Many people say they wish they read more. Yet between work, family and the pull of screens, books often get pushed aside. The good news is that rebuilding a reading habit doesn't require hours of free time, just a few small changes.
Start small
Aim for ten pages, or ten minutes, a day. It sounds modest, but that adds up to well over a dozen books a year. A small target is easier to keep, and on good days you'll naturally read more.
Attach reading to a routine
Link reading to something you already do: with your morning tea, on your commute, after lunch or before bed. Habits stick better when they ride along with existing ones.
Keep a book within reach
Leave a book by your bed, in your bag or on the dining table. Download an e-book or audiobook app so there's always something available on your phone, giving you an alternative to scrolling.
Read what you enjoy
There's no rule that you have to read "serious" books. Mysteries, comics, biographies, poetry, cookbooks or short stories all count. Enjoyment builds the habit. You can always branch out later.
Give yourself permission to quit
If a book isn't working for you after a few chapters, put it down. Forcing your way through a book you dislike is one of the fastest ways to lose the reading habit.
Try audiobooks
Listening while walking, cooking or commuting is a perfectly valid way to read, and a great way to fit more books into a busy life.
Reduce the competition
Phones are the biggest rival to books. Try keeping your phone in another room for the first half hour of your reading time, or turning on a focus mode.
Make it social
Join a book club, swap recommendations with friends or share what you're reading with family. Talking about books makes reading more enjoyable and keeps you motivated.
Track what you read
A simple list of books finished, with a line about each, is satisfying to look back on and helps you remember what you read.
A reading life is built ten pages at a time. Pick up a book today.