Happy Monday. ☕️ You’re in the right place. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to read more… but I just can’t stick to it,” this is the perfect opportunity to change that.

Not long ago, I was that person. Reading felt like something I wanted to do, but never did consistently.

Then I did something unglamorous: I started so small it was almost funny.

My first “comeback book” took me a full month to finish. I kept going anyway — until reading stopped being a goal and started being a habit. Now I read 3–5 books a month, and I’ve developed several habits that support this routine.

Last week I finished Atomic Habits by James Clear, and I’m currently reading The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy. Together, these two books helped me understand why my reading habit finally “clicked”:

• Atomic Habits gave me the system
• The Power of Your Subconscious Mind helped me see the belief and identity shift behind consistency

If you want a calm, realistic way to read more, without pressure, I’ll walk you through exactly what worked.

Why Reading Felt Impossible (and What Changed)

For many of us, reading isn’t a “time problem.” It’s a habit and focus problem.

After a long day, your brain wants what’s easy: scrolling, short videos, quick dopamine. Reading asks for a different state — slower, quieter, more present.

That’s why I stopped trying to “be motivated” and started building a habit that could survive real life. If you like calm productivity systems, you’ll love The Original Done List™ Method. And if you want to see the Done List™ Method in daily practice, read 7 Small Wins That Prove Change Is Already Done.

The 7 Tiny Habits That Took Me From “I Don’t Read” to 3–5 Books a Month

1. I made the goal “one page” (not “finish a book”)

This is the biggest shift. When the goal is tiny, you start. When you start, you often keep going.

Try this today: read one page. That’s it. Done-list style: “I read one page today.”

2. I used habit stacking (reading after something I already do)

This is straight from Atomic Habits: attach a new habit to an existing one. After I make coffee, I read two pages. After I brush my teeth, I read five minutes. After I put the kids to sleep, I read until I feel sleepy. Reading became automatic because it was part of a sequence.

3. I changed my environment (so reading became the default)

Motivation is unreliable. Environment is everything. I put the book where I couldn’t ignore it — on the nightstand, on the kitchen table, on my phone home screen through the Kindle app. If it’s visible, it’s easier to do.

4. I reduced the “starting friction”

Reading felt like work when the book was boring, the font was tiny, I was too tired, or I expected myself to read “perfectly.” So I made it easier: I chose books I actually wanted, allowed myself to read lighter books first, and gave myself permission to stop forcing it. Consistency grows when the habit feels doable.

5. I tracked consistency, not speed

My first book took one month. That was not “slow.” That was proof I was showing up. Instead of asking “how fast am I reading,” I asked: did I return to the book today? That’s how habits form.

6. I stopped saying “I can’t focus”

This is where The Power of Your Subconscious Mind hit me. Sometimes the real habit isn’t reading — it’s the identity we repeat: “I can’t focus.” “I never finish anything.” “I’m not consistent.” Murphy writes a lot about how the subconscious mind absorbs whatever it’s repeatedly told, whether that message is chosen deliberately or just repeated out of habit. Whether you agree with every detail or not, the practical takeaway is powerful: the story you repeat becomes the belief you carry.

So I switched my sentence to: “I’m learning how to focus again.” Not perfect. Just improving.

7. I made reading a calm ritual, not a productivity competition

When I tried to read like it was a performance, I avoided it. When I framed it as calm, I wanted it. Reading became my small daily reset: less noise, more clarity, a calmer nervous system, a stronger sense of self. And ironically, the calmer I made it, the more I read.

What These Two Books Are Really Teaching

Atomic Habits (James Clear) — the practical system: make it obvious, make it easy, make it satisfying, focus on identity, repeat, repeat, repeat.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (Joseph Murphy) — the belief layer: explores how repetition and belief quietly shape the results we experience, often without us noticing we’re doing it. You might not follow every concept as literally as it’s written. The lasting piece is this: what you repeatedly tell yourself tends to become what you act on.

A Simple “Start Today” Plan

If you want to read more, start here: pick a book you genuinely want, put it somewhere visible, read one page, attach it to coffee, bedtime, or brushing your teeth, then write one Done List line: “I opened my book today.” or “I read one page today.”

If you want a guided place to track this habit alongside your Done List™, the Signature Collection planners have space for exactly this kind of daily win.

Tell Me in the Comments

In past tense: “I read ___ pages today.” or “I opened my book today.” I’ll reply and cheer you on.

How Can I Start Reading Again If I Have No Time?

Start with one page right after something you already do — coffee, bedtime. One page keeps the habit alive.

How long does it take to build a reading habit? For many people, it takes weeks of consistency. The fastest path is lowering the goal and repeating it daily.

What if I can’t focus when I read? Try shorter sessions of two to five minutes, remove distractions, and repeat a new identity statement: “I’m learning how to focus again.”

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