Ever since I created my Goodreads account 5 years ago, I’ve consistently posted my “Year in Books”, a summary of my yearly readings with my ratings and reviews, from this platform on social media. Whenever people see my posts with “30+ books/15K+ pages read”, they ask the same question: how do you stay motivated to keep reading?
What interests you?
The simple answer is enjoyment. Without it, reading feels like a chore. And let’s be honest, we already have enough of those. Forcing yourself to read when you don’t enjoy it at all only leads to frustration and minimal takeaways from your reading experience. I have always loved how reading pulls me into new worlds: I shiver when Voldemort calls out “Harry Potter…”, I wince when Jane uses her pain-inducing stares in Twilight, and I hold my breath when Tris slits her palm and put her hand over the faction bowls in Divergent. Each book is an adventure, and my passion for reading has never faded.
For those who don’t naturally like reading as an activity but want to read more, the first step is finding a genre that sounds interesting to you. Think about what you like to do in your free time. If you like romantic plots in TV shows, try a romance novel; if you like solving puzzles, Sherlock Holmes might be a great choice. If something excites you, whether it’s science, history, or fashion, start there! And if a book doesn’t interest you, don’t feel guilty about putting it down! You wouldn’t force yourself to finish a terrible date, would you?
Why do you read?
Finding your purpose for reading can be another motivator. Some read books to gain knowledge or improve communication skills. Others read to understand themselves better, spark creativity, or just for fun! For me, reading is a source of entertainment, encourages me to think about our world in various ways, and serves as a much-needed break from the digital world because sometimes you need an escape from watching people argue about whether a hot dog or is a sandwich for the thousandth time online. I would ponder about whether we all have past lives when reading Many Lives Many Masters by Dr. Brian Wiess or just sit down with a thriller book for an hour and feel the chills coming down my back. While we’ve all heard about the benefits of reading, it’s important to find a purpose that resonates with you.
External Motivators
But sometimes, even with established passion, we could still get sucked into the swirl of our busy lives. Even when we take a break, the lure of TikTok videos, Instagram reels, endless social media notifications, and other modern-day distractions make it easy to say,“I just don’t have time to read.” But the truth is, there are plenty of ways to make reading a habit.
Create a routine. A very effective method of building a daily habit is by repeating that activity at roughly the same time each day. During the COVID years, I tried reading before bed to make use of the usually unproductive hours doing something calming and inspiring instead of mindlessly scrolling through my phone. After a few tries, I would look forward to it every day, so it became something I do regularly. Although reading before bed worked really well for me, it might make some people too excited and thus have difficulty falling asleep. Pro tip: don’t read Stephen King right before bed unless you want to convince yourself that your curtains are plotting against you. The key here is to find a time that works best for you, whether it be morning, after meals, or early evening, and stick to it!
Make reading accessible. Just like putting a bottle of water on your nightstand reminds you to stay hydrated first thing in the morning, keeping a book nearby can encourage you to read more. If carrying paperback books with you seems difficult, a digitized version on your phone makes it easier to sneak in a few pages throughout the day. During my internship last summer, I read on the iPhone’s Book app during my daily hour-long subway rides, making that otherwise wasted time one of the highlights of my day. Plus, it’s a great way to avoid awkward eye contact with that person who’s definitely not staring at you.
Track your progress through a reading challenge. Set a yearly reading goal and keep track of the books you read through something like Goodreads’ Reading Challenge. As someone who likes being productive, the reading challenge definitely motivated me to find time out of my busy schedule to read. If I get caught up in something and go days without reading, the notification that I am “1 book behind schedule” reminds me to get back on track. Although it sometimes leads to an immediate panic scroll through my book list, it always ends up being a calming and entertaining addition to my stressful days. And it’s such a rewarding feeling to complete the challenge by the end of the year.
Join a reading group. Reading with others keeps you accountable and exposes you to different perspectives. I’ve occasionally read with my friends, which always led to exciting adventures as we tried to solve mysteries and great discussions about societal problems. For example, while reading Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, we had a thought-provoking discussion on gender stereotypes. Book clubs, whether local or online, could also add a layer of enjoyment and insight.
Ultimately, staying motivated to read isn’t about forcing yourself through books you don’t enjoy. It’s about making reading a meaningful, rewarding part of your life. Whether it’s through captivating stories, intellectual curiosity, or simple daily habits, there are countless ways to keep turning the pages. So, find a book that excites you, set aside time to read, and let yourself get lost in the adventure!