagram bookstagram
• TikTok BookTok

Social pressure (positive kind) increases follow-through.

Strategy 11: Quit Bed Scrolling

Biggest reading killer: Phone in bed.

The pattern:

Get in bed → "Just quick check" → 60 minutes of scrolling → Too tired to read → Repeat

The solution:

Phone stays outside bedroom (or across room, on charger).

Book on nightstand.

Natural consequence: Read instead.

"But I need my phone alarm":

Buy $10 alarm clock. This excuse is invalid.

This single change adds 30-60 min reading nightly.

Strategy 12: Read Multiple Books Simultaneously

Counterintuitive but effective for many people.

The system:

Different books for different moods/situations:

• Morning book: Challenging, informative (non-fiction)
• Evening book: Relaxing fiction
• Bathroom book: Short essays or stories
• Audiobook: Thriller or memoir

Benefits:

✅ Match book to mood (don't force it) ✅ If stuck on one, progress on another ✅ Variety prevents boredom

Caveat: Don't overdo it (3-5 max). Too many = progress on none.

Strategy 13: Shorter Books and Novellas

Not all books need to be 500-page epics.

Strategic selection:

Mix in:

• 150-250 page novels
• Novellas
• Short story collections
• Essay collections

Benefits:

✅ Faster completion = sense of accomplishment = motivation ✅ Easier to finish during busy weeks ✅ Boosts annual book count

This isn't "cheating"—it's strategic variety.

Strategy 14: Track Progress Visibly

What gets measured gets improved.

Tracking methods:

Goodreads:

• Set yearly goal
• Visual progress bar
• Satisfying to mark "finished"

Reading journal:

• Title, date finished, rating, thoughts
• Physical record of accomplishment

Spreadsheet:

• Pages read daily
• Books finished
• Statistics (pages per day average)

Seeing progress motivates continued effort.

Common Obstacles and Solutions

Obstacle: "I fall asleep when I read in bed"

Solution:

• Read earlier (not right before sleep)
• Read sitting up
• Morning reading instead

Obstacle: "I can't focus, mind wanders"

Solution:

• More engaging books (not the book for you)
• Eliminate distractions (phone away)
• Shorter reading sessions (10-15 min)
• Practice builds focus over time

Obstacle: "I forget what I read"

Solution:

• Take notes (physical or digital)
• Discuss with others
• Write brief review after finishing
• Highlight/annotate as you read

Obstacle: "Books are expensive"

Solution:

• Library card (free books and audiobooks)
• Used bookstores
• Little Free Libraries
• Book swaps with friends
• Project Gutenberg (free classics)

Obstacle: "I start books but never finish"

Solution:

• Give yourself permission to quit bad books
• Choose more engaging books
• Set page minimums (10 pages daily)
• Accountability partner

The Reading Math: How Small Changes Add Up

Scenario 1: Just phone replacement

Replace 30 min daily scrolling with reading:

• 30 min = ~30 pages
• 30 pages × 365 days = 10,950 pages
• Average book = 300 pages
• Result: 36 books yearly

Scenario 2: Morning reading + audiobook commute

• 15 min morning reading = 15 pages
• 30 min audiobook commute = 30 pages equivalent
• Total: 45 pages daily = 16,425 pages yearly
• Result: 54 books yearly

Scenario 3: 10 pages minimum + audiobooks

• 10 pages physical daily = 3,650 pages
• 3 hours audiobooks weekly = ~12 books yearly
• Result: 24 books yearly (conservative estimate)

From "too busy" to 24-54 books with small consistent changes.

The 30-Day Reading Restart Challenge

Week 1: Build the minimum habit

• 10 pages daily, any time
• Track with X on calendar

Week 2: Add a time-based ritual

• Morning or evening 15-min reading
• Keep 10-page minimum

Week 3: Eliminate one phone-scrolling session

• Replace with reading
• Maintain previous weeks

Week 4: Add audiobooks

• One commute or chore time
• Maintain all previous

By day 30: Multiple reading touchpoints throughout day, 10-30 books read.

Reading more despite busy schedules requires intentional systems, not more free time. Start with 10 pages daily, replace phone-scrolling with reading, establish morning reading rituals, and leverage audiobooks for "dead time" like commutes and chores. Always have books accessible, read what you genuinely enjoy, and give yourself permission to quit boring books. Use the 5-minute rule to overcome starting resistance, eliminate bedtime phone scrolling, and track progress visibly. Small consistent changes compound dramatically—30 minutes daily of replaced phone time yields 35+ books yearly. You're not too busy to read; you're ready to prioritize it strategically.