A recent study found that the number of people who read for pleasure on a given day dropped about 40 percent between 2004 and 2023¹. This study is among the first to count eBooks and audiobooks alongside traditional print reading trends.

While further research is needed to determine the cause of the decline, a popular explanation is that time previously spent reading is now spent on other media platforms like TV, video games and social media. Many of these platforms appeal to the brain’s reward pathways, making it easy for users to overconsume media.

It’s no coincidence that “brain rot” was Oxford’s Word of the Year in 2024. Excessive time spent on digital media is closely associated with a rise of mental health issues, distorted perceptions of reality, decreased sleep, and cognitive deficits like lower attention spans. The rise of short form video content is further exacerbating these issues.

In the face of these rising challenges, many people are looking for ways to build healthier leisure habits. If you’d like to scroll less and read more, give these tactics a try:

1. Make it inconvenient to access addictive apps. Delete problem apps. Use time management software like ScreenZen to establish limits on your use of select apps. Update your app settings to stop getting push notifications.

2. Make it convenient to read. Schedule time to read – whether that’s on the commode or on your commute. Bring a book or eReader with you wherever you go. Download CloudLibrary, hoopla, and Libby to maximize your eLibrary options. If you struggle to find time and focus, try working eAudiobooks from the library into your routine.

3. Enroll in the Winter Reading Program. Sometimes an extra incentive can help you establish new habits. Library members of all ages can enroll in the Winter Reading Program to earn rewards for time spent reading. Kids earn books to keep while adults earn library swag like a mug. Talk with library staff or download the Beanstack app to get started.

4. Create a TBR list of books you’re excited about. Sites like Goodreads, Storygraph and the West Bloomfield Library app can help you create “To Be Read” lists. Subscribe to the library’s All About Books eNewsletter to have timely reads sent to your inbox. Librarians are always happy to help curate a list tailored to your tastes.

5. If you’re stuck on a book you’re not enjoying, DNF it. It may be better to cut your losses and read something else than to get stuck in the dreaded reading slump. Famous librarian Nancy Pearl promotes a “Rule of 50”: if you’re 50 years old or younger, give every book a 50-page trial. If you’re over 50 years old, subtract your age from 100 and try that many pages. Then, commit to reading it or “Do Not Finish” and move on to the next book.


¹ Jessica K. Boone et al. The Decline in Reading for Pleasure over 20 Years of the American Time Use Survey. (September 2025). iScience.