"How Do You Read So Much?"

Five habits that help me read about 100 books a year, and also help me answer this frequently-asked question.

I’m a big goal-setter, but I don’t actually set a number goal for my reading. I did that once, maybe 20 years ago or so, and I became so focused on the number that I started losing sight of the purpose, the immersion, and the overall joy of simply settling in with a book, regardless of how long it took to finish or what number my tally would reach when I finished it.

Since that time, I’ve decided to be happy with whatever number of books I complete in a year. And since that time, I’ve consistently read about 100 books each year, and I am frequently asked how I read so much.

I’ll share five practical responses in a moment, but I want to start by saying that growth is a core value of mine, and reading is one of my favorite ways to learn and grow. It’s also one of my favorite things to do, period. I don’t quite feel ‘myself’ if a day goes by where I haven’t read at least a few pages.

I also don’t feel I’m better in any way than people who read less than me or worse than those who read more than me. Some people invest a fair amount of time biking long distances, or designing cool graphics for their online profiles, or watching movies and articulating constructive thoughts about them during awards season. I spend almost zero time doing any of those things.

I do, however, spend a fair amount of time reading. A few months back, I shared several ideas specifically for reading and enjoying more nonfiction, and nearly all of those ideas can transfer to reading more in general as well. (And definitely my first point there, Consider Your Why, which seems to apply to just about everything in life!) Here are some additional ways I’ve built reading into my daily life:

1. Always have a book nearby.

I mean this in the most literal sense possible, and e-readers and audiobooks make this incredibly easy nowadays. For someone like me, who rarely reads e-books, always having a print book with me is as habitual as having my wallet or phone with me at this point. Whether I’m at the doctor’s office, waiting for dinner to finish baking in the oven, or driving anywhere and knowing I will probably arrive early (I realllllly don’t like to be late), you’ll nearly always see a book in my vicinity.

I might only catch five minutes here and ten minutes there to read, but those minutes - and those pages - add up over time. Getting lost in a book for an entire afternoon feels divine, but more often than not my reading happens in the pockets of time I can find or create.

Even in this day and age of abundant e-readers, I am still that person who may allot more suitcase space to books than clothes when traveling. I shudder to imagine being on a six-hour flight, finishing my book an hour in, and not having a backup at the ready! I don’t watch horror films, but I’m guessing that’s the stuff they’re made of.

2. Connect with passionate readers.

Have you ever been in conversation with someone and asked, “So, if you were given an extra hour each day to do whatever you want, how would you spend it? What topics of conversation do you have to join in if you hear people chatting about them? What do you absolutely love to do?” Watching people light up once they begin sharing their passions is one of my favorite things in the world.

If you are a book lover and encounter another book lover, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll be in conversation for a while! It’s also a great way to boost your own passion for reading.

Here are just a few of the many ways you can connect with passionate readers:

• Join or start a book club (like the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club - to which we’re now considering adding a fiction branch, too!). You’ll get to engage in insightful discussion, become exposed to books you might not have found otherwise, benefit from the accountability of a schedule, and enjoy the endlessly fascinating experience of seeing how individuals gain such different takeaways from the exact same text.

• Attend library events. In addition to providing us with free books and resources and the space to enjoy them, many libraries offer all kinds of events, activities, author conversations, and more - both in person and virtually. If I could give my local libraries a giant hug, I would; but I frequent them often and sing their praises whenever I can, so hopefully that’s the next best thing.

• Visit your local independent bookstores. Ask the booksellers for recommendations and be prepared to have one of the most delightful and insightful conversations ever! You may also find readers with similar tastes via the shop’s shelf-talkers. (I get to write these for a nearby bookstore, a privilege from which I gain a ridiculous amount of joy!) Chances are good your local indie also hosts book clubs and readerly events that you can attend, too.

• Listen to bookish podcasts. I recently mentioned how much I enjoy the Well-Read podcast; I am also subscribed to Book Riot, Book Cougars, LibroFM Podcast, and others. Hearing folks talk about what they’re currently reading can add to your list of possibilities and also provide interesting insight into how to further uncover your own reading preferences.

• Similarly, try watching some booktube - aka, YouTube channels dedicated to books. Readers there share book reviews, reading wrap-ups, anticipated releases, ‘best of’ lists, and more. A few channels I’ve enjoyed include My Reading Life, The Book Bully, Freshly Read Books, and Ben Reads Good.

Book festivals, silent book clubs, author visits, church reading groups, coffee shop gatherings… the opportunities to connect with fellow readers are as varied as the types of books available!

