Can’t Seem to Find the Time? 5 Simple Ways to Read More Books This Year

If you’ve been wanting to get back into reading but don’t know how, you’re not alone. Reading books can feel impossibly hard these days with all the other passive forms of entertainment. But if you really want to incorporate reading into your life, it’s not impossible to start doing–even if you don’t have a lot of free time or money. I’ll be sharing my own personal reading strategies that helped me go from a nightly Netflix queen to an avid reader over the last few years. (Without spending any money or having more free time than anyone else.) It’s all about reading smarter, and not doing it alone.

Here are five simple, effective ways to turn the page and read more this year.

1. Embrace the Audiobook Revolution

Let’s get one thing straight: listening to an audiobook is reading. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re missing out on one of the greatest literary hacks of the 21st century. Audiobooks transform “dead time” into immersive story time. It’s the perfect transition for people who haven’t read at all in years and want to ease into reading again.

• How to do it: Listen during your commute, while doing household chores, on your daily walk, or while cooking dinner. You’ll be amazed at how many “extra” books you can finish just by multitasking in this enjoyable way.
• Why it works: It fits reading into the pockets of your day that are otherwise unavailable for holding a physical book.
• App recs: Libby, Hoopla, Audible, Spotify
• Pro tip: Spotify premium will give you music, podcasts and audiobooks all together.

2. Unlock the Ultimate (and Free) Reading Tool: Your Library Card

If money is a factor in your reading life, your local library is the superhero you’ve been waiting for. And you don’t even have to leave your house to use it! With a library card, you get free access to digital apps like Libby and Hoopla so you can grab books without physically going anywhere.

• What you get: These apps are a treasure trove. We’re not just talking bestselling eBooks. You can borrow audiobooks, digital magazines, comics, and even stream movies and TV shows in some cases. It’s an endless supply of free content right on your phone or tablet.
• Pro Tip: Many libraries now offer instant digital eCards entirely online. A quick search for your local library’s website can have you borrowing books in under 10 minutes!

3. Make it a Social Event: Join a Book Club

Sometimes, the best motivation is a little friendly accountability. Joining a book club gives you a deadline and a community. The social pressure to finish the book so you can join the discussion is a powerful motivator!

• How to find one: Look for local clubs at your library or independent bookstore. Don’t have one nearby? The internet is full of vibrant online book clubs on platforms like Instagram, Goodreads, or BookTube–where you can find me 👋
• Why it works: It combines social connection with your reading goal, making it a fun, engaging commitment rather than a chore.
• Pro tip: Check out a Libby book at the same time as a friend and “buddy read” together.

4. Create a “Reading Ritual”

Waiting for large chunks of free time to magically appear is a recipe for not reading. Instead, build a small, consistent reading habit.

• How to do it: Tie reading to an existing part of your routine. Commit to reading for just 10-15 minutes with your morning coffee, right after you brush your teeth at night, or during your lunch break. The key is consistency, not duration.
• Why it works: Small, daily efforts add up quickly. Just 15 minutes a day equals over 91 hours of reading in a year—that’s multiple books!

5. Always Have Your Book “On You”

The number one reason we don’t read is, “I didn’t have my book with me.” In our smartphone era, this excuse is obsolete. My e-reader is a second appendage…

• How to do it: Download the Kindle, Libby, or Audible app on your phone. The next time you’re stuck in a long line, waiting for an appointment, or have a few minutes to kill, open your book app instead of scrolling through social media.
• Why it works: Those five-minute scrolls are mental drains. Replacing them with a few minutes of your book turns wasted time into productive, enjoyable progress.

What’s your favorite tip for reading more? Do you have a go-to method that I missed? If you’d like to follow along on my library reading journey, check me (and my dog) out on BookTube.

Happy Reading!

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