Why Reading Feels Like a Chore (Even When You Want to Do It)
Let’s be real — most students want to read more. They really do. It’s on your vision board, it’s in your New Year resolutions, and maybe even on that dusty list in your Notes app titled “Better Habits (For Real This Time)”. But despite all the motivation, we somehow end up scrolling through reels of cats knocking things off tables instead of opening that PDF or flipping those pages.
I mean, reading sounds productive. You feel good saying, “I’m trying to read 20 pages a day.” But in reality? The first page goes fine. The second? You’re glancing at your phone. By the fifth page, you’re wondering what your crush is doing. Boom — habit broken.
So how do you make reading actually stick? Like, become a part of your daily rhythm without feeling like academic punishment?
Here’s what worked for me (a former textbook-skimmer turned book-hoarder) and what I’ve seen from friends who used to hate reading but now randomly quote books in conversations like they’re main characters.
Start Ugly, Stay Consistent – The Golden Rule of Habit Building
You don’t need fancy apps or book journals with color-coded tabs to start reading. You don’t even need a Kindle or noise-cancelling headphones (though if you have them, flex gently). All you need is a book and five undistracted minutes.
Yeah. That’s it. Five minutes.
There’s a common myth that you have to read for an hour every day to “build a habit.” But science (and common sense) says otherwise. According to Atomic Habits by James Clear — which ironically is one of the most quoted books by people who read only half of it — the key is consistency, not intensity.
Even if you read just two pages a day for a month, that’s 60 pages — more than what most people read in a semester unless it’s on a syllabus.
Pick the Right Book — Not the “Smartest” One
Here’s where a lot of students mess up: they choose books that they think they should read instead of what they actually want to read. Like starting with War and Peace or Sapiens when your brain is barely keeping up with class notes.
No offense to Tolstoy or Harari, but if you’re just starting out, maybe don’t jump into 500+ pages of philosophical deep dives.
Pick something easy. Fun. Even cringey. If romance fiction gets you hooked, go for it. If you’re into dark thrillers or books with magical schools (hi, fantasy lovers), pick one of those.
The whole “productive reading” thing doesn’t have to mean academic reading. It means getting your brain used to the act of reading — the focus, the immersion, the rhythm. Once that’s in place, you can move on to the heavy stuff without dozing off.
Make Reading a Ritual, Not a Random Activity
Okay, this one’s big. Ever wonder why you always end up doom-scrolling at night? Or eating snacks you didn’t even want to eat? It’s because you’ve trained your brain to associate certain times with certain behaviors.
Same thing applies to reading.
You need to create a time-slot (or a trigger) where reading becomes the default activity. For me, it started with reading 5 minutes before bed instead of watching YouTube shorts. At first, I’d still get distracted. But after a week? My body kind of expected that mini reading moment.
Some people read after lunch. Others do it first thing in the morning, like a shot of mental espresso. There’s no “right” time — just pick a slot that already exists in your day and sneak reading into it.
Stop Multitasking. You’re Not Fooling Anyone
We all like to pretend we’re multitaskers — reading while music plays, while checking WhatsApp, while mentally planning the next party. But here’s the harsh truth: your brain’s not doing any of those things well.
If you’re serious about building a reading habit, even just 10 distraction-free minutes beats 30 minutes of semi-focused skimming while Instagram is open in another tab.
In fact, one neuroscience study (that I’m probably misquoting but still useful) said it takes your brain over 20 minutes to fully refocus after a distraction. That’s literally the whole time you set aside for reading. Wasted.
So yeah, put the phone on silent. Lock it in a drawer if you must. Or better, switch to airplane mode. Your DMs will survive.
Go Digital If You Want — But Be Honest About It
Not everyone likes physical books. And that’s okay.
In fact, most students now use reading apps like Kindle, Audible, or even free PDFs (legal or questionably legal, no judgment). If screens work better for you — use them. But be very honest about whether the screen is helping or hurting your focus.
If you open a PDF and end up on Pinterest 4 minutes later, maybe try an actual book for a while. Or use a reading app that tracks your time and gives you that satisfying “streak” feeling — like Kindle’s achievement badges or apps like “Bookly” that make reading feel like a game.
Try Reading Challenges (but Like, Chill Ones)
Social media’s full of #ReadingChallenge posts that low-key make you feel like a failure. “Read 52 books in 52 weeks!” is a cool idea, but also… bruh, we have exams and deadlines.
Try a chill version. Like:
- Read 10 pages a day for a week.
- Finish 2 books in a month.
- Read 3 genres you’ve never tried before.
Also, Goodreads challenges are great if you want to feel slightly competitive with yourself. Reddit’s r/booksuggestions also throws up gold if you’re stuck picking your next read. And trust me — once you finish even one book, the little ego boost is enough to keep you going.
Use Reading as Your “Productive Escape”
Reading is weirdly one of the few things that’s both productive and relaxing. It doesn’t fry your brain like too much screen time. It doesn’t leave you feeling empty like endless scrolling. It helps you concentrate, expands your vocab, and honestly? Makes you a better conversationalist.
Need a break from studying but don’t want to feel guilty? Read a chapter from something light.
Feeling anxious but don’t want to spiral on social media? Dive into fiction for 15 minutes.
Need ideas for that essay or creative project? Read literally anything and watch your brain connect dots it didn’t know existed.
Personal Confession: I Used to Hate Reading Too
Okay, here’s the tea. Back in school, I literally pretended to read books to pass class assignments. I once gave a book review on a novel I’d only read the blurb of. (Still passed. Don’t try that at home.)
It wasn’t until I hit a burnout phase in college that I picked up reading properly. Not because it was smart — but because my brain was fried, and I needed something that wasn’t Instagram or gaming or rewatching Brooklyn Nine-Nine for the 5th time.
Started with manga. Then self-help. Then thrillers. Eventually fell in love with storytelling. Now I have a chaotic to-be-read pile on my desk and weirdly love it.
A Few Random Tricks That Weirdly Work
- Use a reading tracker or make a little checklist. Crossing off days feels surprisingly good.
- Join a book group or Discord community. Talking about books keeps the habit alive.
- Set dumb goals. Like “read every day till your exams” or “read while eating Maggi.”
- Reward yourself. Finish a book? Buy a samosa. Or another book. Or nap. Whatever works.
- Re-read old stuff. Sometimes going back to books you read as a kid can remind you why reading felt magical in the first place.
Final Thought: It’s Not About Speed — It’s About Staying Curious
If you remember one thing from this, let it be this: You don’t have to be fast. You don’t have to read a lot. You just need to read something — regularly, curiously, honestly.
Even if it’s one paragraph on the bus. Or a comic strip before bed. Or a chapter in between crying over your math assignment. It counts. It builds.