How to Read 52 Books a Year (Even If You’re Busy)

You’re not alone. In a world filled with endless distractions and responsibilities, finding time to read can feel impossible. But what if you could finish 52 books a year—one book every week—without sacrificing your busy schedule?

Sounds challenging, right? The truth is, with the right strategies, it’s totally achievable! In this guide, we’ll break down how you can make reading a consistent habit and dramatically increase the number of books you consume. Let’s get started!

1. Prioritize Reading Time

The first step to reading more books is to make it a priority. Most people claim they don’t have time, but in reality, they just don’t make time. Treat reading like an important appointment—you wouldn’t skip a business meeting, so why skip a reading session?

Action Steps:

• Set a dedicated reading time each day (e.g., 30 minutes before bed or during your morning coffee).
• Use a planner or calendar to schedule your reading sessions.
• Replace non-essential screen time (Netflix, social media scrolling) with reading.

2. Always Have a Book with You

How many times have you found yourself waiting in line, commuting, or sitting idly with nothing to do? These little pockets of time add up! By carrying a book (or an audiobook) everywhere you go, you can turn wasted minutes into productive reading time.

Action Steps:

• Keep a book in your bag, car, or office.
• Download audiobooks or eBooks on your phone.
• Read instead of scrolling social media when you have downtime.

3. Use Audiobooks to Your Advantage

Listening to audiobooks is one of the best ways to “read” more, especially if you have a busy schedule. You can consume books while driving, exercising, or doing chores.

Action Steps:

• Subscribe to an audiobook service like Audible or Libby (free with a library card!).
• Listen to books while commuting, cooking, or working out.
• Increase playback speed to 1.5x or 2x to get through books faster.

4. Set a Realistic Yet Challenging Goal

Having a clear goal gives you something to strive for. If 52 books a year sounds too daunting, start with 12 (one per month) and gradually increase.

Action Steps:

• Use Goodreads or a reading journal to track progress.
• Set weekly reading targets (e.g., 100 pages per week).
• Celebrate milestones (e.g., treat yourself after finishing 10 books).

5. Choose the Right Books

Picking books that genuinely interest you makes a huge difference. If you’re forcing yourself to read something boring, you’ll lose motivation quickly.

Action Steps:

• Read books in genres you love.
• Don’t be afraid to quit books that don’t engage you.
• Get recommendations from friends, blogs, or platforms like iSocialLinks.com.

6. Use the 50-Page Rule

Not every book is worth your time. If a book isn’t capturing your interest within 50 pages, move on! Life’s too short to waste time on books you don’t enjoy.

Action Steps:

• Give every book 50 pages to engage you.
• If it’s boring, pick another one!
• Don’t feel guilty about abandoning books.

7. Join a Reading Community

Being part of a reading community can keep you accountable and motivated. Whether it’s a local book club or an online group, discussing books with others makes the experience more enjoyable.

Action Steps:

• Join an online book club or create one with friends.
• Follow reading challenges on Goodreads.
• Engage in discussions on social media.

8. Subscribe for Book Recommendations & Motivation

Reading is a lifelong journey, and having a reliable source of book recommendations and reading tips can help you stay on track. At iSocialLinks.com, we share valuable content to keep you motivated and help you find your next great read!