Make 2025 Your Year of Reading: 25 Minutes a Day

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Image of many books.

The benefits of reading are widely acknowledged – improved mental well-being, enhanced empathy, stress reduction, memory improvement, increased learning, and greater adaptability. Studies even suggest a link between reading and longevity.

However, the enjoyment derived from reading, rather than its health benefits, is the primary motivation for many. For some, reading surpasses almost all other leisure activities, akin to the pleasure found in music or hiking.

The author describes personal experiences demonstrating their passion for reading: taking time off work to finish a novel, sharing books with friends, rereading favorite books multiple times, and eagerly consuming an author’s entire body of work. Binge-reading is presented as a favorite pastime.

So how can we make reading a consistent habit?

An annual challenge is proposed: “Read 25 in ’25,” aiming for at least 25 minutes of daily reading throughout 2025 (audiobooks included). This approach leverages the effectiveness of concrete, measurable goals and the power of daily consistency in habit formation.

Daily actions are more readily maintained than intermittent ones. The satisfaction of a continuous “streak” reinforces the habit. This daily commitment eliminates the internal debate of “today or tomorrow?”

The “Read 25 in ’25” challenge is specific, measurable, and achievable. In a year, 9,125 minutes translate to over 152 hours of reading time.

Here are some helpful tips for consistent reading:

  • Abandon boring books.
  • Always have a book on hand.
  • Utilize the library.
  • Browse bookstores for new reading material.
  • Read during downtime (waiting rooms, queues).
  • Read what you enjoy, not what you feel obligated to read.
  • Replace social media time with reading.

Tasks easily postponed are often never done. Daily reading in 2025 aims to establish a consistent habit. It allows us to reap numerous benefits while indulging in a cherished activity.

Gretchen Rubin is an author, speaker, blogger, and podcaster who has partnered with Time to promote the “Read 25 in ’25” challenge.