Between endless notifications, streaming binges, and the bottomless scroll, building a sustainable reading habit often slips to the back of the line. Some days it feels like a luxury, other days like a chore. And yet, so many of us feel that quiet pull to return to the joy of getting lost in a story, discovering new worlds, or falling head over heels for a cinnamon-roll MMC.
If you’ve been struggling to read consistently, the good news is this: the secret isn’t about reading more. It’s about building a sustainable reading habit that actually fits your life.
Here are 7 tiny, doable tweaks that can help you fall back in love with reading, and keep it going long-term.
1. Start Small and Be Realistic
If you haven’t read consistently in a while, don’t pressure yourself to finish four books in a month. That’s a fast track to guilt, not growth. Instead, aim small: 10 pages a day. 15 minutes before bed. A chapter with your morning coffee. Tiny, consistent steps build momentum.
📚 Bookly Tip: Set a timer or page goal in the Bookly app. Watching those micro-moments add up will surprise you.
2. Make Reading a Ritual, Not a Task
Working toward building your sustainable reading habit shouldn’t feel like homework. The more you connect it with comfort, the more your brain will crave it. Light a candle. Grab your favorite tea. Put on cozy socks. Sit in your “reading spot.” Make reading feel like self-care, not self-discipline.
✨ Pro move: Read in the same place every day and your brain will learn, “this is book time.”
3. Match the Book to the Moment
Not every day calls for a 700-page epic. Reading is about matching your energy, not impressing anyone. Too tired for heavy nonfiction? Pick up a fun rom-com. In the mood for adventure? Try a fast-paced fantasy. Just want company while you clean? Audiobooks totally count.
🎧 Walk + audiobook = chef’s kiss combo.
4. Track Progress But Keep It Gentle
Tracking can motivate you, but don’t turn reading into a race. Whether it’s a journal, a Goodreads log, or the Bookly app, celebrate your progress in a way that feels good.
📅 Try jotting down one sentence after each session: a favorite quote, a character you’re rooting for, or just how the book made you feel.
5. Create a Reading-Friendly Environment
Make books the easy choice. Put them where you’ll see them: on your nightstand, desk, or bag. Silence your phone or use a focus app during reading time.
📚 Even 5 minutes while waiting in line adds up. (Pro tip: stash a book in your car, purse, or bathroom. Trust us.)
6. Connect With Other Readers (If You Want To)
Community can spark motivation if it feels energizing. Share your Bookly stats with friends, join a cozy book club, or scroll BookTok for inspo. But if reading is your private escape, that’s valid too.
👥 Choose spaces that lift you up, not guilt-trip you.
7. Give Yourself Permission to Quit
If a book feels like a slog, it’s okay to put it down. Quitting isn’t failure, it’s respecting your taste. As BookToker @britandherbooks says: “If you’re asking strangers if you should finish a book you’re not enjoying, that’s your sign to DNF.”
✅ Reading what excites you is the surest way to keep reading.
Final Thoughts: Reading Is a Relationship, Not a Resolution
Your reading life isn’t a checklist, but a relationship with yourself. And like any relationship, it will have seasons: slow, intense, joyful, challenging. Let it ebb and flow while you build your sustainable reading habit.
What matters is that you keep coming back. Page by page. Book by book.
So here’s your invitation: pick a story that excites you, carve out a little time, and let yourself fall in love with reading again. Not perfectly, not quickly, just sustainably. And yes, you can track it all in the Bookly app. 😉
📖✨ #HappyReading
This reading guide was written by our Bookly Pro Reader, Shunita 💙
💘 More Ways to Keep Your Reading Habit Thriving
Your reading journey doesn’t have to be a solo act or a struggle. Whether you’re climbing out of a slump, craving community, or chasing ambitious goals, we’ve got you covered:
📚 15 Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump
👥 How to Find Your Reading Community
📅 How to Read One Book a Week (Without Burning Out)
✨ Tiny tweaks, big impact. Your best reading life is waiting.
📱 Keep Track of Your TBR and Reading Progress With Bookly
Whether you’re re-reading your favorite comfort book or conquering a chunky fantasy epic, Bookly is here to help you:
- Track your books and progress ✅
- Build sustainable reading habits ✅
- Read at your own pace – no pressure, no judgment ✅
- Celebrate every milestone (even the messy ones) ✅
And of course, Bloo, your cuddly reading assistant, is right there to cheer you on. 🩵
👉 Download Bookly and start reading your way – slowly, softly, proudly.
