Many people struggle to find time to read because of busy schedules, and that’s a fact. We work or study, spend time with family, do chores, and try to get through long to-do lists. On top of that, add other entertainment sources: TV streaming services, video games, and phones with plenty of apps to choose from.
Still, even with a packed day, you should be able to fit in some time to read by making small changes to your routine and shifting your mindset. If you’ve ever asked, “How do I find time to read more?” this post is for you. We’ve put together some simple ways to help you make reading a habit (not a chore!), no matter how busy you are.
People Struggle to Find Time to Read
A YouGov study found that only around half of Americans read at least one book in 2023. It means many of us didn’t read a single book all year. This clearly illustrates several issues: first, how hard it can be to make time for reading and, second, the potentially declining appeal of reading, or actual intent to read, compared to other entertainment sources, especially digital ones.
However, we can’t ignore the challenge of keeping younger generations interested in reading. Take this recent Walton Family Foundation “Voices of Gen Z Study 2025”, which shows that 35% of Gen Z K-12 students dislike reading, and 43% say they rarely or never read for fun. That, for sure, is not good news.
That said, many studies tend to indicate that reading can reduce stress and improve focus and creativity. Basically, saying that reading is good for you. So, it’s important to make time to read ourselves and to try to engage younger generations in reading.
While we can’t solve the global problem of decreased reading with this post, at least we can give you some tips on how to make a little more time for reading.
1. Start Small: Read for 10 Minutes a Day
Whichever team you’re on (reading is a luxury or reading is not interesting), if you’re actually trying to find more time to read or looking for motivation, the best starting point is to try to make reading into a habit. And this habit needs to start small. Set aside ten minutes a day. Ten minutes is just a small amount of time taken off your day.
Those ten minutes can be whenever they fit your schedule: ten minutes before bed, during your lunch break, with your morning coffee, or even during your commute! And, in the end, even short reading sessions will add up. If you read for ten minutes a day, it will add up to over an hour a week, and, depending on a book, it could reward you with one book per month.
The key here is that you don’t need to overhaul your entire routine. You just need consistency. And motivation. Imagine conversations you can start participating in with your friends and colleagues – book recommendations, current reads, best or worst books you’ve read!
2. Read Before Bed (and Put the Phone Away)
Scrolling on phones before bed is one of the biggest reasons why people read less. Remember when finding the perfect “reading light” was so cool? Now our phones light up in our faces day or night. Many of us do it out of habit.
What if you tried swapping at least a little bit of your bedtime phone scrolling for a book instead? And, no, you don’t have to ditch your phone entirely; this is not what we’re saying. Simply try setting aside a bit of that phone time for a book and see if that helps you get into reading.
Keep a novel, a comic book, or your e-reader by your nightstand. Start by reading a few pages before bed. No pressure, just enjoyment. Then, surprisingly, you might find that reading helps you unwind faster than staring at a screen.
This actually leads us well into the next point — read what you want to read.
3. Choose Books You Actually Want to Read
Don’t worry about what you think you “should” read, unless you actually have a required reading list. Instead, focus on the books you want to read. If a book doesn’t interest you, don’t force yourself to finish it. Your time is valuable, so spend it on stories that excite you. No one is going to tell you off for not getting into a story. And the best part is that there are plenty of options out there!
It’s only natural that you’ll find it easier to make time for books that interest you, whether that’s fantasy, history, memoirs, or something else. Let’s say you’re currently learning about backyard farming. Of course, there will be plenty of videos that you can watch about backyard farming, but you could also find it useful to read a book like “The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals” by Gail Damerow.
You’ll naturally make time for books that interest you. Whether it’s fantasy, history, memoirs, or something totally unexpected. Maybe you love backyard farming? You could take up “The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals” by Gail Damerow.
The point here is that the choices of books these days are really quite endless, especially if you have a way to read a digital copy. Looking for more ideas? Check out our Map of the Books, where we are building an interactive way to explore books by real-world locations.
4. Use Your Commute Time for Reading
Commuting can be a great opportunity to read more, even in less-than-ideal surroundings. Taking public transport? Bring a paperback or e-reader with you (as long as you can handle reading in smelly, hot, crowded spaces).
