The short answer: to get back into reading, pick a short book you actually want to read, read it for 10 minutes a day at the same time, and give yourself permission to quit anything that bores you. You don't need more discipline. You need an easier way back in.
If you used to read all the time and now can't remember the last book you finished, you're in good company. This guide is for you.
Why reading feels harder than it used to
It's not that you forgot how. Something else moved into the space reading used to fill.
Everything else is easier. Andrew Cunningham, co-host of the book podcast Overdue, told The Guardian there's "a lot of entertainment out there competing for your mind and your eyeballs." A lot of it is also "a lot easier to do while you're doing something else." A book isn't. It needs your full attention.
Life changed. Literary curator Morgan Menzies told The Guardian that people often drop their reading routine during big changes, like finishing college, starting a job, having a family, or moving. The habit didn't fail. The routine it lived in disappeared.
You picked the wrong books. A lot of reading ruts start with a book you think you should read. It sits on the bedside table for months, and because you haven't finished it, you don't start anything else.
You're also not imagining the wider trend. A 2025 study in the journal iScience found the share of Americans who read for pleasure on an average day fell from 28% in 2004 to about 16% in 2023. We cover what's behind that in our guide to reading more books.
Step 1: Pick the right comeback book
This matters more than any tip below. Your first book back should be:
- Short. Cunningham's advice: "Don't have Infinite Jest be the first book you pick up if you haven't read anything in a few years." Aim for something you could finish in a week or two.
- Fun, by your own definition. Thriller, romance, fantasy, memoir, a book about a sport you love. Whatever you'd genuinely pick up for pleasure.
- Easy to get into. Short chapters and a strong hook in the first few pages help a lot.
Not sure what you like anymore? Try what American Library Association president Sam Helmick suggests: go to a library, borrow a few different kinds of books, "read the first chapter, and see which one or two grab you."
A few starting points by type of reader:
- You used to love a series as a kid or teen: go back to that genre, just an adult version of it.
- You binge TV thrillers: try a fast, twisty page-turner.
- You have zero patience right now: a short story collection. Overdue co-host Craig Getting points out that "you get a full narrative experience out of 10 or 15 pages."
- You spend a lot of time driving, walking, or doing chores: start with an audiobook.
Step 2: Start with 10 minutes
Don't aim for an hour. Aim for 10 minutes at the same point every day, like right before bed, with your morning coffee, or on the bus.
Helmick's version is simple: "Read 10 minutes before bed for about 20 days. By the end, you'll have created a habit." Treat the 20 days as a rough target, not a magic number. The point is small and daily beats big and occasional.
If 10 minutes turns into 40 because you're hooked, great. If it stays at 10, that still counts.
Step 3: Quit books freely
This is the permission most lapsed readers need. If you're not enjoying a book, stop and pick up another one.
"I am a huge advocate for not finishing a book," Menzies told The Guardian. "If you don't like a book, no one's judging you. You're not failing."
A book you're dreading doesn't just waste your time. It blocks every other book behind it.
Step 4: Let every format count
Print, ebook, audiobook: it's all reading. "If that's what gets you reading, that's what gets you reading," Getting says. If a paperback feels like too much right now, an audiobook on your commute is a completely valid way back in.
Step 5: Track days, not pages
Page counts and yearly book goals can turn reading into a scoreboard, and scoreboards make you feel behind. Instead, just mark each day you read, even if it was only a few pages. A run of reading days is a better sign the habit is coming back than any number of pages.
Step 6: Make it social
Reading is easier to stick with when other people are involved. Tell a friend what you're reading, swap books, or join a book club. Menzies even goes to an audiobook walking club, where everyone listens to their own book and they chat about them along the way.
Your first month back
- Week 1: Borrow or buy two or three short books you're curious about. Read the first chapter of each and keep the one that grabs you.
- Week 2: Read 10 minutes a day at the same time. Put the book where that moment happens.
- Week 3: Keep going. If the book has stalled, swap it without guilt.
- Week 4: Finish your first book, or get close. Then pick the next one before you finish, so there's no gap.
By the end of the month, the win isn't a number of books. It's that reading feels like something you do again.
FAQ
How do I get back into reading after a long break?
Start with a short book you're genuinely excited about, read for about 10 minutes at the same time each day, and quit anything you're not enjoying. Small and daily works better than big goals.
Why have I lost interest in reading?
Often it's not reading you've lost interest in, it's the books you've been trying to read. Distraction and big life changes also break reading routines. Switching to something you'd read purely for fun usually helps.
Why am I suddenly struggling to read?
Often it's distraction, stress, or being out of practice, and it gets easier with short daily sessions. If it's a sudden change in your ability to focus or see the page, check in with a doctor.
What book should I read if I haven't read in a while?
Something short, fast, and in a genre you already enjoy in other forms, like the kind of stories you watch on TV. Short story collections are another easy way back in.
Do audiobooks count as reading?
For building the habit, yes. The experts The Guardian spoke to were clear that print, ebooks, and audiobooks are all valuable.
How do I actually enjoy reading again?
Read what you want, not what you think you should. Ditch books that bore you and try a few first chapters before committing. Enjoyment comes back fastest with the right book.
Read First
The hardest part of getting back into reading is those first few minutes, before the phone wins. Read First is built around exactly that: reading before you scroll.