How to Make More Time for Reading (Without Guilt)
If you’re anything like me, your TBR pile is starting to resemble a small architectural project. You want to read. You love to read. But by the time your head hits the pillow, you’ve either scrolled yourself into oblivion or fallen asleep mid-sentence.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the good news: making more time for reading without guilt is absolutely doable, even with a busy schedule, work chaos, or small humans in the mix. This isn’t about forcing yourself to wake up at 5am to read for two hours (unless that genuinely brings you joy... in which case, I admire you). It’s about weaving reading into your life in a way that feels effortless, enjoyable, and yes -guilt-free.
Let’s break it down.
1. Ditch the “Shoulds”
This is your gentle reminder that you don’t have to finish that book everyone’s raving about on BookTok. You’re not behind. You’re not failing as a reader. You’re allowed to read what you love, when you want.
Reading should feel like a treat, not a chore. So if a book isn’t grabbing you? Close it. Life’s too short for books that feel like homework.
2. Create a Tiny Ritual
You don’t need an entire afternoon with a pot of tea and zero interruptions or a whole weekend away at a reading retreat (though wouldn’t that be nice?) . Instead, build a small ritual that makes reading part of your routine:
10 minutes with your coffee in the morning
5 pages before bed (no pressure to finish the chapter)
Audiobook while walking the dog or folding the washing
Little moments add up and they count.
3. Replace Scroll Time with Reading Time
We all say we don’t have time to read, but…our screen-time reports beg to differ. You don’t need to quit your phone cold turkey, but swapping 10 minutes of scrolling for 10 pages of a good book can do wonders for your brain (and your sleep).
4. Make It Social
Reading doesn’t have to be a solitary act. In fact, one of the best ways to read more is to make it social. When you’ve got a book club waiting to chat, you're far more likely to prioritise those pages, even when life gets busy.
That’s exactly why I created the Busy With Books Book Club: a relaxed, no-pressure monthly book club for people who love reading but also have a life. We meet once a month on Zoom, chat about books (and sometimes snacks), and celebrate reading.
👉🏻 Learn more about the book club here
5. Stop Tracking, Focus on Enjoying
Some months you’ll read four books. Some months you’ll read four pages. It’s all valid.
Reading isn’t a productivity contest. It’s a way to escape, connect, rest, and recharge. So let go of the pressure to be a “better” reader and instead, focus on being a happier one.
TL;DR?
Here’s your permission slip to:
Read what you love
DNF books that don’t spark joy
Make reading part of your daily rhythm (even if it’s only 5 minutes)
Join a community that gets it
And if you’re looking for a place to start, come join us in the Busy With Books Book Club!