Figuring out how to read more books is less about willpower and more about design. Most busy people don’t lack interest in reading. They lack a moment in the day when a book is the easiest choice. At FentoMagazine.com, we judge habits by how they hold up against real schedules: commutes, school runs, late shifts and tired evenings. The ten habits below are small on purpose. Pick two or three, try them for a month, and keep whatever sticks.
Key takeaways
- Small daily targets, such as ten pages or ten minutes, beat big yearly goals you forget by spring.
- Tie reading to something you already do every day, like coffee, a commute or bedtime.
- Remove friction: keep a book within reach and put distracting apps one extra tap away.
- Quitting a book you dislike is a healthy reading habit, not a failure.
Why It’s So Hard to Make Time to Read
Reading competes with things designed to be effortless. A streaming app autoplays the next episode. A social feed refreshes forever. A book, by contrast, asks you to find it, open it and remember where you left off. That small gap in effort is often the whole problem.
The good news is that you can close the gap from your side. That is the real answer to how to read more books when your calendar is full. Every habit below either makes reading easier to start or makes the alternatives slightly harder.
How to Read More Books: Habits That Fit a Busy Day
1. Set a daily target you can hit on a bad day
Ten pages or ten minutes is enough. A small target keeps your streak alive on hectic days, and on good days you will naturally read more. In Apple Books, you can set a daily reading goal in minutes and see your streak of consecutive days.
2. Attach reading to an anchor moment
Choose a moment that already happens every day: your first coffee, lunch, the train ride or the ten minutes before lights out. Read at that moment, every time. The anchor does the remembering, so you don’t have to.
3. Keep a book within arm’s reach
Leave a paperback on the nightstand, another in your bag, and an ebook app on your phone’s home screen. When waiting rooms and checkout lines turn into reading time, the pages add up without extra planning.
4. Read two books at once
Pair a demanding book with an easy one. When you’re too tired for the history book, the thriller still counts. A lighter option stops one hard title from stalling your whole reading life.
Reading Habits That Win Back Screen Time
5. Put distracting apps one tap further away
Move social apps off your home screen and put your reading app in their place. On Android, Digital Wellbeing includes a Bedtime mode that can switch your screen to grayscale on a schedule, which makes late-night scrolling far less tempting. Our guide to simple digital wellbeing habits for a healthier relationship with tech has more ideas like this.
6. Trade one episode for one chapter
You don’t have to give up your shows. Swap one episode for a chapter a few nights a week. If you notice you’re watching less, it’s a good moment to review which subscriptions you actually use, with our guide on how to choose a streaming service and pay less.
7. Make bedtime a paper-book zone
Charge your phone across the room and keep a printed book by the bed. It’s one of the simplest ways to read more every day, because the last half hour before sleep is often time you would have spent on a screen anyway.
How to Read More Books You Actually Enjoy
8. Give yourself permission to quit
If a book hasn’t grabbed you after a few chapters, put it down. Forcing your way through a book you dislike is the fastest way to stop reading altogether. The next one might be the book you can’t put down.
9. Count audiobooks and ebooks
Listening while you walk, cook or drive still builds the habit. Many public libraries lend ebooks and audiobooks with a free library card, so mixing formats doesn’t have to cost anything.
10. Make it social and visible
Join a book club, swap recommendations with a friend, or keep a simple list of finished titles on your phone. If you enjoy the club format, it pairs well with other fun, low-cost hobbies to try at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages a day should I read to finish more books?
There is no magic number. Start with an amount you can manage on your busiest day, such as ten pages or ten minutes. Consistency matters more than volume. Once the habit feels automatic, raise the target gradually so reading never starts to feel like homework.
Do audiobooks count as reading?
For building a reading habit, yes. Audiobooks let you finish stories and ideas while your eyes are busy, such as during a commute or chores. Many readers happily mix formats: print at night, audio on the move and ebooks for short waits in line.
What is the best way to learn how to read more books if I keep losing interest?
Switch genres or try shorter books, such as novellas, essay collections or short stories. Ask friends which books they couldn’t put down. Losing interest usually signals the wrong book, not the wrong reader, so quit freely and pick something lighter next.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to read more books comes down to small, repeatable choices: a tiny daily target, a book within reach and fewer taps to the feed. Start with two habits this week. For more practical ideas, browse our 25 digital lifestyle tips for smarter living, explore more entertainment guides on books, streaming and hobbies, or head back to FentoMagazine.com for the latest stories.
