So I'm exerriencing a bit of a cognitive dissonance. One the one hand, I love reading. I've been reading long enough to know exactly what kind of books I enjoy (sci fi & fantasy with loads of worldbuilding, and non-fiction semi educational or current affairs.) My backlog is huge, and I cant wait to read all of it.
On the other hand. There are always things to do that stop me from reading. This can be actual things, like working or social events. But often I also find myself watching Netflix at a time that I could spend reading. I don't feel like I enjoy Netflix more than reading, but it's easier, I guess? More passive?
So now I only read before bed which isnt very long. And I'm not going to finish Dune, The Wheel of time and around a 100 other books in my lifetime this way.
I want to motivate myself to read more, and more often. Do you guys have some advice to help with this? What is your reading ritual? How often do you read and how did/do you get yourself to read more?
I understand there isn't a be all and end all answer to this question, but I'd appreciate a discussion and some advice.
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I wake up at 5 am and give myself an hour to read before I start my day
I also give myself 1-2 hours in the evening. I would rather be reading than watching TV, so it’s easy for me to make that happen
Would also like to know this
Maybe start off reading short stories by your favourite fantasy authors like an anthology. That way you can just do one story a day, just before bed or whenever it suits you 🙂
Another thing that gets me back into reading after a slump is audiobooks. Listening to it being read (especially if it’s a good narrator) really engrosses me into the book – and after a few chapters, I get motivated to read the book.
I go to bed an hour before I turn the lights out and read. This helps me wind down, plus I get a minimum of an hour of reading time daily.
This is the main reason I use audiobooks. I can listen to audiobooks throughout my day, especially at work. I probably retain less info because I’m always doing errands or some type of multitasking but sitting down to read isn’t something I can do that often. Also I found that I prefer reading from an ereader like a kobo over physical books.
Maybe you should try to watch a movie or series that you dislike. Then you will get attracted to books. Another trick is to read a really bad book so you will scurry to one of your well thumbed favorites.
Yet another way is to go to a bookstore, buy just one book, after deliberating for a while. Then you can find reading the book a likable idea because it is not part of a haul.
For me the main issues were the inconvenience of carrying a book around everywhere and living nowhere near a bookshop.
Buying a kobo ereader and setting up an account with the app also installed on my phone has made it so much easier to read at random times when I have spare time and also being able to buy books instantly rather than having to wait for them to be delivered.
My husband and I have carved out 30-60 minutes before bed as reading time. We put our pups to bed, leave the TV off, and don’t touch our phones. We read. Then we go to bed. We only alter this on nights when we’re staying up late watching a hockey game.
Before I married, I would come home from work, do what was required (cleaning, walking the dog, making dinner, etc.) and then would force myself to read – either a length of time or a specific number of chapters – before I was “allowed” to turn on the TV. Unfortunately I had to treat the book as a chore and the TV as a reward; after a few weeks, the opposite was the case.
With so many things and people vying for our time once we’re adults, it’s easy to overlook the things we enjoy. TV is magical in that it sucks you in and distracts you from other things that are more beneficial to your worth. Even now, when I sit and watch TV, I try to do something while watching in order to avoid the mindlessness of TV – I cross stitch or do puzzles or build Legos.
Just think that if you started now and went your whole life, you probably wouldn’t read 1% of all books
I read on my breaks at work. Its not as satisfying but better than nothing.
I take breaks from reading, sometimes up to a month. I don’t have a backlog per say or books I have to read. If I come across one that interests me I take a picture or screenshot and save it for when I can’t think of what to read next. I always try to finish my book sets, and I usually do audiobooks so I have more time to enjoy books while I do other things.
Lack of reading time is one of the reasons I turned to audiobooks. Between work and family there just isn’t time to sit and focus on reading except for before bed. With audiobooks, I wear my bone-conduction headphones (which don’t go in my ear so I can pay attention to my surroundings) and listen in bursts – walking down the corridor, having a break, doing menial chores, exercising etc. I manage an average of 2 hours a day this way.
I still read most nights, similar to you in bed. I just try to go earlier. Sometimes I only get ten minutes in, sometimes I manage a full hour.
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What’s helped me the most is to be more aware and make active decisions while setting small goals. When I have spare time and feel like just turning on Netflix or whatever, I try sitting down with a book with the goal to read for atleast ten, or maybe even five, minutes. After that I’m free to do whatever I feel like. Oftentimes I find that’s enough to make me want to continue reading when the ten minutes have passed.
