How to Read More Even When You’re Really Busy

Summer, the season of supposedly endless time to curl up by the pool, sip deliciously perfectly chilled watermelon seltzer and devour the hottest beach reads, didn’t go as planned.

The promise of free time turned out to be a cruel myth. It was a valiant effort lugging around those books and Kindles. There’s even some sand and fried scraps of clam in their crevices as evidence of good intentions. The pile and lists of books you want to spend time with have grown exponentially, and you’ve noticed the irony that if you could just stop looking at BookTok, it could lead to actual reading.

It’s one thing to love to read; another to it. Like many things we enjoy that are good for us, life can sabotage even the best of intentions. Distractions, deadlines, and competing priorities get in the way. But waiting for the next summer vacation or some other mythical block of “right time” probably won’t help develop the habits and rituals that will help you read more.

Returning to school and work can seem like a double whammy against reading ambitions. Extremely full appointment calendars are emerging. Time is elusive. If you wish you had more time to read, start thinking small. These micro-strategies can help you move from cycles of craving to read and regret not having done it to perseverance:

Microstrategy 1: Start small.

Set the lowest imaginable goal. Find a tiny piece of unsatisfactory minutes in your routine to read. Trade pointless scrolling for something more substantial. Make a small change in your current habits. Find shards while waiting or during transition times like boarding the train or waking up. Put a 15-minute block on your calendar. Make reading a pleasant ritual, not a “must”. Micro moments add up.

Micro Strategy 2: Enjoy.

Remember how much fun reading was as a kid? While scholastic book fairs and summer reading programs with Lisa Frank stickers and glow-in-the-dark frogs aren’t part of growing up, that doesn’t mean we can’t create our own incentives. While reading is a reward in itself, it can help to attach a few small treats that reinforce good reading habits, like a smoothie after you’ve finished a chapter or book, or a small prize that’s meaningful to you. Summoning your childhood spirit can help keep reading enthusiasm alive.

Microstrategy 3: Honor your distinct identities and preferences.

Don’t limit yourself to certain genres. A few years ago, I realized that most of what I read fell into an intense category, such as the global mental health crisis, examining advances in brain science, and driving social change. This felt natural and went unexamined because it is so much a part of my professional life and personal passion. However, something made me gasp and turn to lighter materials to provide ease and learning opportunities outside of my typical interests. So now I indulge Vaclav Smil and Miranda Says with equal passion. And I’m just as obsessed with Jennie Slate as Isabelle Wilkerson. I embrace the laugh-out resonance of Samantha Irby and the poignancy of Susan Cain. I meditate with Thich Nhat Hanh and break down with Tara Schuster. My librarians are curious, but I find it invigorating to have diverse literature to speak to my different sides, moods, variables, learning needs, and overall development.

Microstrategy 4: Make it easier.

Keep your Kindle and your book close at hand. Position yourself by making good books accessible everywhere. While you’re at it, identify some favorite places to read that are easy to get to and that bring you comfort and joy.

Micro-Strategy 5: Embrace the modern world.

There was a stat showing how many people listened to podcasts and tried sushi. Between the massive selection of podcasts, book bites, audiobooks, and learning gadgets and resources, it’s easier than ever to listen on the go. Find your favorite methods, but keep some options ready to customize as you come and go.

Micro-strategy 6: Curate excellent books.

Do you have a friend who is a voracious reader? Ask her about her favorites. Look for solid suggestions in books that have won awards like the Whiting Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, Indie Book Awards, and Porchlight. You can also review curated books through organizations like The Next Big Idea Book Club or Oprah’s Book Club.

Microstrategy 7: Don’t go alone.

Reading with friends is a great source of bonding. Relationships serve as a protective factor in mental health. You don’t have to join a book club to do this. Pick a book and a person and give it a try. Spark enthusiasm and celebrate your progress together.

Being insanely busy can disrupt even the best intentions for reading habits. Micro-strategies can help you create rituals that will help you move from a place of regret for not reading more to doing so.