Most advice about reading more books boils down to "make time for it." Which is true, but not particularly helpful. Here are some approaches that have actually worked for me and other readers I know.
Think in pages, not books
A yearly book goal sounds motivating until February, when you're behind and reading starts to feel like homework. Page goals work better for most people.
Twenty pages a day is manageable for most schedules. That adds up to around 24 average-length books per year, but the number isn't the point. The point is that "20 pages" feels achievable on a Tuesday night when "finish this book" does not.
Keep your next book ready
The gap between finishing one book and starting another is where reading momentum dies. You tell yourself you'll browse for something new tomorrow, and then three weeks pass.
Keep a short list of books you're genuinely excited about. When you finish one, pick up the next immediately. Doesn't matter if it's 10pm and you only read two pages. You've started.
Read more than one book at a time
This sounds counterintuitive, but reading multiple books prevents the kind of stalling that happens when your current book isn't matching your mood.
Keep a few options going: something lighter for when you're tired, something heavier for when you're focused, maybe an audiobook for commuting or chores. When you're not in the mood for one, you can switch to another instead of not reading at all.
Use audio for dead time
Commutes, dishes, laundry, exercise—there's probably more time in your day than you realize that could be reading time if you count audiobooks. And you should count audiobooks.
At 1.25x or 1.5x speed, a 30-minute commute becomes several hours of reading per week. Some people prefer reserving audio for certain genres (memoirs read by the author work especially well), but that's personal preference.
Make reading the path of least resistance
If your phone is next to your bed and your book is across the room, you'll reach for the phone. This isn't a willpower problem; it's a design problem.
Put the book where you'll see it. Charge your phone in another room. Find a spot with good lighting where reading is comfortable. Small friction matters more than you'd think.
Social pressure helps (if you want it)
Some readers do better with accountability. A book club means someone's expecting you to finish the book. Goodreads friends can see your progress. Discord servers have reading sprints. If you want to make this a shared experience, reading with friends can add motivation.
This isn't for everyone. Some people find social reading stressful rather than motivating. But if you suspect external accountability would help you, it probably will.
Track what you read
Logging your books creates a feedback loop. Seeing progress is motivating. Looking back at what you've read over a year is satisfying in a way that vague memories aren't.
You don't need anything fancy—a note on your phone works. But dedicated tracking apps and methods can show you patterns in what you read and help you set reasonable goals.
Pick one thing and try it
These approaches work differently for different people. Start with whichever one sounds most relevant to your situation. Give it a few weeks. If it helps, keep it. If not, try something else.
Reading more isn't complicated. It just requires making small adjustments until reading fits more naturally into your life.
