The Gap Between "I Want to Read More" and Actually Reading

Most people want to read more. Few actually do. The culprit isn't busyness — it's competition. Streaming services, social media, and podcasts are all optimized to capture attention. A book requires you to choose it actively, every single time.

The solution isn't to find more time. It's to remove the friction between you and the book.

Step 1: Always Have a Book in Progress

The single biggest predictor of reading regularly is having a book you're actively in the middle of. When there's no current book, the barrier to reading is high — you have to choose a new one first. Keep that barrier low by finishing one book and immediately starting the next.

Keep a short "to read next" list of 3–5 books so the transition is instant.

Step 2: Place Books Where You Spend Time

Environment design beats willpower. Put physical books in the places where you're naturally stationary:

  • Bedside table (replace the phone charger with a book)
  • Kitchen counter (for waiting while food cooks)
  • Couch or armchair
  • Work bag or backpack for commutes

For ebooks, set your reading app as the first screen on your phone. Make books the path of least resistance.

Step 3: Read in Smaller Chunks Than You Think

You don't need a two-hour reading session. At an average reading speed, 20 minutes of reading covers roughly 20–25 pages. That's a typical novel chapter. At that pace:

  • 20 minutes/day = ~18 books per year (based on a 250-page average)
  • 10 minutes/day = ~9 books per year

The math is more generous than most people expect. Micro-sessions add up significantly over time.

Step 4: Use "Dead Time" for Audiobooks

Audiobooks aren't cheating — they're a different format for consuming the same content. Commutes, workouts, cooking, cleaning, and walking are all perfect for audiobooks. The key is to stop thinking of these as wasted time and start treating them as reading time.

Most public libraries offer free audiobook access through apps like Libby/OverDrive. There's no cost barrier.

Step 5: Give Yourself Permission to Quit Bad Books

Nothing kills a reading habit faster than slogging through a book you don't enjoy out of obligation. Life is too short, and your reading list is too long. If you're 50–100 pages in and genuinely not engaged, put it down and move on.

The "50 minus your age" rule (coined by reader and librarian Nancy Pearl) suggests you only need to give a book that many pages before quitting. At 30, that's 20 pages. At 50, that's zero — your time is too valuable.

Step 6: Track What You've Read

Tracking creates a sense of progress and momentum. Options include:

  • Goodreads: Free, social reading tracker with annual reading challenges
  • A simple notebook: Write down the title, author, and date you finished
  • The StoryGraph: More detailed tracking with mood and pace data

Seeing a list of books you've finished is genuinely motivating. It makes the invisible progress of reading visible.

What to Do About Book Recommendations

When someone recommends a book, add it to your list immediately — don't trust yourself to remember it later. A simple note in your phone works fine. A growing list of genuinely interesting recommendations means you'll never be stuck searching for your next read.

The Bottom Line

Reading more isn't about discipline — it's about design. Remove friction, make books accessible, use time you already have, and stop forcing yourself through books you don't enjoy. Do those things, and reading becomes a habit that sustains itself.