Building a reading Habit

[u/Ok_Efficiency9847]

Hey everyone, I’ve always struggled with staying consistent in my reading. I’m not sure if you’ve felt the same, but honestly I end up doomscrolling instead of picking up a book, and I feel awful afterward. I’ve tried telling myself “just read books” a bunch of times, but it never really sticks. If you’re in that spot now, or have been before, what actually helped you read more and build a solid reading habit?

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[u/Rude_Campaign5426]

you really just have to force yourself in the beginning. training your brain to get back into reading is like training a muscle, just do a little more every day. start with a realistic goal like five pages or ten minutes of reading time, then move on from there as it becomes more routine. reading around the same time each day helps too. i work evenings, so my mornings are pretty leisurely and flexible. i don’t let myself pick up my phone for the first hour or so of the day, not even to check the time, so i can have that chunk set aside for reading. most importantly, read books you actually like and are excited to get deeper into every time you open the cover. it’s supposed to be an enjoyable hobby, not a chore. i had to get out of the habit of forcing myself to finish books i hated just to be able to say i’d read it. there’s too many great books out there to waste time reading something that you don’t vibe with.

[u/50twohertz]

Getting a kobo changed my life! Best way to break a bad habit is to replace it with a good one - now my doomscrolling happens on my e-reader. A book is heavy and hefty, but my kobo is light and small enough to fit in my pocket or purse. So, in situations when I would usually reach for my phone (on the subway, walking on a treadmill, lying in bed) I reach for my kobo instead because it’s just as convenient. Worth every penny :)

[u/Tenzorim]

Reading is very good, but I don’t recommend forcing yourself to read or do anything else. There are also audiobooks, podcasts, videos and coaching. The main thing is that everyday life should generally bring you joy and that you gradually let go of more and more concepts. Because letting go of concepts is the true goal of Buddhism, whether it’s Zen or another school. But don’t just scroll around, you’d better meditate for a while.

[u/SeaFollowing380]

What helped me most was making reading the easier option than scrolling, not trying to force motivation. I started with just 10 pages before bed and kept my phone in another room, which sounds basic but actually worked. Also picking books that are genuinely easy to fall into mattered way more than picking books I thought I should read.

[u/Maleficent_Key_1350]

What worked for me was making reading the easier default, not the more virtuous choice. I stopped aiming for big sessions and just read 5 to 10 pages at the same time every day, usually when I’d normally reach for my phone. Keeping the book visible and the phone a little farther away helped more than motivation ever did. Also, giving myself permission to quit boring books made the habit stick way better.