How to Build a Reading Habit (When You Haven’t Finished a Book in Years)

If you haven’t finished a book in years, don’t worry — you don’t have a reading problem. You have a competition problem. Your phone, with its endless scroll and micro-rewards, is simply winning the battle for your attention. Building reading habits isn’t about forcing yourself to read 50 books a year or turning into a productivity machine. It’s about making books easier to pick up than your phone and finding realistic, enjoyable ways to read more.

In this article, we’ll explore why reading feels so hard nowadays, reveal the real benefits of reading backed by science, and share practical strategies to build a reading routine you can stick to — without guilt or pressure.

You Don’t Have a Reading Problem, You Have a Competition Problem

Most people don’t dislike reading. The problem is that your phone is easier, more accessible, and delivers instant gratification every few seconds. Books demand sustained attention, which feels like a huge ask compared to the dopamine hits from notifications, likes, and memes.

The motivation is there, but the book is losing the competition for your limited attention span. Your brain is wired to seek quick rewards, and phones exploit this with micro-interactions. The real solution isn’t to try harder—it’s to change the competitive landscape.

Make books more accessible: keep one on your nightstand, in your bag, or on your desk. Make your phone less accessible: turn on Do Not Disturb, uninstall time-sucking apps, or use app blockers during your reading time. Shifting the environment this way gives books a fairer chance at your attention.

Here’s the math that changed my reading habits: 20 pages a day is about 25 minutes. That’s less time than the average person spends scrolling social media before even getting out of bed. Swap morning scrolling for morning reading, and you’ll finish 15-20 books a year — without adding a single minute to your day.

The Research-Backed Benefits of Reading (Beyond “It’s Good for You”)

Reading isn’t just an old-fashioned pastime — it delivers measurable, dose-dependent benefits that science confirms:

• Stress reduction: Reading for just 30 minutes reduces stress levels by 68%, more effectively than listening to music or taking a walk (University of Sussex study).

• Cognitive health: Regular readers experience slower cognitive decline as they age, according to a longitudinal study by Rush University Medical Center.

• Empathy and social skills: Fiction readers show improved empathy and better theory of mind — the ability to understand others’ perspectives (Science, 2013).

• Better sleep: Reading printed books before bed improves sleep quality compared to screen use, which disrupts circadian rhythms due to blue light exposure.

These benefits aren’t abstract—they’re backed by data and grow with consistent reading habits.

The 20-Page Rule: How to Actually Start

If you want to build a reading habit that lasts, start small but concrete. Commit to reading 20 pages per day. For most people, this takes roughly 20-30 minutes.

Why 20 pages? It’s a manageable chunk that feels achievable, yet consistent enough to finish most books in 2-3 weeks. That pace translates to about 15-20 books per year — a realistic and rewarding goal.

Compared to “one chapter a day,” which varies wildly in length and can feel inconsistent, the 20-page minimum creates a clear, repeatable target that removes decision fatigue.

If 20 pages feels too much, start with 10 pages or simply read for 10 minutes a day. The key is to make the habit frictionless.

How to Choose Books You’ll Actually Finish

A major reason people abandon reading is picking books they feel they should read, rather than books they want to read. The best reading habit is built on enjoyable books, not impressive ones.

Give yourself permission to quit a book if it hasn’t grabbed you by page 50. Life is too short for bad books.

One useful framework is to rotate between:

1. A “candy” book — pure entertainment, something light and fun.
2. A “vegetable” book — non-fiction or growth-oriented reading.
3. Whatever you’re curious about — a topic or genre you want to explore.

Use Goodreads, podcasts, or recommendations from friends to find titles, but trust your genuine interest over bestseller lists or social pressure.

Physical Books, E-Readers, and Audiobooks: What Counts

The format matters less than you think. Here’s the honest take:

• Physical books: Best for focus and retention. No notifications or distractions, plus the tactile experience can increase engagement.

• E-readers (e.g., Kindle): Almost as good as physical books, with the advantage of carrying hundreds of titles and instant purchasing.

• Audiobooks: Absolutely count as reading. They’re great for non-fiction, commutes, workouts, or chores. Research suggests comprehension from audiobooks is roughly equivalent to reading for most content types.

The best format is the one that removes the most friction for you. If you commute 30 minutes each way, audiobooks add 5 hours of reading per week you’re currently wasting.

Tradeoff framing: Audiobooks at 2x speed let you consume more content quickly, but retention drops above 1.5x for most. For enjoyment or deep learning, 1-1.25x speed is best. For sampling books, 1.5-2x is fine.

Building Reading Into Your Day (Without Finding Extra Time)

You don’t need to carve out new hours to start reading more. Instead, swap existing screen time for reading:

• Replace 20 minutes of phone time before bed with reading a physical or e-book.

• Listen to audiobooks during your commute, workouts, or chores.

• Read during lunch breaks instead of scrolling social media.

• Keep books in multiple places: your bag, desk, and nightstand — so you always have easy access.

• Use the “phone swap” trick: when boredom strikes and you reach for your phone, pick up your book instead.

This isn’t about finding extra time. It’s about redirecting your attention from screens to books.

Check your Screen Time report and ask yourself: could 30 minutes of that daily total be redirected to reading?

FAQs About Building Reading Habits

How many books should I aim to read per year?

Whatever feels sustainable. Twelve books a year (one per month) is a solid baseline. At 20 pages per day, you’ll hit 15-20 books. Ignore claims about 50+ books a year — many are skimming, speed-listening, or reading very short books.

Should I take notes while reading?

For non-fiction, light highlighting or margin notes improve retention. But don’t let note-taking become a barrier. A book read without notes is better than a book abandoned because it felt like homework. For fiction, just enjoy the story.

Is speed reading worth learning?

Mostly no. Techniques promising 1,000+ words per minute consistently reduce comprehension. Improving your natural reading speed from 200 to 300 WPM through practice is fine. But the real goal is to read more consistently, not just faster.

What about reading on my phone?

It can work in a pinch (the Kindle app is solid), but phones have competing notifications and distractions. Use Do Not Disturb mode if you read on your phone. Dedicated e-readers are better because they have no other function.

How do I get back into reading after years away?

Start with something short and engaging — a 200-page thriller or a highly-rated memoir. Avoid jumping into a 600-page classic you feel obligated to read. Build the habit first, then raise the bar.

Building reading habits isn’t about willpower or speed. It starts with making books easier to pick up than your phone, choosing books that excite you, and embedding reading naturally into your daily routine. With small, consistent steps, you’ll find yourself finishing books again — and enjoying every page.

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