How to Become a Reader as an Adult
Nearly a decade ago, I launched my free course, Raising Readers, about raising your kids up to be readers.
But recently I received this message about how to become a reader as an adult:
I can’t tell you how many people have said something similar in my DMs or comment section over the years.
You want to be a reader. But actually reading? The follow-through? That’s the part that feels just out of reach.
The good news: becoming a reader isn’t about having some magical natural ability. It’s not about speed or being able to sit still for an hour or reading all the classics. It’s about building a habit that fits your life. And lucky for you, I asked the Everyday Reading community for their best advice – and they delivered!
I’m sharing the very best tips on how real adults with full lives and full schedules have become readers:
1. Start Small
“Start small. It’s a muscle that needs regular exercise before it feels ‘easy.’ You don’t train for a marathon in one day. Try reading for 15 minutes a day. Don’t discount audiobooks.”
You don’t have to dive into 500 pages a night. You just have to start. Try a 10-minute reading sprint in the morning, or one chapter before bed. One reader put it perfectly:
“Two chapters a day and before you know it, you are finishing books and are a reader!”
This is about consistency, not quantity. Every page counts – even if it is just 1!
2. Audiobooks Might Be the Ticket
If you’ve ever said, “I just don’t have time to sit and read,” I have one word for you: AUDIOBOOKS. I know there are plenty of people out there that claim that audiobooks aren’t actual books and don’t count . . . well I’m here to tell you, they have no say in what actually counts. They’re books. They count. And for many adults, they’re the thing that finally cracked the code in becoming a reader.
“I was the same until I discovered audiobooks. It’s just a format that works better for my brain.”
“Try an audiobook to get into the story on the first in a series and then read the others.”
And my favorite thing about audiobooks? They are the perfect reading option for busy adults! Listen in the car. While you fold laundry. On your walk. During your commute. You’re already doing those things – might as well pair them with a story.
If you want to dive into audiobooks, I have a list of my favorite full cast audiobooks (which are super engaging!) and a list of audiobook favorites from the Everyday Reading community.
3. Find Your Format (Kindle, Audio, Physical – Whatever Works)
“A Kindle. I have it with me all the time, fits in my hand, don’t have to have a light on at night, can switch books to match mood.“
Physical books are lovely, but if the format’s not working for your life, switch it up. Ebooks on your phone mean you can read in the school pickup line or during your lunch break. Audiobooks can fill the quiet gaps in your day. A Kindle makes it easy to carry thousands of books in your bag and read anywhere – even in the dark.
No format is better than another. The best format is the one you’ll actually use.
4. Make Reading Fit Into Your Day – Not the Other Way Around
“Designate reading times in your day and don’t do other things…before bed, pickup line, etc.”
“With my hobbies, I have to prioritize them and make time for them or it just doesn’t happen.”
Create little anchor points throughout your day where reading naturally fits in. Then protect those pockets of time like they’re sacred. Because they are.
“Start with your online library. Instead of Instagram scrolling, flip through a book on your phone. Or listen to a book while you do boring tasks.”
You may not need more time – you may just need to swap a few minutes of scrolling for a few minutes of reading. Try replacing your morning phone habit with a few pages, or your nighttime Instagram scroll with a chapter.
5. Read What Interests You (Not What You Think You “Should” Read)
“Start with fun books that interest you! Who cares if they are ‘adult’ or fiction vs nonfiction.”
“Maybe pick a book on a hobby that you want to learn, a self-help book in an area that you need help with, or a book on a celebrity or a biography in history that interests you.”
This is a BIG one. If you’ve been trying to get into reading by forcing your way through serious literary novels that everyone recommends…you might just be bored. And that’s okay!
Reading should be fun. It should feel like an escape, or an adventure, or a gossip session with friends. You are allowed to love thrillers, fantasy, memoirs, spicy romance, or all of the above.
Follow your curiosity. Want to garden? Read about that. Love true crime? Find a juicy mystery. Fascinated by celebrity lives? Grab that memoir.
Once you find the right book, you likely won’t have to force yourself to read – it’ll become something you crave.
If you are really struggling finding a book to start with, I have an entire blog post about books to read if you are getting back into reading (these are my absolute favorites from all genre types – there is something in there for everyone!).
6. Let a Series Hook You
“Audiobooks? YA books? A series so that once you get through the first, it is easy to keep going.”
Sometimes the hardest part is just starting. A series can help eliminate that “what do I read next?” problem. If book one grabs you, the momentum carries you forward.
Bonus: series are often faster-paced, easier to follow, and totally binge-worthy. Like Netflix, but for your brain.
7. Anyone Can Be a Reader
Here’s the big truth: If you want to be a reader, you already are one.
It doesn’t matter if you finish one book this year or 120. You don’t need to post reviews, have a reading nook, or drink tea in aesthetic book mugs (but if you do, I love that for you).
Any other tips for becoming a reader as an adult? I’d love for you to share your best tips in the comments!
