How to Read More (and Actually Enjoy It Again)
KEY POINTS
- Many adults drift away from reading when it shifts from choice to obligation.
- Reading offers mental focus, empathy, and calm—benefits our digital habits often erode.
- You don’t need a grand plan to read more; small, consistent moments matter most.
- Allowing yourself to quit uninspiring books keeps curiosity and motivation alive.
- Mixing formats—print, digital, or audio—helps reading fit naturally into daily life.
- Choosing books that genuinely interest you turns reading from “should” into “want.”
- Rebuilding the habit is less about productivity and more about reconnecting with focus and self.
When I was a kid, reading was praised as one of the best things you could do with your time. School programs, library challenges, and summer reading lists made it feel both fun and “productive.”
Back then, reading was my favorite escape — a Harry Potter book on family vacations, a murder mystery in the backyard hammock, Narnia under the covers at night.
But like many of us, somewhere between required reading and adult busyness, I lost the rhythm of consistent reading. High school assignments replaced curiosity. College and grad school pages turned it into pressure. My love for reading faded as it started to feel more like work than pleasure.
In school, I felt forced to read — and worse, forced to read books that didn’t light me up. But in the years since college, I’d tried to reconnect with reading. Time and time again, I’d read for a few months, then let the habit fall by the wayside for another year.
I missed reading for pleasure. I missed the feeling of being immersed in a story, transported somewhere else, and entertained for hours without screen time. Despite this, I struggled to stick with reading for any real length of time.
My experience isn’t unique. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to start reading again,” but can’t seem to make it stick, you’re not alone.
What if I told you reading could feel effortless again? Somewhere between assigned reading and adult busyness, it became a luxury. But it doesn’t have to be that way. At some point, many of us say, “I wish I read more,” but never quite find the rhythm. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to let days slip by.
This year, I decided to try reading more. I made a pact with myself not to treat it as another “goal,” but to reconnect with joy and curiosity. I wanted to build strong reading habits that actually lasted more than a few weeks or months.
Here’s what helped me start reading consistently again — and what might help you, too.
Why Reading Still Matters
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth picking reading back up, let me assure you — there are plenty of reasons to make it a regular habit.
It’s easy to forget how critical reading is to our continual growth and development. Reading opens the door to other people’s ideas, imagination, and perspective — the kind of mental spark many of us crave without realizing it.
Working from home, I sometimes worry my mind isn’t getting the stimulation it would from real conversations and spontaneous encounters.
Even if you work in an office, exposure to new ideas often drops off. You see the same group of people, talk about the same things, scroll the same feeds.
So how do you surround yourself with great minds and fresh ideas? While nothing replaces real connection, books let you sit beside great thinkers and borrow their perspective for a while.
Reading is one of the simplest, most affordable ways to access brilliant minds and the worlds they’ve imagined.
And if you’re tempted to think fiction is “less productive,” don’t. It deepens empathy, drops us into new worlds, and helps us feel what others feel. Both fiction and nonfiction expand us in different ways.
Beyond broadening our minds, reading gives us something rare: single-task focus. In a world that pulls us in every direction, a book offers stillness, calm, and almost a meditative state.
A few more reasons to pick up a book:
- Improves focus and concentration — critical in an age of distraction
- Reduces stress and lowers heart rate
- Strengthens memory and brain function
- Expands vocabulary and enriches conversation
If you can build reading into your day, you may find yourself dipping into a meditative state that brings about a relaxation you haven’t felt in years.
How to Read More (and Actually Enjoy It Again)
Making reading a regular part of your day doesn’t require a grand plan or tons of time. Rather, you just need to work on implementing a few small, repeatable habits that make space for curiosity again.
1. Ease Into Your Mornings with a Book
I used to tell myself I’d read at the end of the day or “later.” And guess what? “Later” typically never came to fruition.
To ensure you get your reading in, here’s what I recommend: Rather than saving reading for later in the day, try beginning your morning with it. Even five or ten minutes is enough to build momentum. Most of us wake up and immediately reach for our phones — scrolling through emails, messages, or social media before we’ve even had coffee.
Replacing your “morning scroll” with reading may also assist with reducing anxiety and improving concentration. Researchers say constant scrolling, particularly doomscrolling, can lead to “popcorn brain,” a kind of mental overstimulation that leaves us anxious and distracted (Harvard Health).
By swapping your morning scroll for reading, you give your brain calm input instead of chaos. You start the day grounded and present.
I found that by starting my mornings with a book, I started to look forward to the quiet calm before the day started.
2. Keep a Book Within Reach
Stephen King once wrote in On Writing that he always keeps a book with him — ready for the in-between moments of the day. That small habit is why he reads so much.
Try the same. Bring a book to appointments, lines, or the airport. If you prefer digital, keep a title queued up in your Kindle or Libby app. The goal isn’t to fill every pause with productivity; it’s simply to make reading an easy, default option when you have time to spare.
3. Carve Out the Minimum Amount of Time… Without Pressure
It’s easy to say, “I want to read more,” but without structure, days slip by. Setting a small daily target helps as a habit-building exercise. The point isn’t to create unnecessary pressure, just consistency. Use your daily targets as a way to build habits, not metrics.
I aim for 20 minutes of reading in the morning, though some days it’s ten and others it’s forty. The point isn’t perfection; it’s consistency. Find a rhythm that feels doable for you and build from there.
Habit expert James Clear calls this the “two-minute rule” — start so small it’s impossible to fail. For reading, that might mean one page a day. What matters is repetition. Once the book is open, you’ll almost always keep going.
In practice, this may mean that instead of committing to reading a chapter a day, you start with committing to 5-10 pages.
