Reading guide
How to build a daily reading habit that lasts
Updated October 18, 2026
A reading habit lasts when it is small, set to a time, and forgiving. Choose a time you’re free every day, set a goal of 10 to 20 minutes, use a reminder or alarm until the time sticks, and keep a streak that allows the odd missed day. Faria does this for paper books: an alarm opens on today’s book, and streak saves cover a missed day.
Pick a time, then defend it
“Whenever I have time” rarely comes. Choose a slot that exists every day and set an alarm or reminder for it. When the alarm rings, start, even if it’s only for a few minutes. In Faria, the reading alarm opens on “Got your book?” with today’s book ready, so starting is one tap.
Make the goal small enough to hit on a bad day
The goal’s job is to happen every day, not to impress. Ten minutes on a bad day keeps the habit alive; on a good day you’ll keep going anyway. Faria lets you finish at the goal or say “15 more minutes” to keep reading.
Use a streak that forgives
Streaks work because you don’t want to break them, and they fail the same way: one missed day and the motivation is gone. A streak with built-in grace survives real life. In Faria, every week you read earns a streak save (you can hold two), and a save covers a missed day automatically. You can also use one ahead of a day you know you’ll skip.
Never wonder what to read next
Keep a short queue so finishing a book starts the next one. Faria’s reading plan gives every book in your queue a finish date at your daily pace, and you can add books by photographing a shelf, scanning a barcode or typing a title.
Notice the reward
A habit needs a reason to come back. Saving the lines that struck you, watching the streak grow, and finishing books on the date you planned all count. Faria brings your saved lines back on your lock screen through the day.
Questions
How long does it take to build a reading habit?
It varies by person; research on habit formation suggests anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Reading at the same time each day, with a goal small enough to hit on bad days, shortens it.
What’s the best time of day to read?
The time you can protect every day. Many people read in the evening or before bed, which also takes the place of late-night scrolling.
What if I miss a day of reading?
Read the next day; one miss doesn’t end a habit, two in a row starts to. Faria’s streak saves cover a missed day automatically, so the streak survives it.