How I Got Back Into Reading and Loved It

Friday, 20 February 2026 Written by Leo Babauta Views: 22893

Discover the small habits that help rekindle a love for reading and reconnect with your imagination. ~AndEl

In November, I started reading again. I’d spent most of the year reading chess books, and then decided to take a break from the game to give myself some mental space. It really benefited my reading of fiction, one of the great loves of my life.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people I know (myself included) who are lifetime readers … just haven’t been reading as much in recent years. I go through stretches of 6 months or more where I’m not reading a lot of fiction. I think technology and digital distractions are to blame.

So I’ve come up with little ways to read more, and it’s been working! I’ve read 15 books since starting again in November.

Here are the little ways I’ve been doing it:

• Read first thing in the morning, with coffee — even for 10 minutes, before I get started with work.
• Read at bed, probably for about 30 minutes, as I go to sleep.
• Reading dates with my wife — we both want to read more, so we’ll spend time together at home, or even at a coffee shop, on a reading date, a few times a week.
• I also try to take 1–2 short reading breaks during the day, to get away from work.
• Finally, I make a list of books that I’m excited to read, or that feel fun. I don’t try to tackle ambitious books at the moment, nor am I reading ones that are boring. If I don’t like a book, I have full permission to drop it.

I hope this inspires some of you lifelong readers to get back into it.

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