4. Permit Yourself to Quit Books
The best part of reading as an adult is that no one can make you finish a book you don’t like. If a story feels like a slog, put it down.
Seriously, life’s too short to be wasted on bad books, movies, people, things, or activities.
I used to force myself through books to check them off a list — and it almost made me stop reading altogether. You’ll read more and enjoy it more when you stop treating completion as a virtue.
Finishing isn’t discipline if it kills curiosity. Drop what doesn’t pull you in. Your time and attention are too valuable to spend on a book that drains you.
Recently, I was in the middle of a book that I knew I “should” read, as it came highly recommended to me by someone I respect. However, page by page, I grew less and less interested in what I was reading. I decided to put the book down for a while and start reading something else. I opted to return to the book slowly, but in a way that didn’t feel like I was forcing myself to get through it.
5. Skim the Fluff (Especially in Nonfiction)
Some nonfiction books could say in 150 pages what they take 300 pages to explain. Don’t be afraid to skip what feels redundant or irrelevant.
If an author starts circling the same point or padding with repetitive examples, move on. The goal isn’t to memorize every sentence — it’s to stay engaged.
You’ll still absorb what matters if you read most of the book with curiosity and skip what drags.
The risk you take is not getting the full message from the book, but odds are, if you’re reading 80% of it you’ll soak up what you need to.
While I don’t necessarily recommend this practice with fiction books, permit yourself to gloss over paragraphs that you find dull. If a section truly bores you, it’s okay to skim. Reading should feel alive, not dutiful.
By employing this tactic, you likely will find reading more enjoyable, and you’ll be able to read more books.
6. Pick Books That Resonate With You
The simplest advice? Choose good books. There’s plenty of bad writing out there — and it’s easier than ever to avoid it.
Read reviews, ask friends for recommendations, explore genres you’ve never touched. Worst case, you put the book down.
I used to force myself to read what I thought I should read — the bestsellers, the classics, the titles people recommended but hadn’t actually finished themselves. More often than not, I found myself bored and disconnected.
We all have styles of writing we prefer, genres, and authors that resonate with us. Find your niche, and learn what
Read for curiosity, not credentials. Once you stop treating reading like homework, you’ll find joy sneaking back in.
7. Try Reading More Than One Book at a Time
This won’t work for everyone, but keeping two books in rotation changed how much I read and how much I enjoy it.
In the morning, I reach for nonfiction while my mind is fresh and focused. At night, I switch to fiction, something lighter and more immersive. Some evenings I only manage a few pages, but that’s enough.
Having more than one book going keeps things interesting. If your attention dips, switch gears. Curiosity, not discipline, keeps momentum alive.
This tactic can also help if you’re working your way through a non-fiction that’s a difficult read. You can have an easier, lighter book on standby, and bounce back and forth between the lighter and heavier book during your reading sessions.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to read more — it’s to remember why you love reading in the first place.
Rediscovering the Joy of Reading:
Reading isn’t a task, an assignment, or something you should feel obligated to do. It’s a way to reconnect with yourself — and, indirectly, with others. It’s one of the simplest ways to stretch your mind, reduce stress, and regain focus.
Reading can be deeply cathartic. Over time, it becomes a habit — something you don’t have to force, just something you return to.
If I’ve convinced you to pick reading back up, the next question is simple: where do you find books worth reading?
Start with your local library. Browse in person, or use their online catalog to request books from other branches. Most libraries offer interlibrary loans and can track down almost anything you’re looking for.
A few other ways to expand your bookshelf:
- Try digital options. Apps like Libby and Kindle make it easy to borrow or buy books instantly, even if you prefer reading on your phone or tablet only occasionally.
- Buy used online. Sites like ThriftBooks and AbeBooks are great for affordable, gently used titles, often with free shipping. Many “used” copies arrive looking brand new.
- Browse secondhand in person. Thrift stores, used-book shops, and local sales can be treasure hunts. You’ll often discover titles you’d never think to search for online.
Building your own small collection doesn’t have to be expensive — it just takes a little curiosity and patience.
However you do it, I hope you pick something up soon. The right book always finds you when you’re ready for it.
📖 Want help turning this into a real habit?
Download The Reading Reset Journal — a simple, printable tracker to help you start reading again without guilt or pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do audiobooks count as reading?
Yes — and no. Listening is a wonderful way to absorb stories and ideas, especially during commutes or walks. But it’s a different kind of engagement than reading on paper or a screen. When you physically read, your brain processes information more deeply and retains it longer. Try mixing both: listen when you’re on the move, and read when you want to slow down and focus.
How can I stay focused while reading?
Start small. Ten minutes of distraction-free reading is better than forcing yourself through an hour you won’t remember. Put your phone in another room, choose a quiet spot, and read something that genuinely interests you. The more often you return to the page, the easier focus becomes.
What if I don’t have time to read?
You do — just not in one big block. Replace a few minutes of scrolling or background TV with a few pages. Keep a book nearby so you can read during small pauses in your day: waiting rooms, lunch breaks, the last ten minutes before bed. Little moments add up.
Should I finish every book I start?
No – Only if you want to. Finishing isn’t discipline if it kills joy. If a book isn’t holding your attention, put it down and move on. Life’s too short to read something that feels like homework.
Is it better to read fiction or nonfiction?
Both serve different purposes. Fiction helps you build empathy and imagination; nonfiction expands your knowledge and perspective. A healthy mix keeps reading fresh — and keeps your brain engaged in different ways.
What’s the best time of day to read?
Whenever you’ll actually do it. Some people like mornings before their day fills up; others unwind with a few pages before bed. Experiment until you find a time that feels natural — then protect it like any other important part of your routine.