The Myth of "Finding Time" to Read
One of the most common things people say about reading is that they'd love to do more of it, but they just can't find the time. And while that sentiment is genuine, it's also slightly misleading. The issue isn't usually time — it's competition. Reading competes with scrolling, streaming, podcasts, and the general ambient noise of modern life. And reading, which demands focused attention, tends to lose.
The good news: you probably already have pockets of time that are quietly going to waste. The goal isn't to find new time — it's to reclaim existing time.
Strategy 1: Replace Scrolling With Reading
The average person spends a substantial chunk of their day scrolling through social media or news feeds — often in fragments: waiting in line, watching ads, sitting on public transit. This isn't quality leisure time; it's mostly filler.
Put a book on your phone. Not a PDF you intend to read later — an actual open book in an app like Kindle, Libby (which lets you borrow library ebooks for free), or Apple Books. When you pick up your phone during a dull moment, open the book instead. Five minutes here and there adds up to chapters over the course of a week.
Strategy 2: Use Audiobooks for Hands-Busy Time
Commutes, cooking, cleaning, walking, exercising — these activities occupy your hands and feet but leave your ears and mind available. Audiobooks are ideal for this time.
Libby, again, is excellent here — it offers audiobook borrowing through your local library at no cost. Librivox provides free audiobooks of public domain titles. For newer releases, many public libraries also have partnerships with paid services that are included in your library card.
Nonfiction tends to work especially well in audio format. Narrative nonfiction, memoirs, history, and popular science are all genres that translate naturally to listening.
Strategy 3: Keep a Book Everywhere
Physical books get read when they're in front of you. A book on a nightstand gets read before bed. A book in a bag gets read on the go. A book in the kitchen gets read while the kettle boils.
You don't need multiple copies of the same book — you might have different books in different spots, or you might carry one book everywhere. The point is reducing the friction between you and the page.
Strategy 4: Give Yourself Permission to Quit Bad Books
One of the biggest hidden barriers to reading more is being stuck in a book you're not enjoying. People feel obligated to finish what they start. But life is short, and the backlist of books worth reading is long. If a book isn't working for you after 50 pages, put it down and find one that does.
Reading a book you enjoy at 50 pages an hour beats slogging through a book you dislike at 10 pages an hour.
Strategy 5: Set a Ridiculously Low Daily Goal
Rather than committing to "read every day," commit to reading one page per day. This sounds laughably small — and that's exactly the point. It removes every possible excuse and almost always leads to reading far more than one page once you've started. The goal isn't one page; it's just getting yourself to open the book.
A Simple Reading Tracker
| Time Slot | Format | Estimated Daily Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Morning coffee | Physical book or e-reader | 10–15 min |
| Commute / transit | Audiobook or e-reader | 15–30 min |
| Lunch break | Any format | 10–20 min |
| Before bed | Physical book (recommended) | 15–20 min |
At 30–45 minutes of daily reading, most people can finish one to two books per month — without adding a single extra hour to their day.
The Real Secret
Reading more isn't about discipline or willpower. It's about making books the easiest option in moments of downtime. Remove friction, diversify formats, and protect even small windows of reading time. The books will follow.