How to Read More Books (10 Simple Habits That Helped Me Read 100+ Books a Year)

Do you want to start reading more books but struggle to make time for it consistently? For a long time, I considered myself someone who loved reading—but I wasn’t actually reading very much.

Then, over time, I slowly rebuilt reading into my everyday life. What started as a few books each month gradually became 100+ books a year—not because I forced myself to read constantly, but because I changed the way I approached it.

These habits helped me make reading feel easy, immersive, and part of my daily routine again. If you want to read more without turning it into pressure or productivity, these tips genuinely helped me.

Why It Can Feel Hard to Read More

A lot of people want to read more, but struggle to actually make it part of their routine. Usually, it’s not because they don’t enjoy reading. It’s because:

• phones and social media make it harder to focus
• reading feels like something you need “extra time” for
• you’re choosing books you don’t genuinely enjoy
• you’re tired or overwhelmed by the end of the day
• reading starts to feel like another goal instead of something relaxing

The good news is that reading more often doesn’t usually require huge changes. Small habits make the biggest difference.

10 Habits That Helped Me Read More Books

So how exactly did I do it? It wasn’t hard, but it did require some adjustments to my habits and routines. These are tips and tricks that helped me start reading more and add reading back into my daily routine. So if you want to read more books this year, these easy tips should work for you, too.

1. Always Have a Book With You

One of the easiest ways to read more is to make books constantly accessible. That could mean:

• carrying a physical book
• reading ebooks on your phone or Kindle
• listening to audiobooks while walking or commuting

I used to think I preferred physical books only, but ebooks completely changed how much I read by making it possible to read anywhere.

Now, instead of automatically scrolling on my phone during small moments of downtime, I often read instead. Those small reading moments add up surprisingly quickly.

2. Create Small Reading Rituals

Reading became much easier once I stopped treating it like something I had to “fit in” and started building little rituals around it instead.

For example:

• reading with coffee in the morning
• reading before bed
• spending quiet weekend afternoons reading
• listening to calming music while reading

These routines make reading feel comforting and intentional rather than another task on a checklist.

3. Read What You Actually Enjoy

This is probably the biggest one. For a while, I kept reading books because they were popular, critically acclaimed, or because I felt I should read them.

But once I started focusing on genres and atmospheres I genuinely loved, reading became effortless again. I discovered that I love:

• atmospheric fiction
• fantasy
• books set in beautiful places
• immersive literary fiction

And suddenly I started flying through books. Reading becomes much easier when you’re genuinely excited about what you’re picking up next.

4. Try Ebooks or Audiobooks

Ebooks and audiobooks make reading far more flexible. Ebooks are perfect for:

• travel
• commuting
• reading in bed
• reading multiple books at once

Audiobooks can also help you read more during moments when physical reading isn’t practical, like:

• walking
• exercising
• cleaning
• long drives

Even if you prefer physical books, it’s worth experimenting to see what works best for your lifestyle.

5. Replace Scrolling With Reading

To be honest, a huge reason I started reading more was realizing how much time I was spending scrolling on my phone. I didn’t completely cut out social media or TV, but I started replacing some of that time with reading instead.

Even reading for 10 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes before bed, and a few pages during lunch can dramatically increase how many books you finish over time.

6. Read Before Bed

This is still one of the best reading habits I’ve built. Instead of ending the day by scrolling through my phone, I try to read before sleeping.

Not only does this help me read more consistently, but it also makes me feel much calmer and more relaxed. It’s now one of the reading habits I look forward to most.

7. Track Your Reading

Tracking my reading helped motivate me far more than I expected. Apps like Goodreads and StoryGraph make it easy to:

• keep track of books you’ve read
• set reading goals
• organise your TBR
• discover new books
• see your reading stats throughout the year

Seeing your progress visually can make reading feel much more rewarding and motivating.

8. Set a Realistic Reading Goal

One of the biggest mistakes people make is setting unrealistic reading goals immediately. You do not need to read 100 books a year to be “a reader.” Start with something manageable:

• one book a month
• twelve books a year
• reading a little every day

Small, realistic goals build consistency much better than overwhelming yourself.

9. Join a Reading Challenge or Community

Reading challenges can make reading feel more exciting and inspiring. They encourage you to:

• explore different genres
• read more widely
• stay motivated throughout the year

You can also join book clubs or online reading communities if you enjoy discussing books with other readers.

10. Don’t Put Pressure on Yourself

Reading should feel enjoyable, not stressful. If you turn reading into a constant productivity goal, it becomes much easier to burn out or fall into a reading slump.

Some months you’ll read a lot.
Other months you won’t.

That’s completely normal. The goal isn’t to read as fast as possible — it’s to build a reading life that actually feels sustainable and enjoyable.

Looking for Your Next Read?

If you want help finding immersive books to fall into next, you might also enjoy:

• Brilliant Travel Memoirs by Women
• Best Travel Adventure Books
• Enchanting Books Set in Italy
• Incredible Books Set in NYC
• Atmospheric Books That Feel Like Travel

Final Thoughts

Reading more doesn’t have to mean reading faster or turning books into a productivity goal.

Often, it’s simply about making space for reading again — whether that’s ten quiet minutes in the morning, reading before bed, or finding books you genuinely can’t wait to pick up. Small habits add up quickly, and over time, reading starts to feel natural again.