How to Make Personal Development Reading a Habit (That Actually Sticks)
We all know that feeling.
You're browsing a bookstore or scrolling through online recommendations when you spot yet another personal development book that promises to change your life. You buy it with the best intentions, excited about all the wisdom you'll gain…
Only to have it join the growing pile of partially-read books on your nightstand.
Sound familiar? Don't worry. You're not alone. Many of us struggle to turn our good intentions about reading into actual habits.
The good news? You don't need much willpower or huge blocks of free time to build a reading habit. Simple changes to your daily routine can make all the difference.
By the time you finish reading this post, you'll have practical, doable strategies to make personal development reading a natural part of your daily life—no superhuman willpower required.
1. Start with Why
Why did you click on this article?
Maybe you're feeling stuck in your career and hoping to grow. Maybe you want to understand yourself better or improve your relationships. Or maybe you're just tired of buying books that collect dust.
Your why matters. It's your motivation when you’re not in the mood to read.
Take a moment to write down your personal reasons. Make it specific and meaningful to you. Here are some examples:
I want to improve my confidence so I can be more comfortable on camera for my new YouTube channel.
I want to learn about money management so I can build a comfortable retirement fund.
I want to understand anxiety better so I can support my daughter through her teen years.
I want to improve my leadership skills for that promotion at work.
Keep this somewhere you can see it. Use it as a bookmark or phone reminder. When Netflix calls your name, your why will remind you what you're working toward.
2. Set Clear Reading Goals
You know why you want to read more, so let's talk about what "more" means. Vague goals like “read more books” are hard to stick to because they don't give you a clear target.
Instead, match your reading goals to your why. For example:
If you want to improve your on-camera confidence: "I'll read one public speaking or communication book each month."
If you're focusing on retirement planning: "I'll finish one personal finance book every six weeks."
If you want to better support your teen: "I'll read 20 minutes from a parenting book every morning."
If you're working toward a promotion: "I'll complete one leadership book and take notes every month."
Pick a goal that feels doable with your schedule. You can adjust it later, but starting small helps you build momentum.
Write your goal down next to your why. Your "why" is your reading destination; your goal, your route.
3. Choose Books You'll Actually Want to Read
Sometimes, even highly recommended books can leave you wondering why you bothered. Everyone raves about the latest personal development bestseller, but you're struggling to get through it.
The key to reading consistently is finding books that grab your attention and keep it. Using the PIE method to guide your choices makes it easier.
P=Personal Interest
I=Information
E=Expansion
Personal Interest
Start with topics that naturally draw you in. Love learning about how people think? Grab a psychology book. Curious about mindfulness? Look for books about meditation and staying present. When you care about a topic, reading feels more like exploring and less like a chore.
Information
Look for books that help with your current life situation. Maybe you're changing careers, working on your health, or wanting better relationships. Choose books that give you tools and strategies you can use right away.
Expansion
Sometimes, the best books push you out of your comfort zone. If you always read about productivity, try a book on emotional intelligence. Do you usually read mindset books? Explore one about physical wellness. These books might challenge your current beliefs—and that's where real growth happens.
A quick note: Don't feel pressured to find books that check every PIE box. Some books might spark your interest and push you to grow, while others might give you the practical information you need.
Both are fine. The PIE method simply helps you think about what you want from the book you read.
The best book choice? One that matches your goals and keeps you turning pages.
4. Find Your Perfect Reading Time
Maybe you've heard that successful people read at 5 AM while sipping their morning green juice.
But let's get real—if you're not a morning person, that advice won't help you build a lasting habit.
The best time to read? When you'll actually do it.
Think about your daily rhythm.
When do you feel most alert?
When does your schedule naturally open up?
When can you read without feeling rushed or guilty about other tasks?
Here's what works for other readers:
Quiet moments after dropping kids at school
A peaceful lunch break away from your desk
Your evening train ride home
The peaceful post-dinner lull.
Try different times for a few weeks and see what clicks. Pay attention to when you feel focused. And notice when you're just staring at the same paragraph.
One tip that might save you some frustration—Don't wait until you're exhausted. Reading takes mental energy. If you consistently try to read when you're drained, you'll start seeing your book as just another chore. Nobody needs that.
Your perfect reading time might change with the seasons or as your schedule shifts. That's normal. Find the pockets of time that work for your real life.
5. Put Reading Time on Your Calendar
Think about the last time you had a doctor's appointment or an important meeting. You showed up on time, right?
But with reading time, we often tell ourselves we'll "get to it later."
Well…later rarely comes.
Give your reading time the same respect you give other appointments. Block off a specific time in your calendar. Even 15 or 20 minutes counts. When you see it written down, you're more likely to follow through.
Here's a trick that makes this easier. Attach your reading to something you already do every day.
For example:
Keep your book by the coffeemaker and read while your morning brew drips
Tuck your current read in your lunch bag
Place your book on your nightstand, right where you usually scroll through social media
Set your book on the kitchen counter, where you'll see it during your afternoon coffee break
When reading becomes part of your everyday routine, like brushing your teeth or checking your email, you'll do it automatically. No willpower needed.
Now, listen. You'll miss days. Maybe even weeks. That's normal. Being mean to yourself about missed reading time won't make you read more. It'll just make you avoid reading altogether.
Instead of beating yourself up, just pick up your book and start again. Your reading habit will be there waiting for you.
