Most people who say they “don’t have time to read” are not short of time so much as of a routine. A reading habit is built like any other habit: small, regular and easy to start.
Start small
Aim for 10 pages or 10 minutes a day rather than a big weekly target. Tie reading to something you already do: with morning coffee, on the train, in bed instead of scrolling. A small daily habit adds up to many books a year.
Find time in a busy schedule
- keep a book (or an e-reader app) with you at all times for waiting rooms and queues;
- listen to audiobooks while commuting, exercising or doing chores; they count as reading;
- replace part of your evening screen time with a book, and leave the phone in another room;
- read in short bursts; you do not need an hour of silence.
Choose books you actually enjoy
The fastest way to kill a habit is forcing yourself through a book you dislike. It is fine to abandon books; some readers use a “50-page rule” to decide. Mix demanding books with lighter ones, and follow your curiosity rather than “should read” lists.
Make it visible
Keep a list of books read, use an app or notebook, or set a yearly challenge if goals motivate you. Keep the next book ready before you finish the current one.
Getting out of a reading slump
Almost every reader goes through periods when nothing appeals. Ways out:
- reread an old favorite;
- switch format: try an audiobook, a graphic novel or short stories;
- pick something very short and fast-paced;
- change genre completely;
- visit a library or bookshop and browse without a plan;
- take a short break without guilt.
Make it social
Book clubs and reading with friends add motivation and accountability; see making reading more social. If choosing the next book is the problem, read how to choose the right book.
