This post is all about ways to develop a reading habit.

Do you love reading books but always struggle to take the time to read?

Do you have trouble focusing or remembering what’s in the book you read hours ago?

Or is building a long-term reading habit your primary challenge?

Well, don’t worry! You are not alone. I faced similar struggles when it came to developing my reading habit.

With dinner times, school projects, and sports schedules, I found finding time to read a struggle.

I had always loved reading when I was younger and wanted to get back to this intellectually stimulating hobby, but I could never find the time.

Fortunately, I eventually figured out some best practices that helped me overcome this obstacle and create an effective strategy for reading more in the future.

Reading more is something everyone should strive for! There are so many benefits derived from developing good reading habits. Here is an excellent Healthline article describing the benefits gained from reading.

I am an avid reader, and my book count is approximately 50 books a year. In today’s blog post, I will share my five best ways to develop your reading habits so that you, too, can plunge yourself in this fun and relaxing hobby.

Set a reading goal – start small and increase it as you progress.

Listen, I know that reading can be intimidating, especially if you haven’t picked up a book in a while. But trust me, setting a reading goal is a game-changer.

Start with something manageable, like a small book, a chapter daily, one page, or 20 minutes of reading. Whatever is manageable to you. It may not sound like much but think of it like a warm-up before a workout.

When you develop a reading habit slowly, you can increase your goal when you feel comfortable and ready or have additional time.

Before you know it, you’ll be breezing through books, and you might even want to tackle those 1000-page epics. But for now, start small and let your reading journey take flight.

Here is a list of short, quick reads. (if you need suggestions):

• The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (a fantastic story for everyone)
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (a favorite for teens and above)
• The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (really good, but very disturbing, I would say this is older teens and above)
• Animal Farm by George Orwell (another favorite)
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote (great to listen to)
• The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald (unforgettable classic)
• The Little Prince – by Antoine De Saint-Exupery (an additional good read for all ages)
• Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach (an uplifting tale for all)

Make Sure the Reading Material is Interesting and Engaging

Let’s be real – reading can sometimes feel like a chore. But reading should not be complicated or something you must force yourself to do!

Whether diving into a novel or scrolling through an article online, the key to truly enjoying what you’re reading is to ensure it’s interesting and engaging.

This might mean finding an author that speaks to you personally or seeking out topics you’re genuinely curious about. Whatever approach you take, make sure that you’re reading with a sense of excitement and adventure.

Reading is a chance to grow, learn, and escape into a world entirely different from your own.

Make reading a priority – set aside a specific time each day to read.

I can affirm the power of reading. It enhances my creativity, critical thinking skills, and imagination.

But, if you are busy, as most of us are, making time for reading can be challenging. My advice is to schedule reading for a specific number of minutes each day or when you are in a particular physical environment, such as a coffee shop or the gym.

Maybe you can schedule your reading right before bed (when most of my quality reading time occurs) or when you first wake up. Whatever it is, make it a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.

If you read early, you should read in a different room to avoid being distracted by other family members.

Trust me, once you start seeing the benefits of regular reading, you’ll wonder how you survived without it.

Try different formats for reading, such as ebooks or audiobooks.

Do you think that reading has to be with a physical book? Or just one at a time? I always have ebooks on the Kindle app on my iPad, a library or other book I have purchased, and one that I am listening to from either the Libby library app, Chirp, or Audible.

I use to only read one book at a time, and I would start reading another once I finished the first book. But now I always read multiple books at the same time. We could all keep up with four or five different subjects in school, so we can read or listen to three or four books at a time.

We all have busy lives, so we need to be mindful of our precious time. Don’t waste it by mindlessly watching TV or watching Netflix; reading different books in this fashion can be a way to achieve those reading goals and cultivate an excellent daily reading habit.

This is how I cultivate better habits and read more books.

• Listen to an ebook while doing household chores or gardening. (Maybe you will look forward to cleaning)
• Listen to a book while walking or exercising.
• Listen to a book while driving or on your daily commute.
• Always have a book in the car.
• Have a book on your nightstand so that you can read every night before going to sleep.
• Download an ebook to your phone or other electronic device.
• Always have a book checked out from the library to read if you have some free time.

So, don’t be afraid to broaden your mindful world and try a new way of reading.

If you are wondering about your local library and how to access ebooks. Read this post for more information.

Track your reading progress by keeping a reading log.

Oh, the joy of losing yourself in a good book. Whether it be a single book or multiple books, a fiction or non-fiction book. Flipping through pages until the wee morning hours, completely unaware of the world around you, will give you instant gratification.

But what if you need to remember where you left off or forget what you have previously read? A reading log is a perfect way to keep track. It allows you to look back on all the fantastic books you’ve devoured and can also help motivate you to keep going.

There are several methods that you could use for this. You could keep track in a notebook or by using one of many electronic methods.

Here are some of the many electronic methods that you can use:

• Goodreads
• Bookly: Book Tracker & TBR (To Be Read) Log
• Reading List: Book Tracker
• Beanstack Tracker
• Bookmory – reading tracker
• My Bookshelf
• Storygraph
• iReadItNow
• Home Library Manager – Leto
• Turn-Reading Tracker & Timer
• Reading Time – Book Tracker

My favorite tracker is Goodreads. I love Goodreads for my reading tracker and have used it for about six years.

It keeps track of all of my reading activities. When I am out, and someone wants a book recommendation, I just pull up titles on my Goodreads app.

I can write reviews to help me remember plot details and other nuances. The reading challenge I create each year is fun and keeps me engaged in my reading habit.

Reasons why I use Goodreads:

• lists of all books read
• keeps a list of want-to-read books
• track books currently reading
• notes progress by page number or percentage finished of books presently reading
• create yearly reading challenges
• year-end results with pages read, books read, etc.
• friends feature so that you can see what your friends are reading and get recommendations from them
• see book reviews
• peruse “best-of” reading lists to find new things to read
• easy-to-use app on my mobile device

Final Thoughts

Reading can be a joyful escape from the twists and turns of everyday life, or it can help people grow in knowledge and build their skills.

If you would like a reading buddy or a group of like-minded readers to discuss this new knowledge and skills, join a book club.

Book clubs typically read the same book and then meet in a specific time frame to discuss the read. The activity of getting together with friends and discussing a plot really enhances the reading experience. Read more about book clubs here.

Get inventive with your environment or experiment with an audiobook – the possibilities are endless! Listening also counts as reading. The most crucial step is to let yourself get lost in whatever format you choose and let the stories take you to new places.

With the five tips provided, developing a reading habit is within reach. Reach for a good book and start with the first chapter or just a few pages.

In the end, whether readers take joy in a comic book, immerse themselves in non-fiction, self-help, literary fiction, or enjoy the latest YA novel while they relax, they are expanding their horizons.

So don’t wait any longer: make it fun, and start reading today!

Who knows, your kids may even want to join you.

What are you waiting for? Get going, read!

xooxoo