Almost everyone says they would like to read more. Few people lack the ability; what they lack is a routine that survives busy weeks, tired evenings and the pull of the phone. The good news is that reading responds to the same habit principles as exercise or saving money. You do not need more willpower. You need a better setup.
Why reading habits fail
Most reading resolutions fail for predictable reasons:
| Reason | What happens | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| The goal is too big | "A book a week" collapses after one busy week | Start with minutes, not books |
| No set time | Reading waits for a free hour that never comes | Attach reading to an existing routine |
| The wrong book | A dull "should read" makes reading feel like homework | Choose books you genuinely want to read |
| The book is not with you | Spare minutes go to scrolling instead | Keep an ebook on your phone |
| All-or-nothing thinking | Missing one day feels like failure | Never miss twice, and move on |
1. Start smaller than feels useful
Commit to two pages or five minutes a day. It feels too small to matter, which is exactly why it works: you can do it on your worst day. Most nights you will read more, but the commitment stays tiny so the habit never breaks.
2. Anchor reading to something you already do
A specific trigger beats a vague intention. Choose one:
- "After I get into bed, I read before I touch my phone."
- "On the train, I open my book before anything else."
- "With my morning coffee, I read one chapter."
- "During lunch, I read for ten minutes."
Psychologists call this an implementation intention: deciding exactly when and where you will act. It makes the behaviour far more likely to happen.
3. Always have a book with you
The single biggest change for many people is reading on the device they already carry. An ebook on your phone turns queues, commutes and waiting rooms into reading time. Our guide to reading ebooks on your phone covers the setup, and you can download books for offline reading for flights and patchy signal.
4. Read what you actually enjoy
A reading habit is built on pleasure, not virtue. If you love thrillers, read thrillers. If you prefer history, biography or faith, start there. You can always widen your reading once the habit is strong.
If you are unsure where to start, our reading lists on mafia history, Stoicism and habits are good starting points.
5. Give yourself permission to quit books
Nothing kills a reading habit faster than forcing your way through a book you dislike. Try the "50-page rule": if a book has not caught you after 50 pages (or a few chapters), put it down without guilt.
6. Make your phone work for you, not against you
- Put your reading app on your home screen where social apps used to be.
- Turn on dark mode for night reading; see night reading and dark mode.
- Silence notifications while you read.
- At night, charge your phone away from the bed and read on a tablet or e-reader, or keep only the reading app open.
7. Remove friction
Make starting effortless. Keep your current book open in your reading app so one tap takes you back to your page. Choose a comfortable font size and line spacing. Have a next book ready so finishing one does not end the streak.
8. Use short sessions to your advantage
Not every book needs long, quiet evenings. Short story collections, essays, poetry, devotionals and books with short chapters fit naturally into five-minute gaps. Alternate a long book with something lighter if you are struggling to keep momentum.
9. Track lightly
A simple tick on a calendar or a running list of finished books gives a satisfying sense of progress. Keep it light: tracking pages or speed can turn reading into a performance and drain the enjoyment.
10. Never miss twice
Missing a day is normal. Missing two starts a new habit of not reading. If you skip a day, read just two pages the next day and the habit is intact.
11. Make it social
Tell a friend what you are reading, join a book club, or share one highlight a week. A little social connection makes reading feel like part of your identity rather than a chore.
12. Think of yourself as a reader
"I'm trying to read more" is fragile. "I'm a reader" is sturdy. Each small session is a vote for that identity. Over time, it stops being something you have to remember and becomes something you simply do.
Reading habits for different lives
| Your situation | What tends to work |
|---|---|
| Commuter | Read on your phone on the train or bus; download books for offline reading |
| Busy parent | Five minutes during nap time or after bedtime; short chapters and story collections |
| Night owl | Read in bed with dark mode instead of scrolling |
| Early riser | One chapter with morning coffee before checking messages |
| Student | A short pleasure read before bed, to separate it from study reading |
| Shift worker | Anchor reading to a fixed point in your routine, such as after your meal break, rather than a clock time |
How much can a small habit add up to?
Most adults read somewhere around 200 to 300 words per minute. A modest daily habit adds up quickly:
| Daily reading | Words per day (approx.) | Average-length books per year (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 1,250 | 5 to 8 |
| 15 minutes | 3,750 | 15 to 20 |
| 20 minutes | 5,000 | 20 to 25 |
| 30 minutes | 7,500 | 30 to 40 |
These are rough estimates assuming books of around 70,000 to 90,000 words; your numbers will vary with reading speed and the books you choose. The point stands: twenty minutes a day is a lot of books.
A 30-day reading plan
| Week | Focus | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | Read two pages a day at one set trigger. Choose a book you are excited about. |
| 2 | Anchor | Keep the same trigger. Move your reading app to your home screen. |
| 3 | Expand | Add a second reading moment, such as your commute or lunch. |
| 4 | Reflect | Note what worked, pick your next book, and grow the session slightly if it feels easy. |
Reading more deeply, not just more
Once the habit is in place, a few practices help books stick:
- Highlight sparingly, only what you would want to find again.
- Add a short note to a highlight saying why it mattered.
- Write three lines when you finish: what the book was about, one idea you will keep, and who you would recommend it to.
In Oasis Reader, highlights and notes are saved with your book; our guide to ebook highlights and notes explains how to use them well.
Books that help you build habits
If you want to apply the same principles to other parts of life, these BooksOasis titles go deeper on habit-building:
The Strength of Starting Small by Lani Rivers argues that plans fail because they are designed for our best day, and makes the case for changes small enough to survive real life.
The Science of Positive Winning Habits by Emerson Hale explains how habits form and why systems work when motivation fades.
Do Hard Things by Castiel Hormozi is a direct challenge to procrastination, for readers who need a push to start.
More books you might like
Recent additions on habits, focus and personal growth.
Reading on BooksOasis
- Buy once and read on your phone, tablet or laptop, with no subscription.
- Dark mode, adjustable fonts, offline reading and notes in Oasis Reader.
- Daily deals and bundles make it easy to keep a next book ready.
In short
A lasting reading habit is small, anchored and enjoyable. Read two pages at the same moment every day, keep a book on your phone, choose books you love, and forgive the missed days. In a few months you will not be trying to read more. You will simply be a reader.
Questions
How many pages a day should I read to build a habit?
Start with an amount so small you can do it on your worst day, such as two pages or five minutes. Consistency matters far more than volume at the start; you can increase it once the habit sticks.
How long does it take to build a reading habit?
It varies widely between people. Research on habit formation suggests it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for a behaviour to feel automatic, so expect it to take time and do not worry about missing a day.
Does reading on a phone count?
Yes. Reading ebooks on a phone is still reading, and it is one of the easiest ways to fit reading into gaps in your day. Use a reading app with comfortable fonts and dark mode.
Is it OK to stop reading a book I don't enjoy?
Yes. Forcing yourself through a book you dislike is one of the fastest ways to lose a reading habit. Put it down and choose something you want to read.
How many books can I read in a year?
At 20 minutes a day, many adults read the equivalent of roughly 15 to 30 average-length books a year, depending on reading speed and the books chosen.
Find your next read
Ebooks you can open instantly on your phone, tablet or laptop.