It’s nearly the end of January, and you haven’t as much as made a dent in your To Be Read (TBR) list. It was fun, at first, setting the resolution to finally read more this year, scrolling through bestseller lists and #BookTok to curate your 2026 reading list, maybe even treating yourself to a shopping spree at a bookstore. You might have gotten a few chapters in, perhaps even finished a book during the early days of the year, before life resumed its unrelenting pace. But now, your books sit untouched on your bedside table, serving only as a source of guilt every time you catch a glimpse of it and tell yourself you’ll continue tomorrow.
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If that experience sounds far too familiar, it’s because we’ve all been there—and many of us still are. Despite growing up an avid reader, I completely stopped reading in my late-teens, when the demands of school made it feel impossible to find the time. I spent years attempting to return to reading but it never quite stuck, not until I started to nurture the habit instead of assuming I could simply “switch on” the voracious reading appetite I had as a child. Slowly, zero books read in a year became eight, then 12, then 20. Now, I’m well on my way to doubling that in 2026. If you’re trying (or failing) to read more, here are some tried-and-tested strategies to build a healthy reading habit.
Start Small
Being the kind of reader who can rack up ten books in a month might be the goal for some, but it’s incredibly ambitious if you have yet to develop the habit. Build momentum with small goals you can easily and realistically fit into your everyday life. Personally, moving away from an all-or-nothing mindset sparked the biggest shift in my reading habits. Five pages a day, or 20 minutes of reading every night may seem insignificant, but it is already a step up from not reading at all. If your schedule and energy allows, simply keep reading.
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Always Carry A Book
One of the most common pitfalls new and returning readers encounter is constantly waiting for the perfect time and place to read and—surprise, surprise—never getting it. While finding the right setting helps, it’s not the only way to read. Make use of those “in-between” moments by always carrying a book with you (downloading ebooks to your smartphone helps!) to read while waiting for the bus or killing time before your lunch break is over. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can finish a book just reading it in 15 minute bursts on your daily commute.
Set The Scene
For longer reading sessions, create a ritual that sets you up for an enjoyable, relaxing reading experience. This can be as simple as brewing a cup of tea, dimming the lights and grabbing a blanket before cosying up with your current read to setting up your own reading nook at home. This is deeply personal. Think of what settings allow you to slow down and savour what you are reading.
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Make It A Game
Some may not like to admit this, but gamification works. Perhaps it’s just the way us humans are wired, but seeing a progress meter go up or clocking points, even if they have no real-life value, sparks a great sense of achievement that can really motivate you to keep going. Some common methods to gamify reading include point systems for pages or books and creating a reading bingo that pushes you to explore different genres. Many of these are also easily available as features on reading apps.
Practise Active Reading
This definitely isn’t for everyone, but using notes and annotations to ensure active reading—that is, interacting with, making connections and critically analysing the text—can help make your reading experience more engaging. If you carry an e-reader with a stylus (or if you aren’t precious about the paperbacks you own), simply jot down ideas and theories that come to mind in the margins while you read. Alternatively, try out the review function on reading tracker apps or write them in a journal. Looking forward to penning down your thoughts on a book can help you remain present and engaged as you read it.
Find A Community
Being around others who share your love for reading can keep you accountable for your reading goals, whether it’s a weekly book club, online community or just a friend you enjoy reading with. Reading as a hangout activity is a low-pressure way to socialise, and body doubling, a popular productivity management technique for people with ADHD, can help motivate anybody struggling to start an activity, in this case, reading. Plus, it’s always nice to have someone to unpack a book with when you’re done!
If you’re feeling ready to tackle those reading goals, there are plenty of bookstores, libraries and literary spaces—brick-and-mortar and online—to peruse here in Singapore. Check some of them out below.
Books Kinokuniya
The go-to bookstore in Singapore, this Japanese chain boasts a massive inventory of books of all genres, languages and formats, from translated fiction bestsellers to graphic novels and non-fiction reference books in just about every topic.
Books Kinokuniya is located at 391 Orchard Rd, #04-20 / 20A / 20B / 20C, Singapore 238872; 200 Victoria St, #03-10 Bugis Junction, Singapore 188021; and 252 N Bridge Rd, #03-22/23, Singapore 179103.
Littered With Books
An independent bookstore housed in a conservation shophouse close to the CBD, Littered With Books boasts a carefully curated range of literary, crime, thriller, sci-fi and non-fiction books within a cosy two-storey space.
Littered With Books is located at 20 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089486.
Casual Poet Library
A shared community library tucked away in the heartlands, Casual Poet Library comprises 180 shelves, each rented and curated by a community member where they share their favourite books to library members, who can join for a small annual fee. It goes beyond just a site of literary exploration, but one that fosters connections over a shared love for books, as shelf-owners and library members often leave notes for one another, detailing their thoughts on the books they have borrowed.
Casual Poet Library is located at 123 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-110, Singapore 150123.
Book Bar
Both a bookstore and cafe, Book Bar is a frequent haunt of local bookworms. You can shop your next read here and start on it with a cup of coffee, or attend one of its events, which range from social reading sessions to book launches and meet-the-author events.
Book Bar is located at 57 Duxton Road, Singapore 089521.
National Library
Everybody knows about the towering National Library building in Bugis and its offshoots across the island, but did you know you can access the library’s expansive inventory from your phones and ereaders? Simply download the Libby app, sign up for a library card (it’s free for Singapore citizens and available at a one-time fee for Permanent Residents), and start borrowing.
The flagship National Library building is located at 100 Victoria St, Singapore 188064, with over 20 other locations across Singapore.