What You'll Learn:
- Reading for pleasure supports wellbeing by reducing stress, improving focus, and expanding perspectives.
- Small daily reading habits can make recreational reading a lasting part of everyday life.
- Digital magazines make reading more accessible with engaging content available anytime, anywhere.
Explore the benefits of leisure reading and discover practical tips to help your students and patrons build a daily reading habit.
While many people read every day for schoolwork or assignments, finding time to read purely for enjoyment can be a challenge. Yet recreational reading offers a wide range of benefits, from improving cognitive function and reducing stress to fostering empathy and expanding perspectives —making it well worth adding to a daily routine.
Digital magazines offer an approachable way to build a reading habit.
Digital magazines offer an approachable way to build a reading habit.
The Challenge of Making Time to Read
Despite its many benefits, reading for pleasure has steadily declined in the United States. A 2025 study published in iScience, which analyzed two decades of data from the American Time Use Survey, found that the percentage of Americans who read for pleasure each day fell from 28% in 2003 to just 16% in 2023. Researchers point to factors such as reduced leisure time, the growing pull of digital media, economic pressures and unequal access to reading materials as contributors to the trend.
In other research, a professor of informatics found that attention spans have continued to shrink over the years which some believe directly correlates to the national decline in reading. Studies over the years have found that the average amount of focus time decreased from two-and-half minutes in 2004 to 75 seconds in 2012. They also noted that more recent studies indicate even further decreases in attention spans.
Make Reading a Habit
Digital magazines offer an approachable way to build a reading habit. Their shorter articles, vibrant photography and visually engaging layouts make them especially appealing for readers who may find longer texts overwhelming. With Flipster, patrons can explore magazines on virtually any topic and enjoy instant access from almost anywhere through the Flipster App, making it easy to fit reading into everyday life.
Tips to Share with Patrons and Students for Building a Daily Reading Habit
- Start small. Set aside just 10 -15 minutes each day for reading. A few pages or one magazine article can help establish a routine that grows over time.
- Keep reading within easy reach. Download the Flipster app so your favorite magazines are always available, whether you're commuting, waiting for an appointment or relaxing at home.
- Read what genuinely interests you. Choose magazines that match your hobbies, career goals or personal interests. Reading is easier to stick with when you're excited about the topic.
- Replace a few minutes of screen scrolling with reading. Swap part of your social media or news feed time for a magazine article. It's an easy way to make reading a regular part of your day while discovering new ideas and perspectives.
Beyond Reading
Flipster magazines go beyond offering an enjoyable reading experience. They deliver a source of inspiration, learning and discovery. Whether your patrons or students are exploring a new hobby, developing a skill or diving deeper into a favorite interest, Flipster provides access to magazines covering everything from sports, news, culture and crafts to cooking, travel and other niche topics.
