How to Build a Regular Reading Habit

"I should read more books" is one of the oldest items on most people's lists. It's rarely a lack of time that's the real obstacle — it's usually the absence of a clear routine, because reading always loses out when it's up against your phone at the end of the day.

Why "I'll read whenever I have free time" doesn't work

Free time rarely appears on its own, and when it does, your phone or a show usually claims it first. What actually works is setting aside a fixed, small window for reading — not one big block, but a short window pinned to a specific point in your day.

Aim for time or action, not pages

A "50 pages a day" goal creates a load that varies wildly depending on the book, and some days it becomes impossible. Instead, setting a low bar like "at least 10 minutes a day" or "at least 1 page a day" lets you protect the chain even on bad days.

Small adjustments that make reading easier

• Keep the book somewhere visible — by your pillow, in your bag, on your desk; a book you don't see doesn't come to mind.
• Leave your phone in another room while you read — physical distance from distraction is far more reliable than willpower.
• Don't let an unfinished book stop you — putting down a book you find boring and moving to another is better than not reading at all.
• Audiobooks count too — listening on your commute, in the kitchen, or while walking is still part of a reading habit.

Make your progress visible

Seeing how many days you've kept up your reading habit becomes an extra push, especially on days when motivation dips. On Surekly you can mark each reading session with a short note (what you read that day, what page you're on) and track your chain.

Open a book today, read for 10 minutes, and mark day one.

Start marking your habit today.