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Want to Read More in 2025? Start With 25 Minutes a Day

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Want to Read More in 2025? Start With 25 Minutes a Day

As a lifelong bookworm and self-professed bibliophile, I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of dedicating time each day to immerse myself in the written word. Reading has been a constant source of joy, solace, and intellectual stimulation throughout my life, and I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power it holds for both personal growth and overall well-being.

Every year, I eagerly anticipate the arrival of January 1st to set my annual reading goals, often inspired by the collective resolutions of those around me. However, this year I am particularly excited about the “Read 25 in ’25” challenge proposed by Gretchen Rubin. As someone who finds solace in the pages of a good book, I believe that this concrete and achievable goal will serve as a wonderful motivator to cultivate a deeper, more consistent reading practice.

What sets “Read 25 in ’25” apart from other resolutions is its simplicity and measurability. By committing to just 25 minutes of daily reading, we can reap the myriad benefits associated with this activity without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Furthermore, the challenge’s annual nature provides a sense of accountability and camaraderie as we embark on this shared journey.

In my own life, I have found that setting aside dedicated time for reading each day has been instrumental in fostering habits that enrich my mind and nourish my soul. From snatching moments to read during long commutes or doctor’s appointments, to indulging in a good book before bedtime, I have discovered countless ways to fit reading into my busy schedule.

I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who shares a love for the written word to join me in embracing this challenge and making 2025 the year we all become better, more well-read versions of ourselves. And remember, as Mark Twain once said, “The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into life – to keep it always at sight.” So let us approach our reading with the same wide-eyed wonder and curiosity that only a child can muster, and who knows where our imaginations may take us!

Oh, and one more thing: if you find yourself struggling to stay motivated, just remember, you’re not just reading for yourself – you’re reading for humanity. After all, as the great Carl Sagan once said, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” So let us embark on this journey together and discover the incredible worlds that await us between the pages of a good book!

Every December, as the new year approaches, I inquire from individuals about their New Year’s resolutions, and it turns out quite often that they express a desire to read more books.

It’s hardly unexpected, given that we generally recognize reading as advantageous, similar to maintaining a healthy lifestyle by getting adequate sleep or consuming more veggies. Indeed, research corroborates this belief, demonstrating that reading contributes to mental well-being, fosters empathy, alleviates stress, improves memory, facilitates learning, enhances our ability to cope with ambiguity (which is especially relevant today), and may even extend lifespan.

Frankly speaking, even though it’s pleasing to learn that my favorite pastime has health advantages, the fact that it’s healthy doesn’t particularly interest me. I read because it’s enjoyable, almost like listening to music or going for a hike. The positive aspects are undeniably appealing, but they’re not what primarily motivates me.

On a whim, I skipped work to immerse myself in Stephen King’s “The Stand.” I’ve gifted copies of Christopher Alexander’s “A Pattern Language” to a dozen companions, and we’re all diving into it together. Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” has been revisited ten times by me, each read revealing new layers of understanding. Once I discovered Octavia Butler’s “Wild Seed,” I couldn’t resist devouring every book she penned. My absolute joy comes from spending Saturdays and Sundays lost in the world of a good novel, binge-reading for hours on end.

From a standpoint of promoting happiness, it’s beneficial for both health and pleasure to commit to reading more frequently. However, saying “I want to read more” might not be the most productive way to express this resolution. As a keen reader myself, I can attest that establishing regular reading habits is advantageous even for someone like me.

So what’s a better way to tackle that aim?

Each year on the “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” podcast, I propose an annual habit-building challenge. This challenge encourages individuals to commit to one specific habit daily for a full year, making it a permanent part of their lives. For added fun, this yearly challenge is tied to the calendar year. For example, in 2020, the annual challenge was “Take a 20-minute walk every day in ’20.

2025 aims to encourage reading daily: commit to spending a minimum of 25 minutes each day immersed in reading material, including audiobooks.

Making our resolutions specific and quantifiable can significantly boost our chances of sticking to them. For instance, “no screens from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.” is more effective than just “reducing screen time.” Interestingly, it’s often easier to maintain a resolution when we perform an action daily rather than sporadically. This is because consistent practice helps in forming habits better. For example, reading for 25 minutes every day can help us establish the habit more effectively. We leverage the motivating factor of maintaining a “streak,” which gives a sense of accomplishment. As Andy Warhol said, “If you do something once it’s exciting, and if you do it every day it’s exciting.

Establishing a daily routine for an activity removes the mental strain of repeatedly deciding whether to do it today or tomorrow, questioning if one deserves a day off, or considering exceptions like travel. Just as brushing teeth becomes an automatic habit, reading can transition into a consistent practice that doesn’t trigger internal debates or procrastination.

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The suggestion to read for 25 minutes daily is practical and achievable. With just 25 minutes dedicated to reading each day, even the busiest individuals can find this time slot manageable. In a year, this amounts to 9,125 minutes or over 152 hours of reading time, which equates to reading several books.

Here are some tips that have helped me read consistently. 

  • Quit reading a boring book. I used to force myself to finish any book I started. No more. Life is short, and there are too many great books to enjoy.
  • Always have something to read. I keep a stack and a to-be-read list on hand so I’m never caught between books.
  • Use the library. It’s free!
  • Browse in bookstores to get fresh ideas for books and authors you might want to try out.
  • Take advantage of odd moments. I read in a dentist’s waiting room or in a long check-out line. If you always have a book with you, you’ll always have something that’s both productive and entertaining to do.
  • Follow your inclinations. I read what I feel like reading, not what I “should” read, and I don’t feel obligated to read a book that I receive as a gift. 
  • Replace social-media time and doomscrolling with reading. One of my friends swapped her favorite social-media app for an e-reader app, so every time her finger automatically went to tap that corner of her homescreen, she was prompted to read.

Over time, I’ve noticed that tasks which could be accomplished at any moment are frequently left undone. By pledging to dedicate 25 minutes daily for reading throughout the year 2025, we can transform reading into a consistent practice. Can you imagine the numerous advantages we might gain in this manner, all while indulging in one of life’s most rewarding pastimes?

Throughout my experience, I’ve found that things which are doable at any given moment seldom get done. By vowing to devote 25 minutes per day for reading throughout the year 2025, we can make reading a routine. What other remarkable benefits could we reap in this way, while enjoying one of life’s finest delights?

Gretchen Rubin is a writer, public speaker, online blogger, and podcast host. She’s teamed up with Bookshop.org to encourage people to spend 25 minutes reading every day in the year 2025.

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2024-12-30 16:07

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