Almost everyone we talk to says the same thing: “I want to read more, but I don’t have time.” The truth is that most of us don’t have a time problem – we have a system problem. Here is a simple approach that works even with long commutes, family responsibilities and a phone that never stops buzzing.
1. Start embarrassingly small
Forget “one book a week”. Commit to ten pages a day. Ten pages takes about fifteen minutes, and fifteen minutes a day adds up to roughly 15–20 books a year. The goal in the first month is not to read a lot – it is to never miss a day.
2. Attach reading to something you already do
Habits stick when they are linked to an existing routine. Read with your morning chai, on the train, or right after dinner. Atomic Habits calls this habit stacking, and it is the single most useful trick we know.
3. Make the phone harder to reach
Keep the book where your phone usually is, and the phone somewhere else. Your environment decides more than your willpower does.
4. Choose the right first book
Many people quit reading because they start with a book that is too heavy. Begin with something short and practical in a topic you actually care about. Not sure where to start? Take our “Which book should you read next?” quiz or pick a topic on our Start Here page.
5. It is okay to quit a book
If a book isn’t working for you after 50 pages, put it down and start another one. Life is too short for books you don’t enjoy – and forcing yourself through them is the fastest way to stop reading altogether.
6. Talk about what you read
Share one idea from your reading with a friend, a colleague or your family each week. Explaining an idea is the best way to remember it, and it turns reading from a lonely habit into a shared one.
Your 7-day starter plan
- Day 1: Pick one book and put it where you will see it.
- Day 2–6: Ten pages a day, attached to your chai or commute.
- Day 7: Write down one idea you want to remember and tell someone about it.
Save the books you want to read to My Shelf so your list is always ready.