I used to be one of those people who bought books faster than I could read them. My nightstand had a permanent tower of "I'll get to it eventually" paperbacks. Sound familiar?
Last year, something changed. I went from struggling to finish a single book to genuinely enjoying reading again. It's not about the number of books — it's about rediscovering the joy of getting lost in a good story, of learning something new, of having that quiet time that's just for you.
Here's what I learned.
Set a realistic minimum
Forget "read an hour a day" or "finish a book a week." Those goals sound great on January 1st and feel impossible by January 15th.
What worked for me was setting a minimum I could hit every single day, no matter what. For me, that's 10 minutes. Not a stretch goal — a floor. The bare minimum I'll accept from myself.
On your worst days — when you're exhausted, stressed, or just not feeling it — you only need to hit that minimum. Most of the time, once you start, you'll keep going. But even if you don't, you've maintained the habit. You showed up.
Attach reading to something you already do
Habits don't exist in isolation. They're linked to cues in your environment and routines you already have.
Want to read more? Attach it to something you do every day without thinking:
- After my morning coffee, I read for 10 minutes
- When I sit on the train, I open my book instead of Instagram
- Before I go to sleep, I read one chapter
The key word is "after" or "when." You're not trying to create something from nothing — you're piggybacking on existing behavior.
Make your book impossible to ignore
I keep my current book visible — always. It sits on my dining table, a spot I pass by constantly. Every time I see it, it's a gentle reminder. No hunting through shelves or drawers.
I also prefer physical books. Paper. I find it too easy to get distracted with digital — one tap and I'm checking notifications or browsing something else. I use Book Reading Habit in "silent" mode — to log my sessions and understand my reading patterns later. But that's me. If ebooks or audiobooks work for you, go with what works.
- Other tricks that work:
- If social media is distracting you, use iOS's "hidden apps" feature to tuck them away
- During reading time, turn on Focus Mode to block notifications
- Leave a book somewhere you pass by constantly — kitchen table, couch, nightstand
The goal is to make reading the path of least resistance. When your book is more accessible than your phone, you'll reach for the book.
Track your progress (but don't obsess)
There's something satisfying about seeing your reading streak build up over time. It's not about the number itself — it's about the visual proof that you're becoming someone who reads.
I started tracking my reading sessions with a simple timer. Nothing fancy — just tracking how long I read each day. But it changed everything. Not because I was competing with anyone, but because I could actually see my progress. On days when I didn't feel like reading, I'd look at my streak and think, "I'm not breaking this."
I was doing this so often that I decided to build an app to centralize everything — my books, my sessions, my progress — all in one place. That's how Book Reading Habit was born.
The key is to track without obsessing. Miss a day? It happens. The goal is consistency over time, not perfection.
Choose books you actually want to read
This sounds obvious, but I spent years forcing myself through "important" books I didn't enjoy. Life's too short for books that bore you.
Give every book 50 pages. If you're not into it by then, move on. There's no shame in abandoning a book — it just means you're making room for one you'll love.
And mix it up. I alternate between fiction and non-fiction, heavy and light. After a dense history book, I'll read a thriller. Variety keeps reading fresh.
What worked for me
Everyone's different, but here's what finally stuck for me:
- Set a daily minimum — 10 minutes, no excuses
- Reminders to keep me accountable
- Keep my book visible, always
- Physical books over digital — fewer distractions
- Read during the calmest part of my day
- Morning reading works best for me — before bed, I feel like I retain nothing
Some days I read more, other days just the minimum. I read books that interest me. But I read every day, and over time, that adds up.
The bottom line
Building a reading habit isn't about willpower or finding more time. It's about making reading easy, making it obvious, and showing up even when you don't feel like it.
Start reading the books you buy.