5 Tips To Help You Accomplish Your 2025 Reading Goals

A New Year's resolution list is a great way to ring in the new year in hopes of becoming a better version of yourself. And, while Pew Research reports that a majority of people's goals are related to health and finances, a growing number of people are focused on one less physical task: reading. Sure, it's always been a thing for avid readers, but with celebrities like Kaia Gerber starting book clubs and Kendall Jenner being photographed with a novel in her hand while on a yacht, one thing is clear: reading is finally cool again. YouGov found that nearly one-third of 18-to-29 year olds surveyed made reading more a top resolution for 2025.

No one needs to be told why it's so important to read a book every now and then. But, hey, it's hard to get into a book when there are so many things that keep us entertained on technological gadgets in this day and age. In 2022, Gallup News reported that Americans are reading less and less with each passing year and noted a "steep decline" in the amount of books college graduates were finishing each year. Meanwhile, one survey by Morning Consult estimated 31% of adults believe they spend way too much time doomscrolling. And if you're someone who hasn't picked up a book in a while, the thought of completing any reading goal can seem daunting. But, with careful planning, and being realistic about your goals, there are several steps you can take to make your reading resolution more manageable. 

Setting a goal to read more does not mean you have to commit to several 1,000 page novels. In fact, as with any other type of goal, setting a target that's too high can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed, which can lead to giving up before you've even started. Instead, try and be as realistic as possible about what you can achieve. Instead of fixating on an arbitrary number of books, pick a goal that feels right based on your lifestyle. If you haven't read in a while, your goal might be one book a month. This is much more realistic and easier to achieve than telling yourself on January 1st that you have to read 200 books by the end of the year.

From there, take baby steps, especially if you have not done any reading at all recently. Even if it's setting aside 15 to 30 minutes per day to read, it can make a difference. Plus, it's great for your health — Reading for just six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by a whopping 68%. Doing so will not only make the task of reading a novel less daunting, it will also likely improve your overall reading experience. One study on reading comprehension found that students better retained the information they read when they broke up texts into smaller sections. You can also build up your reading stamina and vocabulary by skimming magazines, short stories, and poems.

With how much time we spend on our devices, it's no wonder that many of us have a hard time focusing on text when it's not backlit. Instead of fighting it by forcing yourself to squint at tiny text, consider investing in an e-reader, like an Amazon Kindle. Per The Guardian, based on a survey by Quick Reads in the U.K., 48% of adults said technological devices have helped them read more. On top of that, it was reported that 41% of those readers found the ability to adjust font appearance and to search up unfamiliar words have made reading so much easier.

Along with being environmentally friendly, e-readers offer the opportunity to personalize your experience. Across BookTok, many users have taken to decorating their e-readers to make them a little more personalized. Some have even said the cute decorations motivate them to grab their e-readers. From cute cases to stickers, grippers, stands, and even keychains, people have really decked them out. 

Remember when our teachers and parents would emphasize the importance of finishing one book before grabbing another? That saying was for the days of school libraries, where everyone was waiting for a fellow peer to return their favorite book. However, some experts argue that reading multiple books at once might actually help you remain stay consistent with your reading goals. Anne Bogel host of the podcast "What Should I Read Next?" shared with Time that every other tip to read more won't really matter "if a reader doesn't have good books at the ready, then there's a duty–but no motivation or enthusiasm." 

If you're wanting to read more, it's important to stay intrigued and enticed at all times. Sometimes, one book may not be able to do that for you. That's totally okay! Cultural critic Julie Keller echoes a similar sentiment, telling NPR that switching between books, especially when they have very different tones, can be a great way to make reading more pleasurable. A lighter, comedic book might serve as a mental break from something much heavier.

While BookTok has some great recommendations for buzzworthy books, it's important to keep in mind that a reading goal is personal and that your taste may be different from others. Don't feel like you need to jump on the bandwagon and grab a bestselling book about astronauts fighting aliens if you've never been a fan of sci-fi. Instead visit a bookstore or head to Book of the Month and discover new books to try that don't fray too far from your interests.

It's also totally okay to give up on a book and just move on. Librarians do it all the time. Famous librarian, Nancy Pearl's rule of 50 states you should give a book 50 pages and if you're not hooked by then, you should give it up. You can apply that same rule to any book you've added to your TBR for 2025. If you're not feeling it, there's no sense in wasting time forcing yourself through each page. Instead, cut ties and move on to a book that sustains your interest.

Having a group of people to talk to about shared interests with is key to staying motivated and consistent with your reading goals. While Oprah might be the pioneer of celeb book clubs, younger celebrities like top model Kaia Gerber and pop sensation Dua Lipa have also launched their very own.  If you're the type of person who likes a bit of competition or a buddy to hold you accountable, a book club might be what you need to reach your 2025 reading goals. It's practically the same as having a workout buddy.

And don't feel like you have to stick with the big, celebrity book clubs either. Check out your local coffee shop or library for genre-specific gatherings. There are even book clubs dedicated to different types readers — ones that prefer total silence, those that love audiobooks, as well as groups that focus on educating their members about societal issues. Best of all, some book clubs meet over Zoom, allowing you to participate from the comfort of your home.