How To Make Time To Read More When You Are Busy

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 2, 2025, 5:52 PM

how to make time to read more when you are busy

Some of the busiest people on our planet are also avid readers. Reading sparks your creativity, helps you grow your understanding of complex problems and grows you intellectually, while at the same time, reading is a very relaxing activity. But how do we make time to read? News articles report that we are reading less and less. A study in 2004 found that the average number of books read in the US per year is 12, while the median value is only five books. If you want to beat this sad statistic and increase the number of books you read per year and make time to read, then keep reading.

The year in which I finished my PhD, moved across the globe, and attended conferences in every single continent of the world to present my research (except Antarctica), I logged 69 books into my... Many people have wondered how I managed to find the time to read so many books while having such a busy year. If you want to increase the number of books you read each year, I have gathered 11 of my best tips for reading: If you enjoy borrowing books from the library, borrow more than you think you’ll actually read. Having physical books piled up in your house that you know need to be returned will encourage you to read more than you might initially have planned to. If you are a digital reader, make sure you download a stockpile of books onto your e-reader,so you always have a wealth of choices right at your fingertips that you are eager to read.

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: Home » Bookish Lifestyle » How To Make Time To Read More When You Are Busy Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from purchases made through the affiliate links included in this post. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

See the Privacy Policy for more information. Have you been wondering how to make time to read? I’ve got you covered! In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, carving out time to read can feel like a monumental task. As someone who’s navigated this challenge and emerged with a love for reading, I totally get it. My experience juggling work, family, and personal goals has led me to some insightful strategies that might just resonate with you.

I consider myself a professional reader in the book industry world and, I’ve picked up a tip or two that have been a huge help in my own reading life, and I’m excited to... 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 be honest: life gets busy.

Between work, family, social obligations, and that never-ending to-do list, finding time to read can feel like a luxury we can’t afford. But as fellow book lovers, we know there’s nothing quite like the escape that comes from getting lost in a good book. Here’s the truth: no matter how busy life gets, there are ways to sneak in more reading time. You just need to get a little creative with how you fit books into your day. And the best part? These tips are totally doable—even if you’re juggling a million things.

So, if you’re ready to turn your to-be-read pile into a to-be-enjoyed stack, let’s dive into these simple strategies to make more time for reading! Ever feel overwhelmed just looking at your giant stack of books waiting to be read? That’s okay. The key is to start small. Commit to reading just 10 minutes a day. Trust me, you’ll be amazed at how quickly those minutes add up.

Whether it’s over your morning coffee or right before bed, you’ll find that a little time here and there adds up fast. Pro Tip: Keep a short book or collection of essays on hand. I love having bite-sized reads for those moments when I only have a few minutes. No time to read? Learn how to find time for reading when you’re busy with these practical book reading tips anyone can apply to quickly and easily become a better reader. The #1 problem readers of The Literary Lifestyle struggle with is how to find more time to read, and the #1 question I get asked is how to fit in more reading.

I especially hear from busy students and moms finding it hard to make time to read in college or with a newborn. I hear you, and I’ve got you covered in this post! I was once a law student reading dense casebooks to the point my brain felt fried. During that time in my life, I only read books for pleasure during school breaks. So, I totally understand that real life can make it tough to even start reading, let alone consume several books per year. Since that time, however, I have learned many great strategies as to how to find time to read books, and I have consistently read over 100+ books per year over the last several years,...

And during that time in my life, I also balanced a very busy schedule, including working at my full-time job, blogging part-time and, for the last several months before I became a full-time blogger,... This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links—at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information. It’s that time of year again when we’re all trying to figure out how to make time to read, even when we feel like there’s no time to read books. I hear you. Busy mom reader of two small kiddos over here!

Figuring out how to make time to read books and maintain a reading habit is quite the challenge, especially if you have a busy schedule. Before holding yourself accountable to lofty or vague goals to read more books or read more effectively, we have to know our “why” and really experience a mindset shift. There are many benefits of reading, and when you consider those benefits and start seeing the habit of reading as a radical act of self-care in a world of constant gratification and distraction, the... Life moves fast. Between work, school, family, and endless to-do lists, it can feel impossible to find time to sit down with a good book. But if you’ve been wanting to get back into reading or just want to fit more books into your schedule, you’re not alone.

Here are some easy, practical tips to help you read more—no matter how busy your days are. 1. Save Time with the Library’s Online Resources When you’re busy, making time to visit the library might feel impossible. That’s where our online resources come in handy. You can borrow e-books

and audiobooks without leaving home—saving time and making reading more convenient. Whether you’re grabbing an audiobook to listen to during your commute or an e-book to read in those random free moments, apps like Libby and Hoopla (among others) let you instantly access a huge... No need to worry about returning physical copies either—everything’s just a tap away! Who says you have to sit down with a book in hand to count it as reading? Audiobooks are a game-changer for busy schedules. You can listen while commuting, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, or exercising.

How To Make Time To Read More When You Are Busy

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