Booked For Life

When we talk about health and fitness, most of us immediately think of food charts, workouts, or steps on our smartwatch. But true wellbeing is holistic — it includes our mental, emotional, and even intellectual health.

Just like we train our bodies in the gym, we can train our minds through daily habits that nourish and strengthen them. One of the most underrated “fitness habits” is reading. That’s why today, I’m sharing this piece with you — because building a reading habit is as powerful as building a workout routine.

Reading offers a wide range of benefits that go far beyond simple entertainment. For one, it’s a powerful stress reducer. Immersing yourself in a good story can distract your mind from daily pressures and significantly lower stress levels, even reducing cortisol, the hormone linked to stress. Reading can also improve sleep quality — picking up a print book before bed signals to your body that it’s time to wind down, leading to deeper, more restful sleep and helping you wake up refreshed.

Beyond relaxation, reading enhances brain function by stimulating memory, focus, and analytical thinking in ways that passive activities like scrolling through your phone cannot. Consistent reading keeps the mind sharp and may even lower the risk of cognitive decline as you age, making it a true workout for the brain.

Reading also supports mental and emotional well-being. It provides a therapeutic escape, fostering calm and balance — like a mini-vacation without leaving your chair. And when you engage with diverse characters and perspectives, reading boosts empathy and emotional intelligence, helping you better understand and connect with others on a deeper level.

These five benefits prove just how powerful reading can be for your health and well-being. And the best part? Building a strong reading habit is absolutely possible. I’m sharing 20 strategies that I’ve personally used to make reading a regular part of my life — and they can help you finish a book every single week too.

1. Create A Reading List: Plan ahead by creating a list of books you want to read. This prevents time wasted on choosing your next book.

2. Prioritize Reading: Make reading a priority in your daily routine. Treat it as an important task rather than a leisure activity.

3. Use Audiobooks: Listen to audiobooks during commutes, workouts, or while doing chores. This can significantly increase your reading time.

4. Set Daily Page Goals: Break down your reading into manageable daily page goals. For a 300-page book, aim for about 43 pages a day.

5. Track Your Progress: Use a reading tracker app or a journal to log your reading progress. Seeing your progress can be motivating.

6. Mix Up Genres: To keep things interesting, alternate between different genres. This prevents reading fatigue and keeps you engaged.

7. Read Shorter Books: Incorporate shorter books or novellas into your reading list to ensure you can finish them within a week.

8. Use E-Readers: E-readers can make it easier to carry multiple books and read in different settings. They also allow for quick note-taking and highlighting.

9. Speed Reading Techniques: Learn and practice speed reading techniques to improve your reading speed without sacrificing comprehension.

10. Set Achievable Goals: Be realistic about your reading goals based on your schedule and commitments. Adjust as necessary.

11. Filter By Interest: Choose books that genuinely interest you. Reading something you enjoy makes it easier to stay committed.

12. Use Waiting Time: Use waiting times, such as at the doctor’s office or in line at the grocery store, to read a few pages.

13. Read Multiple Books: Have a couple of books in different genres going at once. Switch between them based on your mood.

14. Choose The Right Format: Sometimes, a book's format can influence how quickly you can get through it. Consider whether the book might be better in print, as an e-book, or as an audiobook.

15. Set A Reading Routine: Establish a morning or bedtime reading routine. Consistent habits reinforce regular reading.

16. Read Reviews And Summaries: Read reviews or summaries before starting a book to gauge its relevance and interest to you. This helps avoid books that might not hold your interest.

17. Limit Screen Time: Reduce time spent on screens (TV, social media) to free up more time for reading. Turn off notifications on your phone to avoid distractions.

18. Combine Reading With Exercise: Listen to audiobooks during physical activity like walking, jogging or cycling.

19. Set Milestones: Break the book into sections and set mini-goals to reach these milestones within your weekly timeline.

20. Reward Yourself: Set up a reward system for reaching your reading goals, such as treating yourself to a favorite snack or a new book.

    
    

Whether it’s lifting weights, meal-prepping, or finishing a chapter before bed, the principle is the same: small, consistent habits compound into big results. Reading won’t just make you smarter — it will help you recover better, manage stress, and show up stronger in your health and fitness journey. So as you work on your physical fitness, don’t forget your mental fitness too. Start with even 10 pages a day — your mind (and body) will thank you for it.