Today’s digital environment makes claiming “I don’t have time to read” an all-too-common excuse, yet one look at your phone’s screen time can show otherwise: hours spent browsing social media feeds or checking notifications can often dwarf reading time; priorities and habits often play a bigger role than time alone in shaping our reading habits.
Average smartphone users spend several hours every day engaging in activities that are neither urgent nor meaningful, such as social media apps, video streaming platforms and casual games that provide quick bursts of dopamine to keep you coming back for more. While such activities may offer instant gratification or short-term fulfillment; reading can provide much longer term satisfaction and enrichment that keeps us coming back for more. Reclaiming even a fraction of this screen time for books could revolutionize both intellectually and emotionally enrichment lives.
Consider this: By dedicating just 30 minutes a day to reading, in just one or two months you could easily complete one or two books a month and over the course of a year finish anywhere between 12-24 books–enough to significantly broaden your knowledge base, perspectives and understanding of our world. All it takes to get there is being aware of where your time goes and making conscious decisions about its use.
Reading offers numerous advantages that screen time simply cannot match. Where scrolling social media often leaves us feeling depleted, anxious, or discontent, reading engages your mind, sparks creativity, and gives a sense of achievement. Reading provides an escape from digital distractions by immersing ourselves into different realities such as fictional universes, historical narratives or engaging dialogue; not only will this engage your mental faculties but it will also sharpen focus and improve critical thinking skills.
Reading can also serve as a form of self-care, providing your mind a welcome respite from digital devices and screens and giving it an opportunity to relax and refuel. Furthermore, unlike digital media consumption that requires passive consumption only – reading is more rewarding and meaningful in comparison.
If screen time has become an integral part of your daily routine, turning even just some of it towards reading doesn’t need to be drastic change. Make small steps toward reading every day: set achievable goals like reading for 10-15 minutes instead of scrolling your phone; replace idle moments such as waiting in line, commuting and sipping coffee with reading pages from a book instead; over time these small adjustments will build into an impressive reading habit!
Apps and tools can also help bridge the gap between your digital habits and reading goals. E-books and audiobooks allow you to seamlessly incorporate reading into existing routines – for instance listening to an audiobook during exercise or reading an e-book on your phone instead of checking social media – which makes books an easy addition even to busy schedules. “I don’t have time to read” is often less about time itself than how you choose to allocate it, with screen time reflecting that decision. By taking control of your habits and prioritizing reading, wasted hours can become lifelong sources of knowledge, growth, and joy – so next time you say you don’t have enough reading time pick up a book instead!