I started reading in high school. I still remember reading over 50 books a year — some might say that’s not much, others might say it’s a lot, but for me it was a lot based on my pace — and I was really into classics, so I wanted to savour each one.

I had free summers and I could read more and my absolute champion year was finishing 86 books - still proud of that one as you can see.

Later, when life started getting in the way between me and my books I grew increasingly frustrated with my reading and how little I could read at the time (one of those years I read only 12 books and I was honestly upset).

I knew I needed to change that.

And I know I’m not alone in this. A lot of people want to read more — whether for enjoyment, learning, or simply slowing down.

So what actually HELPED me get back on track — and what might help you too?

You might say “systems” — and yes, they matter. At this point, I feel like most of adult life is about building systems.

But here’s the thing: systems can help you manage your time, but they don’t necessarily make you WANT to read.

And that part is probably the most important.

So what actually helps?

Reading what you want.

It sounds simple — but it took me a while to understand it. At one point, I overloaded myself with classics because I thought that was the only “real” literature. But is that even true? Some might disagree.

Then I went in the opposite direction — trying to read everything about coding, then finance, then self-development… and of course, that didn’t work either.

You need variety — and more importantly, you need to read what you genuinely enjoy. Don’t pick the book you think you should read — pick the one you actually want.

Like now I quite enjoy reading about political science or philosophy — something I never thought I’d be into — but my taste changes, and so do the books I choose.

One of my personal recommendations is Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke. What a beautiful collection of letters — full of joy, love, and real mentorship. I honestly think it’s something universal, everyone can find something meaningful there. I still go back and reread some passages from it.

So the first step is simple: read what you enjoy.

What else?

Lower the barrier.

You don’t need to finish a book in one sitting. In fact, it’s better if you don’t — you’re more likely to miss things.

Even 10–15 minutes a day is enough.

In the morning with your coffee, or in the evening when you’re tired and thinking, “what can this really give me?”. But what I noticed is that those 10–15 minutes often turn into 30… and sometimes even an hour if the book is really engaging.

But even if you don’t have time or feel tired, those 10–15 minutes a day add up to 1–1.5 hours a week — that’s already 1–1.5 hours less spent mindlessly scrolling.

Another one:

Take a book with you.

Sometimes I read physical books, but a lot of the time I read on my phone or tablet. Even a few breaks at work can get you through a few pages.

I read on my lunch break, on the road, when I travel, on the plane — anywhere I have a minute.

And honestly, it doesn’t matter that much what you read. Fiction or non-fiction — unless it’s a full-blown scientific study — you’re good to go. So grab a book — or a Kindle, or even your phone (I’ve been using the Books app on my iPhone and I love it.)

Next one,

Don’t try to read perfectly!

I used to have this issue. For me, reading meant going through every sentence perfectly — not missing a single word, highlighting everything neatly, understanding everything, closing the book, putting it on a perfect shelf, and moving on to the next one.

No.

Reading is layering, you filter what you like based on what you know, your experiences, your stage in life, later you learn more, come back to the same book, and it hits differently. You can’t understand everything in one reading — and you don’t need to. Just let yourself enjoy the moment, that’s what books are for!

I stopped doing the highlights altogether because it’s distracting me from the meaning of the passage, I use a simple pencil and underline or write on margins when I feel like it. Again, I don’t tell you not to have pretty books if that’s your thing, just be mindful not to let it distract you from actually reading.

And of course the last one is

system,

I already kinda mentioned it a little bit.

While commuting, you can read or listen to an audiobook.

In the morning, when the world is still asleep and you’re having your coffee — just read a few pages of something that inspires you.

In the evening before bed, you’re much better off reading a little bit instead of flooding your brain with more videos from a screen or breaking news about whatever is going on in the world (and as we know, there’s always something going on).

I sometimes listen to a book when I cook or clean — that makes it even more enjoyable. Whatever works for you, just try attaching this habit of reading to another habit, and you will see great results.

For me, I simply can’t imagine my life without reading. Whether it’s learning or entertainment, I can always find something in a book. (I’m currently working on an app that will help me track my home library more effectively — and I hope it might be helpful for someone else too.)

“Read what you love until you love to read.”

Reading is beautiful because everyone can find something for themselves and truly enjoy it. I haven’t once put down a book and walked away unchanged — and I wish that for you too. Happy reading!

And just like with books, I can’t cover everything in this article. I’ll come back to this topic and share more over time — let me know if you’d like to see that.