Hit Reading Goals and Make Reading Time Easily
Reading goals feel difficult with the struggle to find reading time. Whereas for some it’s difficult to build a reading habits. Whatever your situation, here are practical reading tips that can help you learn from books without actually reading them fully. Sounds too good to be true? Keep reading to find out how to stay curious and get your reading motivation back, even if you only have a few minutes a day.
Struggle with Reading
To my understanding, struggles to read are of two kinds: one who likes to read books and learn and finds it difficult to make time for reading, and second, people who would like to read but cannot finish a book. Which kind do you belong to? I belong to the first type. Before I became a mother, I used to read at atleast one book a month and had a reading journal with a log of books I read and my favorite quotes, but after becoming a mom, that changed not just because I had less time but also because every everytime I sat down to read, my daughter would grab the book and tear pages, and I thought I must give up for some sometime until she grew a bit. I tried reading on Kindle, but I was more of a paper book person. That’s another story.
The second kind of people that I mostly came across are those who would like to read but could never get into the habit of reading books. They would often say they fell asleep while reading or got bored, disinterested in reading, and the book is just a decoration on the bookshelf. I think they either didn’t start with the right book. It’s like you dislike the subject because the teacher makes it more difficult for you to understand it. Another reason can be that reading is not their way to get the knowledge from the book.
So to whichever team you belong, this post will help you get through it.
Why Reading is Important Especially Today
Let’s be honest, today we’re surrounded by advice. Open any social media app and there’s someone telling you how to live better, work smarter, sleep deeper, or manifest your dream life. Everyone is an “expert.”
But books, especially the ones written by real experts, researchers, or people who’ve lived through decades of experience, offer depth that reels and tweets simply cannot. These aren’t just tips, they are tested ideas, backed by studies, stories, or years of thinking.
Not to forget AI, you can ask anything and get an answer instantly. But that doesn’t always mean it’s right or complete. AI, after all, pulls from what’s available, not necessarily what’s true. The interpretation still has to come from you. Books help build that lens.
Reading trains your mind to slow down, think critically, and connect ideas. It is not something that an algorithm has pushed you towards but something that you made a choice to learn about, and you choose your expert. I feel reading is the one habit that helps us pause and process.
Redefining What’s ‘Reading’
Get Real
We often think of reading as this ideal version of sitting quietly with a thick book, sipping tea, and flipping pages in a cozy corner. That’s beautiful if you get it also far from reality for many of us. Life gets busy, timelines are tight, and to be honest some days, you barely get things done forget reading.
You need not finish a book
I had to unlearn this idea that reading is about finishing a book and learn that getting the knowledge from the book is what matters. For most people who struggle with reading, they are often overwhelmed by looking at the size of the book, and that alone stops them from even starting. A daily reading habit for me now is learning something new today.
Start Simple
To let go of that pressure, make things easier. You don’t need to impress others with books on heavy topics; start with something simple. It can even be a storybook you used to read as a kid or a fiction novel that will keep you hooked. Enjoy the small wins like reading a few pages and saving one quote you loved. And soon, reading will not feel like a big commitment.
Simple Ways to Make Time for Reading
Let’s get to some practical ideas to build a reading habit. Here are a few simple ways to start reading:
Pair it with something you already do: This is something that easily helps build any habit. Pair the new habit with something that is already your daily habit, like reading while drinking morning tea. No pressure to finish a chapter, just open the book (or app) and start.
Try audio book while walking or doing chores: I’m not always able to sit and read, but I listen to books while I do mundane tasks like cooking and folding laundry. It’s like feeding my mind while my hands are busy.
Keep it visible and reachable: If a book is hidden in a drawer or buried in an app folder, it’s easy to forget. Keep it on the nightstand or front screen of my phone. It will remind you to read.
Stop measuring in chapters: Don’t feel like if you didn’t read 20 pages or whatever the count you have set for yourself, just read, even if it’s a page or two. Some days are slow, and that’s okay. The habit matters more than the volume.
Create a “wind-down” ritual: Instead of scrolling before bed, try to read a few pages or listen to a book. It will help you unwind and ensure your reading for the day is done.
Replace Doomscrolling with a Reading Shortcut:
Anytime you find yourself mindlessly scrolling on social media, open a reading app or book instead, even if it’s just 3 minutes.
Use the ‘Start and End Your Day’ Trick
Try reading 1 page in the morning before you start the day and 1 before bed. That’s it. You’ll often read more, but even if you don’t, you’ve still read something. It’s a win.
Use Your Commute (or Waiting Time)
When you are commuting or waiting for your child at an activity class, use these moments to read or listen to books. It’s surprising how much you can read or learn in 15 minutes.
Try the 10-Minute Timer Rule
Set a timer for just 10 minutes and commit to reading. No distractions; put your phone on DND mode. This takes the pressure off and often turns into longer reading without trying.
Choose Short-Form Content When You’re Short on Time
Not every reading session needs to be a full chapter. Instead, listen to book summaries. Headway helped me read something meaningful without spending an hour.
Build a Reading Habit Without Reading Books
Headway helped bring reading back into my life after a season of life when I was stuck between work and commitments at home.
Here are some things I liked about it that make learning from books easy.
- Firstly, it has an audio feature; I can listen while doing chores.
- Secondly, it offers bite-sized book summaries. You don’t need to read a full book.
- At first, I was not sure if a summary would be enough, but I was surprised. Instead, it has book summaries, broken down into chapters. The summaries are well-structured, highlighting key takeaways and lessons. Like a concentrated extract of a section of the book explained in simple language. Although it’s a summary, it feels complete yet easy to absorb.
- Every summary comes in both written and audio format, so you can switch between them seamlessly.
- Another feature I love is the “daily microlearning session.” It has quick snippets and quotes from books. You can save them to remember or share.
- They have clear sections on all topics, from self-growth and happiness to family, fiction, business, money, and many more, so if you are clueless where to start, just go through something that interests you and listen to the summary.
- The book summaries that I listened to were divided into 8 parts to clearly structure the content of the book.
- It has a progress tracking system that keeps you motivated.
- It also gives personalized recommendations so you find more books of your interest.
Some days I listen while I do chores; other days I read while cooking or at nap time. The best feeling is that void one feels when busy, like you are not working on yourself, is filled as I am learning something valuable without feeling overwhelmed in a few minutes.
So, if you are unable to read books due to a time crunch, listening to audiobook summaries will help you. And if you are someone who is not able to develop a reading habit because you feel overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, Headway is again a good option for you, as you can listen to summaries and find books that interest you and build your reading list without spending hours and learn without reading a full book.
Make Reading Routine
If you want to do something consistently, make it part of a routine. Even five minutes a day is enough to tell your brain, “This is a thing we do now.” Once it becomes part of your routine, you will not find it hard to do.
Just find a time of day like morning or before going to bed or commuting to work or lunch break. Once you decide on the time, only start with 5 minutes of listening to the audio summary. If you like something, you can go to read or listen to the book completely.
Also, you need not read daily; if you are busy and only have time on the weekends, build your reading routine only for the weekend. At least it is better than nothing.
Use a visual tracker, or follow the performance tracking on the Headway app to keep track of your reading streak.
Finally, make a reading routine that isn’t forced but fits into your life. If you are looking to start reading, here are some suggestions for you.
