What can I do to get back into reading? Struggling a lot.

[KoreanBeauty]

I used to be a reader in my 20s. Never been the sort of person that reads several books a week all the time but I had got into a nice habit of reading about a book every week fairly regularly. Over the years, my habits have changed a lot. Work, relationships, social media, kids etc have totally changed my day to day life habits and now that I am in my early 40s, I barely ever read. It makes me quite sad. I still love books and continue to buy them with the intention of reading them. I usually start a few pages if for example I am on a plane but then always leave them and never finish them as life gets in the way. I am tired at night, my eyes hurt after a day looking at a screen and yet I seem to "prefer" scrolling social media before bed instead. I feel trapped in habits I am struggling to change and I don't like it.
Does anyone have any tips to help with this? Has it happened to you?

I had managed to break this cycle for a few months a couple of years ago - got a book I really liked and bought a few more from the same author and was getting into reading as a daily habit again. Not sure what happened but it didn't last :(

I just switched completely to audible. I walk my dog for an hour every day so it was easy. love it

Use an Alexa or an apple HomePod as an alarm if you think setting an alarm is a chore. Then it’s easy. I’ve got a Lumie alarm clock and I wouldn’t be without it. It’s lovely not being jolted awake.

I do take an iPad to bed with me because I like to watch tv while I get ready for bed. But I put it in a drawer and get out my kindle before I get into bed.

I love physical books but the ease of reading on the Kindle app on my phone means I tend to read every night. Nothing highbrow- just whatever takes my fancy on Kindle Unlimited. It provides a bit of escapism (busy working mum of 2) and a way of decompressing before bed with the added bonus of making me tired so helps me sleep.

I got back into reading when I used app limiters on my phone. I set it so I could have access to social media for an hour a day (because that's quite sufficient, really!) and once that time is up, the app is deactivated until the "allowance" resets the next day. Ive since got rid of all social media (except MN!) and try to start the day with at least 15 minutes reading, usually with a coffee and a bit of peace before DC wake up.

I set myself an initial goal of 10 books that year and read 22. Last year I set a goal of 22 and read 27. This year I've set a goal of 25 and somehow am just about to start #7 this month already.

Finding something you enjoy is key to getting started IMO. What do you enjoy?

Buy an actual book, not something on an app, avoids the temptation to scroll rather than read, find something that actually engages you, went through a spell where I just couldn’t find a good book, asked for recommendations and discovered a series that really got me enjoying reading again, hopefully it continues when I finish theseries

I got a sunrise alarm. I know if I wake up and the light is not on, it's not morning. So i don't check the time and wake myself even more, and end up scrolling.
Phone goes off about 8pm usually and stays off.

I started reading old childhood favourites ( Enid Blyton and pony books)
I've also started getting books I find a bit more challenging ( partly due to poor eyesight in artificial lights which has been remedied by seeing an optician, but also due to the scrolling habit) on audible, but listening and reading simultaneously. That's really helped. Once I get into a book i can drop the audible, because reading with my eyes is quicker than being read to.

I'm more willing to not finish a book if i find it boring, but i make myself get a bit of a way in before i make that decision.

It's all helped a lot!

Just realised this is a zombie thread. Wonder if @KoreanBeauty got going?