3. Plan your reading - or don’t.

In my aforementioned article (How To Read - And Enjoy - More Nonfiction!), I offered the potentially-extra-nerdy (said with absolute delight and respect, of course) idea of creating your own ‘curriculum’ or learning project, complete with syllabus and all. I have received such fun feedback on this point and encourage you to consider it in the context of today’s discussion, too.

If that sounds a bit too intense, you can simply set some reading goals, or create a TBR (to be read) list for yourself each season, or select a handful of books you commit to reading before the end of the year. Many people are surprised how adding just a small bit of structure can elevate their reading life.

But recognize, too, that we are all different. I periodically go the self-study curriculum route, but outside of that, I can’t - as a mood reader - stick to a TBR to save my life. Instead of choosing specific titles or aiming for a particular number of books, I love setting a few intentions to fill in gaps that I may notice in my reading or to enhance my learning in a certain area. (I’ve recently shared my 2025 reading intentions here and here, if you’d like to see my specifics.) If you cringe at the idea of a syllabus or TBR, consider creating a stack of possibilities filled with interesting titles from which you can choose as you wish.

And if reading is your hobby and planning it out completely drains the experience of joy, alter or disregard this point as you see fit.

4. Determine your priorities.

I’m referring to this in a very practical, applicable way - as in, actually make a list of all the hobbies, extracurriculars, and activities you do when not engaged in other responsibilities. Your list might include reading, painting, hiking, watching TV, baking, gardening, scrolling social media, playing games, or countless other possibilities.

Make a big ol’ list, then rank them in priority order. You can do this by asking yourself a few questions, like which ones matter most to you? Which ones contribute to your life the most? Which make you feel stronger, satisfied, connected, or fulfilled after you engage in them? Which make you feel depleted or drained of energy? Which would you love to do more of in this particular season of life? On which would you like to spend less time?

Priorities can and do change over time, so this isn’t a one-and-done list. But getting them all out on paper or in your notes app may bring a sense of visual clarity about where your time goes, where you’d like it to go, and where reading may rank in this prioritized listing.

On a side note, you may also find that you can connect some of your hobbies or activities with your reading life, too. I often listen to an audiobook while out on a walk or as I’m cross stitching and find these times enriching in multiple ways! Or you can buddy-read a book with one other person, schedule a time to chat about the book (and catch up on life events while you’re at it), and build in reading while strengthening a friendship.

5. Create a time log.

If you have considered your why, determined that reading is a priority you want to engage in more, know that your passion for reading is there, and it all comes down to wishing you had more time, this suggestion may come in handy. It may also feel a bit tedious, but it could be the missing link that lights up your reading life.

Print out a week-long calendar, broken down by hour. Then, for a full week, pause every hour to jot down how you spent that time. At the end of the week, take a look at where you have invested your time, and see if opportunities exist to replace some of those activities with reading or to weave more reading time into certain spaces.

I don’t necessarily enjoy the process of completing a time log, but I do appreciate the clarity it brings; I am always quite impressed by the data it provides and the changes it prompts. As a non-bookish example, I used to dread scrubbing my kitchen floor, probably my least favorite of all the household chores, and I’d always put it off because I didn’t have the 90 minutes that it took, in my mind, to dedicate to it. One time, I actually timed myself doing the task, and it took around 21 minutes from start to finish. Quite the difference from what I had built up in my mind! I still don’t scrub my floor as often as I probably ought to, but at least now I know it’s because - when I have 21 minutes free - I’m choosing to do something else.

(That ‘something else’ is, of course, most likely reading. :-))

Consider giving the time log a try. If you are in a particularly ‘overflowing’ season of life, it may very well be you do not have much wiggle room with your time. Or, through the objectivity of a time log, you may discover you’re spending more time than you thought on an activity that you’d rather minimize. Whatever you discover, observe it without any judgment or criticism - it’s simply information - and decide what you’d like to do with that information going forward.

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What do you think? Does one of these ideas stand out for you? Has a new idea been sparked that can help enhance your reading life?

As I stated earlier, your value is not dependent on how many books you read in a year. But if you are looking to increase your time spent with a good book, I hope these ideas support you in that.

And as a final bonus activity, how about sharing the latest great book you read in the comments below? You may just add to our TBRs and connect with some passionate fellow readers (aka, start checking off idea #2) in the process!

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Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, and self-proclaimed book nerd, is a certified coach who helps achievers work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals. Feel free to share your questions, comments, or topic/book suggestions below or via email to readingandpurpose (at) gmail (dot) com.

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