University of Kwazulu-Natal

Want To Read More This Year These Tiny Habits Will Help

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
want to read more this year these tiny habits will help

“I want to read more this year” is a common New Year’s resolution, for good reason: Reading, especially fiction, provides steady, reliable escapism ― and a lot of us are looking for just that... Plus, it’s great for your mental and physical health. One 2016 study, led by researchers from Yale University School of Public Health, found that adults who reported reading books for more than 3½ hours per week were 23% less likely to die within... Another study ― this one put out in 2009 by the University of Sussex ― found that reading as little as six minutes at a time can be enough to reduce stress levels by... Want to get in on that action? I, along with some BookTokers I spoke to, come bearing tips on how to read more.

(My credentials? I’m a fairly avid reader, clocking in 51 books this year and 60 last year. That’s not 365-books-a-year numbers ― how did that BuzzFeed reporter do all that? ― but it’s not bad, either! The BookTokers’ credentials? The thousands of people who follow them on TikTok for recommendations.)

Reading isn’t a competition, even if the Pizza Hut Book It! Program had you believing that. Any real book lover will tell you it’s more about what you absorb and take away from each book than how many titles you can cram into a year. In between those New Year's Resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more, why not give your brain a bit of a workout too? Regular reading leads to positive impacts on your mental and emotional well-being, including slowing down cognitive decline, bolstering empathy and curiosity, improving your vocabulary and reducing stress. Reading can also help you get better sleep.

Like any habit or skill, you'll benefit from being consistent and prioritizing reading in your life. There’s no magic solution, but there are hacks to help you up your reading time in 2025. Between trying new formats, knowing when to put down the book and the best time to pick a new one up, these seven suggestions will benefit any reader – seasoned or rookie. For tips, I asked Al Woodworth, a senior editor at Amazon Books who reads hundreds of books a year, and Ryan Carr, a book influencer who read almost 70 books in 2024, almost double... Take a moment to reflect on why you want to read more in 2025. Is it because you want to join in on the BookTok fun?

Need to get off your phone more? Is there a subject you want to learn about? We asked this year’s judges to share their best tips for making more time for fiction in the new year New year, new you, same TBR (to be read). Every January, millions of aspiring and fallen bookworms challenge themselves to read more in the new year. But thanks to work, social responsibilities, and the midnight motivation that seemingly gets swept up with the confetti, reading goals often fall to the wayside as the year goes on.

It’s probably unrealistic to assume that you’ll make it through every book on your TBR list by the next time the ball drops next year, not to mention that your list will probably get... (And what does “reading more” actually mean?) We’re here to help you rewrite the narrative and turn your New Year’s resolution into reality. In Ballast’s upcoming release Whatever Works, Ron Gross writes that goals are easier to achieve when they’re specific, measurable, and attainable. To make your New Year’s reading goal happen, it’s crucial to define what “reading more” means to you in terms of both content and quantity. With that in mind, we recommend applying these five tips:

Cheers to an exciting upcoming year in the books! And if your New Year’s resolutions include writing books as well as reading them, submit your ideas to us. We’re ready to help you check another goal off your bucket list. Build a daily reading habit with these *tiny* lifestyle changes and mindset shifts. “I love reading but I can’t find time to start a book.” If that’s something you've heard yourself saying for a while now, it’s time to shift your mindset.

As someone who reads 90+ books a year, I’ve understood that building a daily reading habit doesn’t demand *major* lifestyle changes. You need to have a few tiny habits and stick to them, and watch your productivity as a reader skyrocket. 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. Want to read more books but can’t find the time? Discover 30 practical, real-life tips to help you read more books—even on the busiest days. I know how it feels—your TBR’s exploding, life’s nonstop, and you can’t remember the last time you finished a book you loved. Over the years, I’ve tried every trick in the book (pun intended!) to carve out reading time, stay motivated, and actually finish what I start. Here are 30 practical reading tips—from tiny habit tweaks to social hacks—that helped me read more books.

Let’s dive in! Block 15–30 minutes on your calendar—just like a meeting. Morning coffee, lunch break, bedtime: pick a sweet spot and stick to it. Stash one in your bag, car, and nightstand. When life pauses—waiting in line, a delayed train—you’re ready to read. I power through chores, commutes, and workouts by listening on Libby or Audible.

Suddenly, “busy” becomes “bookish.” So many books, so little time! With these simple tips from BookTokkers, librarians and other literary experts, you can read more books without completely rearranging your life. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more. While we all know the benefits of reading, the reality is that life gets hectic.

There’s a reason “read more” is such a common New Year’s resolution. As work piles on top of chores and social and family responsibilities, reading for pleasure can often take a backseat. When I was an English major in college, I happily read two books a week, but when I was at my first full-time job, I was lucky if I was able to read two... It was only once I realized how much I missed being engrossed in a juicy page-turner that I decided to readjust my approach and learn how to read more without taking time away from... We talked to big-time book lovers—book reviewers, librarians, book influencers on social media and Reader’s Digest Book Club members—to gather their tried-and-true tips for reading more books. From finding the best books for your taste and schedule to selecting shorter books for your limited attention span, this attainable, sustainable and judgment-free advice will get you to read every day.

Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.

People Also Search

“I Want To Read More This Year” Is A Common

“I want to read more this year” is a common New Year’s resolution, for good reason: Reading, especially fiction, provides steady, reliable escapism ― and a lot of us are looking for just that... Plus, it’s great for your mental and physical health. One 2016 study, led by researchers from Yale University School of Public Health, found that adults who reported reading books for more than 3½ hours pe...

(My Credentials? I’m A Fairly Avid Reader, Clocking In 51

(My credentials? I’m a fairly avid reader, clocking in 51 books this year and 60 last year. That’s not 365-books-a-year numbers ― how did that BuzzFeed reporter do all that? ― but it’s not bad, either! The BookTokers’ credentials? The thousands of people who follow them on TikTok for recommendations.)

Reading Isn’t A Competition, Even If The Pizza Hut Book

Reading isn’t a competition, even if the Pizza Hut Book It! Program had you believing that. Any real book lover will tell you it’s more about what you absorb and take away from each book than how many titles you can cram into a year. In between those New Year's Resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more, why not give your brain a bit of a workout too? Regular reading leads to positive impacts ...

Like Any Habit Or Skill, You'll Benefit From Being Consistent

Like any habit or skill, you'll benefit from being consistent and prioritizing reading in your life. There’s no magic solution, but there are hacks to help you up your reading time in 2025. Between trying new formats, knowing when to put down the book and the best time to pick a new one up, these seven suggestions will benefit any reader – seasoned or rookie. For tips, I asked Al Woodworth, a seni...

Need To Get Off Your Phone More? Is There A

Need to get off your phone more? Is there a subject you want to learn about? We asked this year’s judges to share their best tips for making more time for fiction in the new year New year, new you, same TBR (to be read). Every January, millions of aspiring and fallen bookworms challenge themselves to read more in the new year. But thanks to work, social responsibilities, and the midnight motivatio...