I tend to switch between genres a lot to stay engaged in what I’m reading. Honestly, I try not to overthink it and just read what I feel like and I don’t pressure myself to make it through X amount of books. That way, I’m always reading something I enjoy. I also accepted that I’m busy and tired AF and reading a little every night before bed is better than not reading at all.
Audiobooks can help too. I love doing chores with an audiobook on in the background.
If you have other readers in your life then suggest you read something together. Talking with friends and family about books is always fun and if you read it at the same time, it gives you a fun incentive to read more.
Also realised how much time I was wasting on my phone. Sounds like you’re in a similar position with netflix. There comes a moment when you just have to pull yourself together and break a habit. Nobody can really make you do it except yourself. If I find myself refreshing apps waiting for new posts then I immediately put my phone down and go and do something else. Works a charm.
I finally gave in and started reading multiple books at once. I love reading and don’t usually need to find motivation, but definitely fall into a slump at times. Usually I’m reading 3 books at once:
1. Something on my kindle – usually absolute trash that I read before bed
2. One I’m slogging through – middle is slow, otherwise dense, etc. This is a good one to read on breaks during the workday.
3. Last one usually I’m devouring – a lighter modern fiction, gripping fantasy, etc that I read in the evenings and on weekends as a purely leisure activity
Most of the replies on here confirm what we already know: Habit is a greater predictor of success than motivation.
Tweak your question from what motivates you to how can I make this a habit? Be intentional with some time each day to read, regardless of what’s going on. Tying it to another activity also helps- for example, 30 minutes after lunch or 30 minutes before bed.
I’d start with something less daunting. There are high-quality books that are also easy to read. And something relatively short so you don’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of time you’ll need to finish it.
read the Dead Hand Series. it’ll cut down that list for ya. (Mammonart will cut it down good.)
– The Brass Check
– The Goose-Step
– Mammonart
– The Profits of Religion.
This might sound crazy, or too easy, or too hard, but…turn off Netflix. Even better, don’t turn it on at all. Sometimes there aren’t tricks, sometimes it just needs some good old planning and willpower. To start, at least.
That being said, I do set up my environment to be inviting. I have a few places I like to read: a nice comfy chair in my living room, or my very comfy bed. In both places I have dim mood lighting (salt lamps, candles). I like to play music while reading (lo-fi, piano, or 528 hz meditation music).
So, the decision to just not turn in the tv is pretty key (purposely deciding you would rather read than watch tv), and then secondary to that is creating a nice environment free of screen distractions, that makes you want to be there.
However, about 60% of my books consumption is actually audiobooks, because I struggle to find time to read as much as I feel like I want to. Audiobooks allow me to fill more time with “reading” when I otherwise wouldn’t be able to, like walking my dogs, working out, cooking dinner, commuting and doing chores.
Just re read something you really really love. That will at least get you started.
Social media is a killer but I haven’t had too many problems. But still make all of them silent when reading for security.
I always have a book with me. I grab that way more than my phone. Like others have said audiobooks help too, I just find myself drifting off with them.
A really easy way for me is to have a goodreads account. I consider myself to be very competitive and I love challenges. There’s this thing were you put how many books you want to read in a year and everythime you complete one, the bar goes up. Seeing that makes me feel really acomplished and keeps me motivated. It may not work for everyone but I think is great. With goodreads you can also keep track of all your reads, discover new books, follow authors and meet other readers. I highly recommend it!.
I do a couple things to get around it. Ill sometimes set a timer when I start to read which keeps me from scrolling on my phone because it feels like I’ve created a little challenge for myself. I have an old school alarm clock so I can keep my phone across the room before/after I’m sleeping, and I keep a book beside me instead. I make a point of sitting down somewhere away from the TV remotes and my phone during any free time I have, but always keep a book within arm’s reach. I’ll also try to download an ebook/audiobook copy from the library in case I can’t bring a physical book with me somewhere. Basically I make it as convenient to read as possible.
I listen to music while I do it (at first I was like, “wtf, brother, no.” Because my brother told me about it but it’s surprisingly amazing!) and it helps because I listen to music while I do everything (but watch shows) and I’ll just transfer hobbies ig. Also, my other hobbies frustrate me, and reading doesn’t so-
I usually read in the morning, at noon, and at night.
Morning: before work, either audio book while commuting or reading for 10-20 minutes before starting my telework day.
Noon: read through lunch. Audio book if hitting a drive through. Physical book if eating a sandwich at home while teleworking.
