Remove Daily Reading Goals to Enhance Your Reading Enjoyment
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Chapter 1: The Myth of Daily Reading
Where did the notion of reading every single day originate? More importantly, what purpose does it serve for you? As a child, I read whenever the mood struck me—sometimes for just half an hour, other times for five hours, and occasionally not at all. On average, I consumed a lot of literature.
However, as an adult, picking up a book has become a challenge. I often find myself preoccupied with work or drawn to new shows. In an attempt to boost my reading habits, I set a goal to read for 30 minutes every night before bed—a decision I later regretted.
On some nights, exhaustion would take over, and all I wanted was sleep. Other times, my evenings ended late, or I simply preferred to unwind with a series. Each time I skipped reading, guilt would creep in, making me question my passion for books. It was a frustrating cycle.
Ultimately, I decided to abandon the daily reading goal. To my surprise, I didn’t completely forsake reading. I began to read whenever I felt inspired, and those moments became the most pleasurable reading experiences of my life. It dawned on me: I didn't need to read every day to enjoy more books.
Section 1.1: The Reality of Limited Time
Not everyone has long, uninterrupted periods to read each day. Picture this scenario: I’m on my commute, attempting to read my e-book. I open it up, read a few lines, then glance up to check for my bus. I read again, only to be distracted by my surroundings. This pattern continues, making it hard to fully engage with the text.
This kind of interrupted reading isn’t enjoyable—it feels like a chore rather than a pleasure. So, what’s the alternative? For me, that means dedicating my weekends or free evenings to uninterrupted reading. I set the scene, eliminate distractions, and dive into my book. The experience is fulfilling.
When you engage in uninterrupted reading, you immerse yourself in the story, enter a state of flow, and can finish books more quickly while truly savoring them.
Subsection 1.1.1: Focus on Outcomes, Not Processes
Remember the second question I posed earlier: What does reading every day actually do for you? A daily reading habit is a process-oriented goal. Instead, we should focus on the outcome—most of us want to read more books.
Is reading daily the only way to achieve that? Absolutely not. You could read for 30 fragmented minutes every day, totaling 210 minutes a week, or dedicate two hours each on the weekend for a total of 240 uninterrupted minutes. The goal isn't about daily reading, but about enjoying and absorbing more books.
Section 1.2: The Perils of Missing a Day
This humorous meme highlights an important truth: expectations often lead to disappointment. When you set a goal to read every day and track your progress, missing a day can feel catastrophic. You may think, “It’s okay; I’ll catch up,” but then you miss another day, and suddenly motivation fades.
The more you miss, the harder it becomes to get back into the rhythm of reading. This is often where habits go to die. The problem with the daily reading goal is that it lowers your tolerance for slumps, making you feel guilty for not reading, which, ironically, makes you want to read even less. Over time, this can erode your love for reading altogether.
Instead of forcing yourself to read every day, embrace a more spontaneous, child-like approach. Read when you feel the urge, allowing yourself to immerse in books for extended periods. You might be surprised by how much your reading count increases.
Chapter 2: Rediscovering the Joy of Reading
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This engaging video provides a clever hack for fixing a broken reading streak on Kindle’s Reading Insights, helping you maintain your reading goals without the stress of daily expectations.