Many of us would love to read more.
We buy books with good intentions, pile them on the bedside table and then reach for our phones instead.
The good news is that reading more is less about willpower and more about habits.
Small changes to your routine, your environment and the way you choose books can turn reading into something you look forward to every day.
This guide shares simple, realistic ideas that work for busy people, along with tips for building a steady supply of books without spending a fortune, using second-hand shops such as medimops.
Start Small
The easiest way to build a reading habit is to set a goal so small it feels almost too easy.
Ten pages a day, or ten minutes before bed, is enough to get started.
Ten pages a day adds up to more than 3,500 pages a year, which is roughly a dozen average novels.
Once the habit feels natural, you can increase the time without forcing it.
Attach Reading to Something You Already Do
Habits stick more easily when they are linked to an existing routine.
Read with your morning coffee, on your commute, during lunch or for a few minutes after you get into bed.
Keep a book wherever that habit happens, so it is always within reach.
Many readers keep one book by the bed, one in a bag and an audiobook on their phone, so there is always something ready.
Put Your Phone Out of Reach
Phones are the biggest competitor for our reading time.
Notifications pull attention away and make it harder to sink into a story.
Try leaving your phone in another room for the first half hour before bed, or switch on do not disturb while you read.
Swapping just some of your scrolling time for reading can add hours of reading to your week.
Choose Books You Actually Want to Read
It is much easier to read more when you enjoy what you are reading.
Do not feel you must finish every book you start.
If a book is not working for you after fifty pages, it is fine to put it down and try something else.
Follow your curiosity, whether that means crime fiction, romance, history, science or graphic novels.
Reading trends can be a good source of ideas too.
An analysis of book sales at medimops found that the share of crime novels and thrillers rises steadily from January to June each year, while romance and young adult books also grow in popularity through the first half of the year.
Mix Formats
Reading does not have to mean a printed book every time.
Audiobooks are perfect for walking, cooking, driving or exercising.
E-readers are light and handy for travel.
Short story collections, essays and magazines are great for busy days when you only have a few minutes.
Using different formats lets you fit stories into moments that would otherwise be lost.
Sharing books with others keeps you motivated.
Join a book club, start one with friends or swap recommendations with a family member.
Talking about a book helps you remember it and gives you a reason to finish it.
Online reading challenges and simple reading logs can also add a sense of progress.
Keep a Steady Supply of Books
One reason people stop reading is simply running out of things they want to read.
A short to-be-read list makes it easy to pick up the next book as soon as you finish one.
Buying second-hand is one of the easiest ways to keep that list stocked without overspending.
medimops is a German online shop for second-hand books and media, run by the re-commerce company momox.
It offers more than four million quality-checked books and media at up to 70 percent below the new price.
Every item is checked before it is sold and graded by condition, so you know what to expect.
Second-hand is becoming more popular too.
A survey for the momox Books and Media Report found that 84 percent of people in Germany have bought second-hand, with 40 percent buying used books.
Use Film and TV as a Starting Point
Screen adaptations are a great way into books.
If you loved a series or a film, try the novel it was based on.
medimops has noted that popular adaptations continue to drive demand for the books behind them, with titles linked to recent films and series among its bestsellers.
Reading the book after watching the adaptation often reveals new details and characters.
Create a Reading Corner
A comfortable place to read makes the habit more appealing.
You do not need a whole room; a good chair, a soft blanket and a lamp in a quiet corner are enough.
Keep a small shelf or basket of books nearby so you can choose your next read without searching the house.
Good lighting matters, as reading in dim light can be tiring for the eyes.
Try Reading in Short Bursts
Waiting rooms, train journeys, queues and lunch breaks are all chances to read a few pages.
Keeping a slim paperback in your bag turns these small gaps into reading time.
Short chapters, novellas and short story collections are perfect for this, because you can finish a section in just a few minutes.
Over a week, these small moments can easily add up to an extra hour or two of reading.
Track What You Read
Keeping a simple record of the books you finish is surprisingly motivating.
A notebook, a list on your phone or a reading app all work well.
Note the title, author and a line about what you thought, and you will build a personal history of your reading life.
Pass Books On
Once you have finished a book you will not reread, pass it on.
Give it to a friend, donate it, or sell it through a service such as momox, which buys used books, CDs, DVDs and games at a fixed price.
Clearing space on your shelves makes room for new reads and keeps good books in circulation.
Final Thoughts
Reading more is about building small, enjoyable habits rather than setting huge targets.
Start with a few pages a day, link reading to your routine, put your phone away and choose books you genuinely want to read.
Keep a steady supply of affordable books, and you will be surprised how quickly the pages add up.
When you are ready for your next read, browse second-hand books at medimops and find your next favourite story for less.