6. Think Tiny (Yes, Really Tiny)
You know those thick personal development books that promise to change your life? They look amazing in the bookstore. But when you get home, their size feels overwhelming. Suddenly, reading feels more like climbing a mountain than taking a small step toward growth.
But I’ll let you in on a secret. You don't have to read the entire book in one sitting. (Shocking, right?)
Start super small. Can you read three pages today? Or just five minutes?
These tiny commitments might seem ridiculously easy. But that’s the point. Here's why it works:
Small goals feel totally doable, even on your busiest days.
Completing your plans, however small, feels like a win.
Those tiny reading sessions add up faster than you'd think.
Once you start reading, you'll often want to read just a little more.
Think about learning to run. You wouldn't start with a marathon. You'd begin with a short walk around the block. Reading works the same way. As your reading muscle gets stronger, you'll naturally want to read more.
And the best part? When life gets crazy (and it will), those tiny reading goals stay manageable. Three pages or five minutes feels a lot less stressful than "I must read an entire chapter today!"
7. Create Your Reading Spot
Have you ever noticed how walking into a coffee shop puts you in work mode or how sitting in your favorite chair makes you feel relaxed? Our brains are pretty smart. They connect places with activities.
You can use this same brain trick to make reading feel more natural. You don't need a fancy reading nook or an entire room dedicated to books. Just pick a spot that:
Feels comfortable (but not so comfy you'll fall asleep)
Stays fairly quiet
Has good lighting, so you're not squinting
Makes it easy to grab your book and start reading
Maybe it's your kitchen table during morning coffee or that corner of your couch by the window. Even your parked car during lunch break can become your reading spot. The place doesn't matter as much as consistently using it for reading.
And here's a game-changing tip—keep your current book visible and within arm's reach of your reading spot. Don't hide it in a drawer or on a shelf. When you can see your book, you're more likely to pick it up. When you have to hunt for it... well, Netflix looks pretty tempting.
Also, your reading spot might change. Maybe the kitchen table works great until summer when the kids are home. Or your cozy evening spot gets too dark in winter. That's okay. Your reading spot should work for your real life, not vice versa.
8. Turn Reading into Your Daily Treat
If reading feels like a chore, you won't stick with it.
But what if reading time became your favorite part of the day? Like that first sip of morning coffee? Or sliding into fresh sheets at night?
You can make reading time feel special without going overboard. Here are some ideas other readers love:
Wrap up in your softest blanket while you read
Pour your favorite drink (coffee, tea, wine—no judgment here!)
Find a sunny spot by the window
Put on cozy socks and get comfy
Play some quiet background music
Light your favorite candle
Think of this as your "me time." Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Even 15 minutes of uninterrupted reading can feel like a mini-vacation for your brain.
Personal development is a gift you're giving yourself. Make it feel that way.
9. Make These Books Work for You
Reading personal development books feels great. But those insights will fade faster than your New Year's resolutions if you don't use what you learn.
The trick? Take action before those ideas fade. You don't need fancy systems or color-coded notes. Just pick one small way to use what you're learning.
Here are simple ways to make the lessons stick:
Highlight or underline parts that grab your attention (if it's your book!)
Jot down one key idea after each reading session
Tell someone about the most interesting thing you learned
Try oral narration—pause after reading and explain the main ideas out loud, as if you're teaching someone else
Pick the easiest tip from each chapter and try it right away
Record quick voice notes about your thoughts while you're walking or driving
That point about narration? It's super powerful. When you stop and retell what you just read—either out loud or in your head—you process the information more deeply. Plus, if you can't explain it clearly, that's a good sign you might need to reread that section.
Just remember, you're not studying for a test here. You don't need to memorize everything or transform your entire life overnight.
Focus on one change at a time. Tiny actions add up to real growth.
10. Give Yourself Grace
Building a reading habit takes time, and your journey won't look like anyone else's.
Some weeks you'll read every day. Other weeks? Life happens. Your kids get sick, work gets crazy, or Netflix drops a new season of your favorite show.
None of those breaks mean you've failed.
Think of a GPS. When you take a wrong turn, it doesn't yell at you or tell you to give up and go home. It just recalculates and finds an alternative route. Your reading habit can work the same way.
Pay attention to what works for you:
Maybe morning reading leaves you feeling rushed, but evening reading helps you unwind.
Perhaps physical books keep you more focused than ebooks (or vice versa).
Digesting some books takes longer.
Your perfect reading spot might change with the seasons.
Use these insights to adjust your approach. Avoid guilt about missing a day or needing to change things up. Lasting habits adapt to life's changes instead of breaking under pressure.
Your reading practice should bring joy to your life, not stress. If something is not working, change it.
If you miss a few days (or weeks), start again. Your books will be waiting for your return.
Your New Reading Habits Start Now
Building a reading habit isn't about fitting into someone else's definition of "well-read." It's about creating a practice that works for your real life and helps you grow.
Start where you are. Start where you are. That could be reading three pages today. It could be finding the perfect spot for your book. Maybe listing your goals is enough.
Pick one small step and take it today. Grab that book you've been meaning to read. Find your comfy spot. Give yourself five minutes to begin.
Each page you turn, each idea you try, and each minute you spend reading brings you closer to the person you want to become.
Your future self will thank you for starting today.
