In the era of social media, when we are used to spending so much time on our phones, reading can seem like a difficult task. We often associate books with studying, something serious that requires a lot of concentration, and this alone can feel overwhelming. Especially when you hold a book in your hands and imagine how much time it will take to read it from beginning to end. It can start to feel almost impossible, because you immediately think about how little of it you will manage to read in one sitting.
But in reality, reading doesn’t quite work like that. Once you get used to books, you begin to see them in a completely different way.
Reading has many benefits. It can be calming and gives our minds a chance to slow down. It teaches concentration and patience, helps us stay present, and allows us to feel life more fully while spending less time in front of a screen. Reading also makes it easier to fall asleep afterward, and it removes that constant sense of chaos — the feeling that we always have to rush somewhere.
It also helps expand our vocabulary, makes us better writers, and is a great way to practice foreign languages. But most importantly, reading develops our imagination, letting us dive into new worlds, live through countless stories alongside the characters, experience hundreds of lives through books and feel a whole range of emotions.
When we read, we understand the atmosphere, the characters, and their motivations much more deeply than when we watch films. We recognize parts of ourselves in them, feel heard, and realize that we are not alone in our experiences. In this way, reading helps us accept and normalize everything deeply human within us.
At the beginning, reading can feel difficult and even a little intimidating. But the truth is that you get used to it surprisingly quickly, and with each new book it becomes easier and easier. Over time, reading starts to be associated with rest and relaxation. You begin to genuinely want to pick up a book to unwind, and you find yourself reaching for it almost automatically — just like you would for your phone. In the end, it’s simply a matter of habit.
It’s also worth saying that you don’t have to read only serious classic books or non-fiction to be a “productive” reader. Choose what genuinely interests you. When you give yourself the freedom to follow your own taste, you may be surprised by how many fascinating books are out there, and you’ll start discovering new genres and new authors.
Reading doesn’t have to be productive at all, it can simply be a hobby, a way to rest and spend time well. So if reading doesn’t feel interesting to you yet, it’s most likely because you just haven’t found your genre. Try new things, pick up books that intrigue you, don’t limit yourself to one category, and give yourself the chance to discover what truly interests you without worrying about what others think or about dividing books into “serious” and “not serious.”
You also don’t have to be someone who has been reading a lot since childhood to feel like you have the right to go to a bookstore and read books. Reading doesn’t have to define your entire personality. It’s not as if you must be either someone who never reads at all or someone who reads 100 books a year, attends a book club, has a library membership, and only talks about books. You can just as easily read one book a month, one every few months, or even one a year. Everyone has their own rhythm, their own goals, and their own level of interest — and that’s completely okay. You can simply go and buy one book, read it, and that’s it. It doesn’t mean you are now obligated to read regularly.
And remember: every person who reads a lot today was once someone who bought their first book without knowing if they would finish it, and who might have put it aside for months. The beginning doesn’t have to be perfect, and it doesn’t obligate you to keep going.
Reading may seem difficult at first because it requires concentration. But the truth is that we adapt to it quite quickly. With time, our brain, which is used to the constant stream of bright, fast-moving images on social media designed to capture our attention, begins to switch modes. Reading text on a page gradually becomes simple and almost automatic.
In fact, for our brains it is often easier and more calming to process the steady flow of a book than to consume dozens of reels in an hour. Our phones can actually be very exhausting. Even though scrolling through social media may seem like the easiest option to rest, it often leaves us feeling more drained. Reading, on the other hand, is a form of quality rest — something that genuinely helps us relax.
Find a reading routine that works for you. Some people enjoy reading in the morning, others prefer it before going to bed. For some, it’s convenient to read on public transport or while eating. Some people feel comfortable reading in public places, while others need silence and calm.
Try to find the context in which reading feels most natural for you — maybe in bed, in a café, or in a park. It all depends on you, and also on the type of books you read. Do it in a way that feels comfortable, and don’t pressure yourself to do more than you want to. The most important thing is that reading brings you pleasure.
There’s no need to set strict expectations about reading speed. You can’t really go beyond the natural limits of how fast people read, and so-called speed reading actually comes at the expense of comprehension. When you try to read that way, you usually end up scanning the text and grasping only the general idea, rather than truly engaging with it. With reading, the process is much more important than the result. What matters is not how quickly you finish a book, but how deeply you immerse yourself in the story and how strongly you feel it.
You have the right not to finish books if you don’t enjoy them. It’s completely normal if not every book is for you. You can also put a book aside and come back to it later. At the same time, sometimes it’s worth finishing a book, because our perception of it can change once we see the whole picture. So try not to judge a book too early.
The most important thing is that reading brings you joy, that it sparks your curiosity and makes you genuinely want to pick up the book you’re reading. It should be a place you want to escape to, away from your phone. Choose books that bring you pleasure and warm your soul. Reading isn’t a race to see who learns the most or becomes the smartest — it’s about enjoying the journey.
It’s never too late to start — you can begin at any age. You don’t have to read a lot if you don’t feel like it. Reading isn’t a race. Set your own personal goals. For example, one book a month, or to start, just one book to give it a try. Give yourself the chance to fall in love with reading. And if you want to make reading a regular habit, our book tracker can help you stay motivated.
