How to Build a Reading Habit That Actually Sticks
July 8, 2026
Every January, millions of people set a reading goal. By mid-February, most of those books are face-down on a nightstand, forgotten in favour of a phone. The problem is rarely discipline. The problem is usually that people treat reading as a task rather than a ritual.
Here is what works.
Start with a book you actually want to read
This sounds obvious, but it is the most commonly ignored advice. If you are restarting a reading habit, do not begin with the serious novel you feel you should have read by now. Begin with something you genuinely want to read, right now, for pleasure. Reading is not a performance. There is no grade at the end. A thriller you cannot put down is worth infinitely more than a classic you dread opening.
Set a time, not a page count
Page counts create pressure. Slow chapters become a source of guilt rather than enjoyment. Instead, commit to a time: twenty minutes before bed, thirty minutes on your lunch break, whatever works for your schedule. When the time is up, stop, even if you are mid-chapter. This keeps reading associated with pleasure rather than obligation.
Put the book where you will see it
Out of sight is genuinely out of mind. Leave your current book on your kitchen table, on your desk, or next to your bed. The more visible it is, the more likely you are to pick it up in the small gaps of the day. A bag reader who commutes is already ahead of someone who only reads at a desk.
Read multiple books at once
One of the most useful things experienced readers do is keep two or three books on the go at the same time: one fiction, one non-fiction, maybe one short stories or essays. When you are not in the mood for one, you switch to another. The habit stays alive even when the mood shifts.
Do not finish every book
Life is too short to push through a book that is not working for you. If you are fifty pages in and genuinely not engaged, stop and pick up something else. The sunk-cost thinking that keeps people stuck on a book they dislike is one of the main things that kills reading habits. Give yourself permission to stop.
Track what you read
Keeping a simple record, even just a list on your phone, gives you a sense of progress and reminds you of what you loved. It also makes it easier to recommend books to other people, which is one of the genuine pleasures of being a reader.
If you are looking for a book to start with, come into the store or browse our catalogue online. We are always happy to recommend something based on what you are in the mood for.