20 Tips For Building A Reading Habit Good Existence

I used to tell myself I just wasn't a "reader." It felt like a permanent part of my identity. I saw friends devouring books while my nightstand collected a dusty pile of good intentions. I wanted to be that person who could get lost in a story but my phone was always more appealing. My brain, wired for the instant dopamine hits of video games and endless scrolling, just didn't have the patience. Sound familiar?

If you're anything like I was, you probably want to read more. You buy the books. You make the plans. But life gets in the way. It feels like another chore on an already endless to-do list. I get it.

I’ve been there. I had to completely rewire my brain to break free from addictions to gaming, overeating, and just plain laziness. Building a reading habit felt just as impossible as losing 110 pounds did at the start. But here’s the secret I learned: it’s not about finding huge, uninterrupted blocks of time. It’s about small, consistent steps that build on each other. If you’re ready to finally become the reader you want to be, here are 20 simple tips that actually work.

Discover 20 ways to transform reading into a daily habit to open doors to learning, relaxation, and personal growth. Are you struggling to make reading a part of your routine? There’s nothing to worry about. Building a daily reading habit doesn’t have to be daunting. This listicle provides 20 practical tips that will help you cultivate a consistent and enjoyable reading routine. Don’t overwhelm yourself.

Commit to just five or ten minutes a day. Short bursts of reading can snowball into longer, more immersive sessions over time. The key is consistency, not duration. Whether it’s a physical book or an e-reader, having reading material on hand makes it easier to sneak in a few pages. Waiting in line or commuting can become prime reading opportunities. Define how many books or pages you want to read each week or month.

Clear goals give you direction and keep you motivated. Celebrate milestones to make the process more rewarding. We asked this year’s judges to share their best tips for making more time for fiction in the new year Somewhere after “lose weight”, “stop procrastinating”, and “fall in love”, “read more” is one of the top goals that many people set for themselves. And rightly so: A good book can be hugely satisfying, can teach you about things beyond your daily horizons, and can create characters so vivid you feel as if you really know them. If reading is a habit you’d like to get into, there are a number of ways to cultivate it.

First, realize that reading is highly enjoyable, if you have a good book. If you have a lousy book (or an extremely difficult one) and you are forcing yourself through it, it will seem like a chore. If this happens for several days in a row, consider abandoning the book and finding one that you’ll really love. Other than that, try these tips to cultivate a lifetime reading habit: You should have a few set times during every day when you’ll read for at least 5-10 minutes. These are times that you will read no matter what — triggers that happen each day.

For example, make it a habit to read during breakfast and lunch (and even dinner if you eat alone). And if you also read every time you’re sitting on the can, and when you go to bed, you now have four times a day when you read for 10 minutes each — or... That’s a great start, and by itself would be an excellent daily reading habit. But there’s more you can do. Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. If you purchase a book, we will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

This post may contain links to buy books, and you can read our affiliate disclosure here. Reading is one of the most enriching and relaxing habits you can develop. Whether you’re looking to escape into another world, learn something new, or simply spend your time more meaningfully, reading more books this year can be a game-changer. However, with busy schedules and endless distractions, it can be challenging to prioritize books. To help you out, we’ve curated 25 actionable tips that can fit into any lifestyle. If you’re ready to get started, don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Guide to Reading Tips for even more strategies to supercharge your reading life!

Instead of aiming to read 50 books in a year right away, set a manageable goal, like one book a month or even 10 pages a day. Breaking your goals into smaller, achievable chunks makes the process feel more rewarding and less daunting. Check out our Reading Journal Prompt for 2025 for ideas on setting your Bookish Goals. Hey friends! If you’ve ever wanted to boost your knowledge, improve your language skills, or simply enjoy some quality “me time,” building a daily reading habit is the way to go. But let’s be honest—turning the idea of reading into a regular part of your day isn’t always easy.

With our busy schedules and endless distractions, finding time to read can feel overwhelming. The good news? I’ve cracked the code on how to create a sustainable reading routine that fits into your daily life — no matter how hectic it gets. In this article, I’ll share proven strategies, tips, common pitfalls, and even some fun practice exercises to make reading a natural, enjoyable part of your daily rhythm. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Building a daily reading habit isn’t just about flipping pages; it’s about transforming the way you learn, relax, and connect with the world around you. Regular reading enhances vocabulary, boosts cognitive skills, improves focus, and even reduces stress. Plus, it opens doors to new ideas, perspectives, and worlds you might never have explored otherwise. Think of it this way: small daily moments of reading can compound into lifelong benefits. Consistency is key. If you’re serious about making reading a daily ritual, understanding why you want to do it will help you stay motivated when distractions hit.

So, ask yourself: Once you clarify your purpose, designing your habit becomes much easier. Are you already a book lover but want to develop better reading habits? Or are you looking to start reading and wondering what are the best reading habits to develop? If you want to reap all the benefits of reading, then it’s time to start building good reading habits. Here are the best ways to develop good reading habits, with examples to help you as well!

Reading habits are the small decisions you make and actions you take regarding reading in your every day life. Whether you’re wanting to start becoming a bookworm or simply read more (or better!) than you already do, it’s important to take a look at good reading habits that can help you achieve your... It’s also important to note that there are both good and bad reading habits. If you’re not focusing on making good reading habits, you might accidentally be creating bad reading habits! So let’s look at some examples of good reading habits to help you get and stay on the right track. What are the best reading habits?

They’re the ones that help you read well, stay focused, and enjoy your reading experience too! Good reading habits can vary some from person to person, but some basic principles still apply so here are ___ ways to help you start developing good reading habits for yourself. If you want to read more or become a good reader, then first of all you need to make actually reading a priority. It’s so easy for other things to creep in (hello, Netflix!) and take away from the time you meant to spend reading. This article was co-authored by Megan Callaghan, PhD. Megan Morgan is an Academic Advising and Writing expert based in Augusta, Georgia.

She has over 7 years of university teaching experience and more than 15 years of professional editing experience. She works as an intern for the Law Library of Congress, and is also a Professional Writing Center Consultant at Augusta University. Her key academic interests involve reference and subject librarianship, government information, and information organization. She provides personalized writing instruction, workshops, and support for AU students, faculty, and staff. Previously, she worked as a Graduate Program Administrator at the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs. She was a Graduate Advisor for three degrees in the departments of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Georgia College of Arts and Sciences.

She earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University. She also received both a PhD and MA in English from The University of Georgia, and a BA in English and Creative Writing from the Mississippi University for Women. She wrote her PhD dissertation on narrative structure and social change in novels by 18th-century British women writers. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 19 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.

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