Those boring commute minutes each way can easily become your reading time, especially since public transport underground often means no internet. So if you have downloaded a book or carry a paperback copy, you can just read it offline.
Moreover, if you drive or don’t like reading on the move, audiobooks are a good option. Apps like Audible let you “read” while you drive, walk, or do chores. Technically, you will “read” with your ears, but it still counts. You’ll be surprised how many books you can finish this way!
5. Read in Different Formats
Reading today doesn’t mean sitting down with a hardcover book. Modern reading is, well, flexible! You can go for:
- E-books: They’re lightweight and easy to carry wherever you go.
- Audiobooks: Perfect for multitasking, again, perfect when you’re on the move.
- Print books: Great for winding down screen-free, connecting with print and paper.
Using different formats means you can read almost anywhere: in line, on the bus, or during lunch. Even if it’s just for a couple of minutes.
If we take a look again at the same YouGov (2023) study, there’s another interesting point we would like to mention. The study showed that Americans who chose to read digital books have read more books than those who read in other mediums. It makes sense: using different formats enables you to read almost anywhere.
6. Join a Library or Reading Challenge to Keep Yourself Motivated
Libraries aren’t dusty, boring, quiet spaces full of books. They’re not just for kids and homework research. Nowadays, libraries have online catalogues full of a great variety of books and even audiobooks, and you could easily find a book you’re interested in without having to buy it.
And, even more, libraries can be your motivation machines! When you borrow a book with a due date, you naturally feel the push to finish it, so subconsciously, you’re going to try harder.
Another great way to increase your reading time is to join reading challenges on platforms like Goodreads or The StoryGraph. These can help you stay accountable. And, of course, tracking your progress can be surprisingly motivating.
7. Keep Books Visible
If you’re trying to stay more motivated to read, keep books visible around your home. On the nightstand, kitchen counter, or other homely “points of interest” – anywhere where it may encourage you to pick the book up more.
There’s something unique and rewarding about reading a physical book. Seeing books first and foremost will act as a visual prompt to read them. Additionally, there are studies that suggest that reading from a physical book helps you absorb information better: six to eight times better, in fact (Altamura, L., Vargas, C., & Salmerón, L., 2023), as outlined in Psychology Today.
8. Make Your Reading Time More “Social”
If you’re trying to find more time to read books, why not join a local or online book club? Openly discussing books (or at least listening to people talking about them) can give you a reason to read more consistently. Also, it’s a great way to meet people with similar interests or similar challenges, no matter which way you look at it.
If you’re not into group discussions or don’t like face-to-face conversations (we understand!), AND you are on social media, check out book communities there. If you’re not familiar with BookTok, it is a TikTok “theme” dedicated to videos about books and reading. To illustrate the popularity, the hashtag #BookTok has generated over 36 million videos and accumulated more than 200 billion views on TikTok, according to the Yale Daily News (2025). These are the incredible volumes we’re talking about! Additionally, the #bookstagram hashtag on Instagram has been used over 100 million times.
Reading Can Mean Time Well Spent
To finish this post, we just want to remind you that finding more time to read doesn’t mean figuring out where to get those endless free hours out of thin air. In fact, it’s about making small, intentional choices to find at least a couple of minutes for your daily reading.
When you start viewing reading as a reward, not a chore, it will become a part of your day! So, grab a book, open an audiobook app, or explore our Map of the Books to find your next read!
Common FAQs: How to Read More When You’re Busy
How can I read more books if I’m always busy?
Start small! Try to spend ten minutes a day reading a book. Pick books that really interest you. Make use of downtime, like commute time.
Are audiobooks as good as reading?
Absolutely! Audiobooks still count as reading. They’re perfect for multitasking and help you fit more stories into your day. Also, audiobooks can have really great narration, so it’s a win-win.
How many books can I read per month?
How many books you can read per month will depend on several things: your reading skills, reading speed, the book’s size, its complexity, and more! But, even with just 10–15 reading minutes a day, you can finish 1–2 books per month, or 15–20 books per year. The more you read, the more books you can complete in a month.
How do I stay consistent with reading?
Set a reminder or try to pair reading with a daily routine (like coffee or bedtime). Keep the current book you’re reading easily accessible, and pick a book that interests you.
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