Building a Reading Habit in a Busy Life

Make time for reading by building small, consistent routines.

Middle schoolers are busy with homework, activities, friends, and screens, so reading for fun can get squeezed out. Habits work better than willpower. Tie reading to something you already do every day: ten pages after brushing your teeth, a chapter on the bus, or reading while waiting for practice to start. Keep a book with you, in your bag or on your device, so spare minutes become reading minutes.

Make your reading spot comfortable and free of distractions; putting your phone in another room for twenty minutes makes a big difference. Track your streak on a calendar, because seeing a chain of days motivates you to keep it going. If you miss a day, simply start again; a habit is about the long run. Example routine: 'I read for fifteen minutes in bed every night with my phone charging in the kitchen, and I always carry a paperback for the bus. ' Small, regular reading adds up to many books a year.

• 1Tie reading to an existing daily routine
• 2Always carry a book for spare minutes
• 3Remove distractions and track your streak