When it comes to building a reading and writing practice, most of us are chasing the wrong thing.
I spent years trapped in a cycle that might sound familiar. I’d get excited about a new book, read the first few chapters, then move onto the next one.
This pattern repeated with my writing too. I’d have these moments of intense creative energy where words flowed effortlessly. But they never lasted. Soon I’d find myself staring at an unfinished article, wondering where all that momentum went.
The truth is, social media culture has amplified our tendency to chase the quick dopamine hit of shiny new objects. We love the excitement of cracking open a fresh book or starting a new project. But we neglect the simple truth that real progress comes from small, consistent actions.
The Math of Tiny Habits
You know what changed everything for me? Instead of trying to read entire chapters in one sitting, I started reading just 15 pages per day.
Let’s do the math:
- 15 pages × 30 days = 450 pages per month
- That’s 5,400 pages per year
- Or roughly 18 books, assuming 300 pages each
The same applies to writing. Writing 500 words daily adds up to 182,500 words per year – equivalent to about two full-length books.
My Current System
Here’s the daily routine that’s working for me right now.
Morning Session (15 minutes):
- Make coffee (a core part of my morning ritual)
- Read something challenging that expands my mind
- Keep it short and focused – quality over quantity
- Take source notes to stay engaged
Evening Session (15-30 minutes):
- Read something lighter that I genuinely enjoy (usually a good fantasy novel)
- No pressure to analyze or take notes
- Allow it to be pure leisure
For writing, I follow a similar principle:
- Set a timer for 20 minutes
- Write 1-3 main notes
- Focus on getting the repetition, not perfection
- Build the habit before pushing for quality
The Power of Deliberate Under-Performance
Here’s the counter-intuitive secret: You need to purposefully under-perform.
Yes, you read that right.
Instead of setting ambitious daily targets that you’ll eventually burn out on, set ridiculously small goals:
- Read just 5 pages
- Write just 100 words
- Spend just 15 minutes
The goal isn’t to do as much as possible. The goal is to show up consistently. When you lower the barrier to entry, you make it nearly impossible to fail.
Making It Work for Your Brain
If you’re like me and have ADHD or tend toward divergent thinking, here are some adjustments that help:
- Stack habits
- Attach reading/writing to an existing habit (like morning coffee)
- Use the momentum of one routine to start another
- Create friction-free environments
- Keep books visible where you’ll read them
- Have your writing tools ready to go
- Remove potential distractions before starting
- Follow your curiosity
- Don’t force yourself to read what everyone else is reading
- Write about topics that naturally interest you
- Trust that your unique perspective has value
The Truth About Consistency
You’ll have some off days, there’s nothing wrong with that. What matters is maintaining the habit, no matter how small the output.
Remember: The activity of reading and writing is inherently mundane. The magic isn’t in those rare bursts of inspiration – it’s in showing up day after day, building a practice that compounds over time.
Your mission this week: Pick one tiny reading or writing goal. Make it so small it feels almost meaningless. Then do it every day for seven days straight.
Don’t focus on the results. Focus on building the habit. The results will follow naturally.
Would love to hear how this resonates with you. What’s one small habit you’re willing to commit to this week?
Stay curious, my friend.
-Tony