7 Realistic Ways To Read More Even When You Re Busy

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 2, 2025, 3:49 AM

7 realistic ways to read more even when you re busy

I’ll get into a bit more later, but before I get into my tips to read more books, I want to make it clear: reading is not a competition or a race. But, if you are someone who wants to read more but feels like there’s never enough time, you’re not alone. Life gets hectic. Work, family, travel, screens, and that never-ending to-do list can all get in the way of something as simple—and joyful—as picking up a book. But I’m here to tell you: you can read more without having to overhaul your life. You don’t have to give up TV, cancel plans, or wake up at 4am (though you can if you want to—there’s something special about that quiet time with a cup of coffee and a...

With a few small habits, the right tools, and a slight shift in mindset, you’ll be turning pages (or tapping screens) in no time. I say this as someone who has read over 100 books a year while juggling a full-time job, travel, blogging, and major life changes—including a recent cross-continental move to Italy. I love books, and I love helping people rediscover their love of reading. If that’s you? You’re my kind of people. Here’s how to read more, enjoy it, and make it a lasting part of your life.

Posted September 10, 2022 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan Summertime, the season of alleged infinite time to curl up poolside, gloriously sipping perfectly chilled watermelon infused seltzers and devouring the hottest beach reads didn’t go as planned. The promise of free time turned out to be a cruel myth. It was a valiant effort, lugging those books and Kindles around. There’s even some sand and fried clam remnants lodged in their crevices as proof of good intentions. The pile and lists of books you want to spend time with have grown exponentially, and the irony is not lost on you that if you could just stop watching BookTok it might lead...

It’s one thing to love to read; another to do so. Like many things we enjoy and are good for us, life can sabotage even the best of intentions. Distractions, deadlines, and competing priorities get in the way. But waiting for the next summer vacation or other mythical block of “right time” is unlikely to help create the habits and rituals to help you read more. The return to school and work can seem like a one-two punch against reading ambitions. Extremely busy schedules loom.

Time is elusive. If you find yourself wishing for more time to read, start by thinking small. These micro-strategies can help you move from cycles of yearning to read and regretting not doing so to following through: In today's fast-paced world, finding time to read can feel impossible. With work, errands, and endless notifications, even book lovers struggle to flip through more than a few pages a week. But reading doesn’t have to be a luxury—it can be part of your everyday routine.

If you're wondering how to read more books in a busy schedule, you're in the right place. Here are 7 practical tips to help you make reading a consistent and enjoyable part of your life—even when you're short on time. You don’t need hours—just 10 to 20 minutes a day adds up. Try setting a realistic daily goal, like reading 10 pages or one chapter. Use a tracker or journal to keep yourself accountable. Apps like Goodreads or StoryGraph can also help you stay motivated.

Think about how much time you spend scrolling through social media or watching Netflix. Even replacing just 15 minutes of screen time with reading can help you finish more books each month. Make your book app or e-reader just as easy to access as your favorite social media platform. Whether it's a paperback, e-book, or audiobook, having a book on hand makes it easier to sneak in a few pages during idle moments—waiting in line, on your lunch break, or during your commute. Discover how to find time to read every day with these 7 practical tips—perfect for busy schedules, short breaks, and turning dead moments into page-turners. I get it—life can feel like a treadmill of endless tasks, leaving barely a spare minute for yourself, let alone a good book.

But I’ve learned that even the busiest days hold hidden pockets of reading time. Here are my top seven reading tips—from personal experience—that transformed my habit from “I wish I could read” to “I can’t wait to turn the next page.” Just like you’d block off lunch or a workout, schedule 30 minutes of reading into your calendar. I carve out nightly reading time before bed, and it’s become a sacred ritual—no screens, just stories. Over time, this small daily commitment has added up to dozens of books a year, and now I have the reading life of my dreams! I keep a paperback in my tote and the e-reader app on my phone.

Waiting for an appointment? Grab your book. Coffee line running long? A quick chapter goes a long way. Having reading material at arm’s reach turns idle minutes into mini book breaks. We all know the social media spiral.

I set a five-minute timer during breaks—no mindless feeds, just reading. Those five minutes might become ten, and suddenly you’ve read a whole short story instead of doom-scrolling. Let's cut to the chase: you want to read more, but your calendar is a battlefield. Between work, family, and the endless scroll of social media, finding time to sit down with a book feels like a luxury you can't afford. But what if the problem isn't a lack of time, but a lack of strategy? The truth is, you don't need to block out hours of your day.

The world's most avid readers aren't swimming in free time; they've just mastered the art of fitting reading into the cracks of their lives. This guide will show you how to do the same. First, let go of the idea that you need a quiet room and a cozy armchair. Reading can happen anywhere, in any format. The Gist: Audiobooks are your secret weapon for "reading" while your eyes and hands are busy. Driving, doing chores, working out—these are now all opportunities to get through your reading list.

Reviews, recommendations, and reading advice for every story lover! If you LOVEEE books but can’t seem to find the time to read, you’re definitely the only one. Between school, work, friends, and family, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to just sit down and get lost in a story. For a while, I thought reading had to happen in big chunks of time. Like those rare afternoons where you curl up with a blanket and finish half a book in one sitting. While that sounds amazing, it’s just not realistic for most of us.

Simply put, you don’t need hours and hours of free time to read. You just need to get a little creative and fit reading into the small pockets of your day. Once I started doing that, I went from barely finishing a book a week (that’s still a lot, I know… I was sacrificing sleep, hehe) to finishing several without even noticing how much time... Here are some tips that have helped me read more, even when life feels ridiculously busy. One of the biggest mindset shifts for me was realizing that even tiny bits of reading count. Keep a book in your bag, in your car, or on your phone so it’s always there when you need it.

But if you’re like me and it takes a minute to get re-submerged into the book, I can assure you that your brain will get quicker at it the more you do this. Think about all the random times you end up waiting around during the day. These moments are perfect for sneaking in a few pages: How do you find time to read when life feels nonstop? With busy schedules and countless distractions, it can feel like an impossible task to finish even a single book, let alone multiple books a month. But what if I told you it’s easier than you think?

With a few clever strategies, you can enjoy reading even with a packed schedule. Learn how you can turn those small pockets of time into a world of stories! Reading books has long been praised as one of the best ways to stimulate the mind and expand knowledge. Beyond entertainment, it offers numerous benefits for mental health, productivity, and overall well-being. Mental Stimulation: When we read, our brains engage in active thinking and imagination, which helps improve focus, concentration, and cognitive function. Regular reading can also reduce the risk of cognitive decline as we age.

Increased Knowledge: Each book we read opens us to new ideas, perspectives, and information, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. This broadened knowledge base helps us to make better decisions and become more informed in various areas of life.

7 Realistic Ways To Read More Even When You Re Busy

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