How to Build a Daily Reading Habit (That Actually Sticks)
Reading every day isn’t about willpower, it’s about creating a system that works for you or your child. Whoever is building the habit, the same proven principles apply: cue → routine → reward, small commitments, and habit stacking. When these are in place, reading shifts from “I should” to “I do.”
Let’s break down the habits with some actionable steps.
1. The Habit Loop: Cue → Routine → Reward
This framework, made famous by James Clear in Atomic Habits, is the backbone of any lasting behaviour.
Cue: A trigger that tells your brain, “It’s time to read.”
Routine: The reading itself. Short, consistent, enjoyable.
Reward: An immediate positive feeling that makes you want to do it again.
Apply It:
Cue: Post-dinner phone reminder.
Routine: 10 minutes.
Reward: "Great job!" + favourite song.
2. Small Commitments: The 10-Minute Rule
Big goals kill habits. Tiny ones build them.
Research shows that starting with just 10 minutes dramatically increases follow-through. It’s too small to fail and often leads to “just one more page.”
Tips:
Timer: "10 mins, then stop."
Track: Mark a calendar chain.
For kids: Pair with a cozy spot.
3. Habit Stacking: Attach Reading to What You Already Do
The easiest way to add a new habit? Stack reading on existing habits.
Examples:
“After brushing teeth, read 1 chapter.”
“Bedtime snack + story.”
Handling Resistance (Without Force)
Even the best systems hit bumps. Here’s how to stay consistent:
Challenge Fix
Boredom Change genre or pick out a different book. Try a non-fiction book if you haven’t already.
Forgetting Sticky-note cues, alarms, phone reminders.
Pushback Choices: "Fiction or facts?"
Overwhelmed Read one sentence. Take away the pressure and you will probably carry on for longer.
Remember: Consistency > perfection.
Get Started: Your 3-Step Plan
Pick your cue → Set a reading reminder (e.g., 8:00 PM).
Stack it → “After dinner, I read for 10 minutes.”
Celebrate → Log the session on your calendar/phone and do something you enjoy like watching your favourite series.
Do this for 7 days. You’ll be hooked.
How ReadingSpace Will Help Build Your Reading Habit
ReadingSpace is an upcoming app that gamifies real-world reading and rewards kids for putting the phone down and diving into real books. Every minute logged becomes fuel for adventure, perfectly aligning with cue-routine-reward, small commitments and habit stacking.
Gentle reminders as cues: Custom notifications ping at your chosen time (“Bedtime book quest awaits!”), transforming everyday routines into launchpads for reading.
10-Minute sessions for small, achievable commitments: the in-app progress bar gives a visual cue for how far along you are.
Rewards to close the loop: Each session earns various fun and motivating rewards. Earn badges for streaks and milestones, turning real pages into real progress.
With zero on-app distractions, ReadingSpace keeps the magic offline using technology as a tool to put the phone down and pick a book up.
Find out more about ReadingSpace using the link below: