Do you have a growing stack of books on your nightstand that you never seem to get to? You love the idea of reading more—getting lost in a story, learning something new, expanding your perspective—but finding the time feels impossible amidst work, family, and daily chores.
You’re not alone. The good news is that reading more isn’t about finding huge chunks of free time; it’s about weaving reading into the life you already have. It’s about replacing scrolling with turning pages. Here are practical, realistic tips to help you become a person who reads, no matter how busy you are.
1. Reframe Your Goal: Ditch the Number
Setting a goal to “read 50 books this year” can be overwhelming and counterproductive. It can make reading feel like a chore.
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Try This Instead: Set a goal to “read most days” or to “always be reading a book.” The focus shifts from quantity to consistency. The pages will add up on their own.
2. The Game-Changer: Always Carry a Book (The Physical + Digital Rule)
The #1 trick to reading more is eliminating the excuse of “I have nothing to read.”
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The Rule: Have a book with you at all times. This means:
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A physical book in your bag or car.
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An e-reader app (Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play Books) on your phone.
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An audiobook app (Audible, Libby) ready to go on your phone.
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Why it works: You can reclaim those “lost” minutes—waiting in line, during a commute, sitting in a parking lot, during a lunch break. Five minutes here and there adds up to a surprising number of pages over a week.
3. Embrace Audiobooks (It Absolutely Counts!)
Listening to an audiobook is not cheating. It’s reading with your ears.
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Integrate it into tasks you already do:
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Listen during your commute, while doing chores (dishes, laundry, vacuuming), while exercising, or while cooking.
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Increase the playback speed to 1.2x or 1.5x if the narrator feels too slow. You’ll be amazed at how much you can “read” while doing other things.
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4. Create a “Reading Ritual”
Link reading to an existing daily habit to make it automatic.
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The 20-Minute Wind-Down: Instead of scrolling on your phone before bed, read a physical book. The lack of blue light will also help you sleep better.
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The Morning Coffee Chapter: Pair your first cup of coffee with a chapter of your book.
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The Lunch Break Escape: Spend even 10 minutes of your lunch break reading instead of looking at a screen.
5. Curate Your Reading List & DNF Guilt-Free
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Read What You Love: Life is too short to force yourself through books you dislike. If you’re not enjoying a book by page 50, give yourself permission to put it down (DNF = Did Not Finish). There are millions of books waiting for you.
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Use Your Library: The Libby app connects your library card to thousands of free ebooks and audiobooks. It’s the best way to experiment with new genres and authors without spending money.
6. Minimize Digital Distractions
This is the biggest hurdle for most people. Your phone is designed to steal your attention.
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Create Friction: Leave your phone in another room while you read.
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Use App Limits: Set time limits on social media apps on your phone.
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The “Do Not Disturb” Mode: Enable it during your dedicated reading time to prevent notifications from pulling you out of the story.
7. Find a Reading Community
Accountability and shared enthusiasm make everything more fun.
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Join a Book Club: It can be in-person or online (like on Goodreads or Reddit’s r/books). Having a deadline to finish a book is a powerful motivator.
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Follow Bookstagrammers or BookTok: Seeing others get excited about books can reignite your own passion and give you great recommendations.
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Talk About It: Tell a friend about a book you’re loving. Sharing your excitement reinforces the habit.
8. Redefine “Reading”
A book is not a monolith. Reading can look different on different days.
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A graphic novel counts.
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A book of short stories or essays counts (perfect for short attention spans!).
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Re-reading an old favorite counts.
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Listening to a memoir read by the author counts.
Your First Step
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is not to read for an hour tonight. It’s this:
Download the Libby app and connect your library card, or download a sample of a book that intrigues you to your phone.
Make the next time you reach for your phone out of boredom an opportunity to read a paragraph instead of scrolling a feed. You might just find that story you’ve been missing.
What’s the last book you couldn’t put down? Share your recommendations in the comments to help others find their next great read!
