How to read more books

1. Find the minutes you already have

Most people do have time to read; it is scattered in five- and ten-minute pieces on the train, in queues and in the evening. Notice those moments and keep a book ready for them. More in the guide on how to find time to read.

2. Set a small daily goal

Ten or fifteen minutes a day is easy to start and adds up to dozens of hours a year. A goal in minutes is fully in your hands, whatever you are reading. The guide to building a daily reading habit explains how to choose one.

3. Tie reading to a fixed moment

Reading sticks when it follows something you do anyway: morning coffee, the commute, the last minutes before sleep. If evenings are your time, the guide on reading before bed covers screens and sleep.

4. Keep the phone away

The phone wins because it is always in your hand. Put it face down or in another room while you read, and close everything else if you read on it.

5. Read what you actually enjoy

You will find time for a book you want to open. Follow your curiosity rather than a list of books you should read, and keep a short list of the ones that excite you. The guide on managing your TBR list helps you pick the next one quickly.

6. Give yourself permission to stop

A book you dread blocks all the others. If it has not worked for a few chapters, set it aside and pick another. The guide on when to stop reading a book helps you decide.

7. Mix in shorter books

Finishing a book feels good and gives you momentum. Between long novels, read a short one, a collection of stories or a graphic novel.

8. Let audiobooks count

Listening fills time when your hands and eyes are busy: driving, walking, cooking. Research suggests that understanding is similar to reading, as long as you are paying attention. More in the guide on whether audiobooks count as reading.

9. Track time, not just books

Seeing your reading time grow week by week is more encouraging than waiting months for the next finished book. The guide on how to track your reading compares the options.

10. Make it easy to start

Every step between you and the page is a reason not to read. Keep the book where you sit, leave a bookmark in it and start without ceremony.

In Pagetime, “Continue” at the top of the library starts a session for the book where you left off, and the home screen widget opens the reading screen directly. A daily goal of 10 to 90 minutes, a streak with one missed day per calendar week forgiven, and a “Time to read” reminder at the time you choose keep you coming back. The Stats tab shows your reading time for each day of the week and a summary of each month.

The free version holds up to 5 books and includes 20 page scans with text recognition in total. Deleting a note does not restore a used scan. Notes and the timer work offline without an account; sync is free after signing in. A subscription removes the book and scan limits and unlocks your full stats history, year in review and folder export. Pagetime is coming to iPhone and Android; you can leave your email below to hear when it is available. Until then, pick one of these ten and start tonight.

This independent guide is published by Pagetime and is not authorized, sponsored or endorsed by Apple Inc. or Google LLC.