Night: read after the kids are asleep. Maybe just one chapter, as I often fall asleep on the couch, but sometimes going for a solid hour or two.
I read only what I want to read, never what I think I “should” read. And I find myself looking forward to it, rather than it being something I have to motivate myself to do.
I do not need motivation. I need more time!
I’d suggest just making a scheduled time to read everyday. Even if it’s just for like 20 minutes once you start doing that for a while it’ll just become habit to read when that time comes around.
Like you could start your day reading, or read after dinner, or before bed as long as you’re reading regularly you’ll be surprised how quickly you can get through a book.
I have a special chair. It’s away from the TV, in a quiet spot. I take a blanket and a cup of tea or a glass of wine. When I sit there I don’t take my phone or my iPad. I just take my book, cover up and read.
If I read in bed, I’m asleep in 2 minutes.
When I get in my reading chair I know what I’m there to do.
Interesting topic; I have the opposite dilemma with watching anime: given my work/life balance, I’ve started leaning towards manga instead due to how timely digestible they are in comparison to the adaptation. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good sword-fighting scene with gorgeous camera movements, but man; 24 mins to an hr per episode is kinda daunting.
I started reading somewhere around age 5 and I haven’t stopped.
No motivation required.
I have the kindle app installed on my phone and I read at every little gap of time during the day that I used to use to mess around on my phone. I just trained myself to tap the kindle app instead of Facebook or Reddit or whatever. You’d be surprised how much it adds up!
The other thing is that if I fall into a slump, I choose books that are compelling and make me want to pick them up. I notice that a lot of people I know who don’t read as much as they want pick “important” books to read – you know, they’re thinking that they better get to the good stuff! I understand this logic, but I think it backfires. Motivate yourself with your guilty pleasures and then once you’re in the swing of it, turn your attention to the stuff that will take you more effort.
It’s all about choices. Ditch the Netflix for reading is the obvious one. People who say they want to read but don’t are making excuses. Stop doing that.
I hardly ever watch TV anymore (except for sports) because I’d rather read. Simple as that.
I don’t need motivation to read, and I’d say the main reason for that is that I’m extremely ruthless with rejecting books and only read stuff I really like a lot, so I’ve always got something great lined up to go. Maybe try being more selective about your books?
I read about 4-6 hours a day. I’d say the above reason is a big factor, and also I don’t have a lot of the other distractions a lot of people do – I don’t watch television, own a smartphone, etc.
I set yearly goals. Hard enough that I have to be consistent. Easy enough I’m not stressing.
I usually read on commute, but that’s because I get around by bus/metro a lot. Otherwise, I also read before bed, but I usually carve out a few hours. Like, if I want to go to sleep at 2am, I’ll finish off everything else and sit with my book by around 11pm. It’s not bulletproof, since I end up alternating between the book and reddit, but it’s something.
Less screen time (social media/doomscrolling) for most people will carve out more reading time. Less reddit, more books.
I made a habit out of early reading at the weekends. Life has a tendency to get in the way the later it gets, and early reading for a couple of hours really help. I bring the book with me on the commute if I’m the mood for something other than audio books and podcast. As long as its basic in language. I dont read science at the bus.
I don’t motivate myself to do anything. I read at night because it’s what I want to be doing. Every night I look forward to reading time- so much in fact that some nights I disconnect early just so I can resume my reading.
If you have trouble remembering to do it, then set an alarm when you’re supposed to disconnect.
I had to figure this out for myself too because I have multiple hobbies that I can’t combine and they take time too (knitting, sewing, video games, etc). So for reading, I take my book with me everywhere at home. If I wake up early, I read since it’s next to me. If I have a few minutes before I have to take dinner out of the oven, I read. If I’m in the mood to binge a few episodes, I read a chapter or a couple of pages after each episode. I also take my book to work and read on my breaks. And then on the weekends, I’m the first awake so I typically read for an hour or two with my coffee.
The nice thing about reading is it’s a portable hobby that you can dedicate little pockets of time to.
As a tv addict, it was hard – but the greatest bridge was really starting audiobooks. I noticed I was rewatching my favorite shows on Netflix (basically listening to the audio while doing house chores etc) sO much .. that I really knew the shows way too much.
So doing audiobook (yes it’s a transition but find a good narrator!) really helped as a transition into reading more… Genre and narration matter soooo much! Audible or YouTube have a bunch. Try a book you know you loved before as a gentle ease
Or just author you love.
Over time, the urge to read visually came. There are times when I prefer either: reading visually or via audio.. so it helps to shake it up
Anyways good luck !