How to Enjoy Reading Again After TikTok: 9 Tricks
Here's how to enjoy reading again after TikTok: make books feel more like your feed, then slowly less. Start with short chapters and fast books, read in timed sprints, keep your phone out of the room, and use audio or re-reads to get momentum. Enjoyment usually comes back before focus does, so chase fun first.
If books suddenly feel slow and you think TikTok is the reason, check how much it's shaping your attention right now: Check my brainrot.
Why TikTok makes books feel slow
TikTok gives you something new every few seconds. You never have to wait for the good part, because if a video's boring, you swipe. A book works the opposite way. The good part comes after you've invested time.
So after a lot of TikTok, reading can feel like:
- Waiting for a video that never loads.
- Being stuck on the same "clip" for an hour.
- Not getting a reward fast enough.
That's why so many people search "attention span after TikTok." The good news is that the skill of enjoying slow things is trainable. These nine tricks are ordered from easiest to hardest.
Trick 1: start with short chapters
Chapter length matters more than book length. Short chapters give you the "one more" feeling TikTok gives you, but in a book.
Good signs in a book
- Chapters under 10 pages.
- Cliffhanger chapter endings.
- Lots of dialogue and white space on the page.
Thrillers, verse novels and graphic novels are great for this. Our list of short books for short attention span readers has 30 picks.
Trick 2: read in sprints
A reading sprint is a short, timed session. Set a timer for 10 minutes, read until it rings, stop. That's it.
Why sprints make reading more enjoyable
- A clear finish line takes away the "this will take forever" feeling.
- Ten minutes is short enough that you don't fight it.
- You usually want to keep going when the timer rings, and that's the feeling you want to build.
Start with one sprint a day. Add a second when the first feels easy.
Trick 3: phone in another room
Not face down. Not on silent. In another room.
Your brain keeps part of its attention on a phone that's nearby, even if you're not using it. A well-known 2017 University of Texas at Austin study found people did better on thinking tests when their phones were in a different room than when they were on the desk.
How to actually do it
- Charge your phone in the kitchen during reading time.
- Use a real alarm clock or a kitchen timer.
- Tell friends "reading for 20, back soon" so you don't worry about messages.
Trick 4: pair with audio
Listening to the audiobook while you follow along in the printed book, or switching between the two, is a great bridge back. The narrator keeps the pace going, so you don't drift.
Ways to use audio
- Read along for the first few chapters until you're hooked, then switch to print.
- Listen on walks, read at home. Keep going in the same book.
- Use audio for slow sections and print for the parts you love.
Wondering which helps focus more? We compare them in audiobooks vs reading for attention span.
Trick 5: re-read a favorite
Re-reading a book you loved at 11 or 12 is one of the easiest ways to feel the old joy again. You already know you like it, so there's no risk. Your brain relaxes and just enjoys the story.
Good re-read picks: the series you were obsessed with, the book you read three times, the one that made you cry.
Trick 6: let the feed pick your book (once)
Use BookTok against itself. Find one book that people there can't stop talking about, buy or borrow it, then close the app. Hype is a real motivator. Just don't let "researching books" turn into an hour of scrolling.
Trick 7: make reading a place
Pick one spot and one time that's always for reading. A beanbag after dinner. The bus home. Your bed for 15 minutes before lights out. When the place and time repeat, reading turns into a habit, not a decision.
Trick 8: read with someone
- A buddy read with a friend, one chapter a day, voice notes allowed.
- A group chat for a book club with a tiny goal, like one short book a month.
- Reading next to a sibling or parent who is also reading.
Company makes it more fun and gives you a reason not to quit on day three.
Trick 9: drop books without guilt
If a book isn't working after 50 pages, drop it. Seriously. Forcing yourself through a boring book is the fastest way to decide you hate reading. The goal right now is to enjoy reading, not to finish everything you start.
Quick guide: which trick for which problem
| If this happens | Try |
|---|---|
| You check your phone every page | Trick 3 |
| You get bored in the first chapter | Tricks 1 and 6 |
| You can't sit still long enough | Tricks 2 and 4 |
| You don't know what to read | Tricks 5 and 6 |
| You start strong, then quit | Tricks 7 and 8 |
Keep the streak going
The first week is about showing up. The second week is where it starts to feel good. Tracking helps more than you'd think, because it turns a vague goal ("read more books") into something you can see.
Simple tracking ideas:
- A tick on a calendar for each reading day.
- A list of every book you finish, with a one-line review.
- A note of how many minutes you read before you wanted to stop.
Remembering to do this every day is where most people slip. Brainrot Test gives you one two-minute drill a day and keeps your streak for you: a missed day pauses it, and two missed days in a row end it. The drill ends with a real-world action, like putting your phone in another room for 10 minutes, which is a perfect reading sprint. Check my brainrot
If you want more on the "why" behind all this, read why you can't read books anymore.
Get your reading brain back, one drill at a time
Learning how to enjoy reading again after TikTok is easier when you can see the scroll habit shrinking. In the next minute, Brainrot Test asks 17 questions and gives you a score from 0 to 100, a tier and where you rank. Each daily drill you finish takes a point off, and Sunday re-checks show how far you've come.
FAQ
How do I start enjoying reading again?
Pick a fast, short-chapter book, read in 10-minute sprints with your phone in another room, and drop any book you don't like after 50 pages. Fun comes back first; longer focus follows.
How long does it take to get your attention span back for reading after TikTok?
It varies a lot. Many people notice reading feels easier within a couple of weeks of daily short sessions, but there's no fixed timeline. Consistency matters more than how long each session is.
How to enjoy reading again, according to Reddit?
The most common tips in threads are re-reading old favorites, starting with short or easy books, leaving the phone elsewhere and quitting books you don't like. Those line up closely with the tricks in this guide.
Is it okay to use audiobooks to get into reading again?
Yes. Audiobooks are a great way to get into reading again, especially if you follow along in the printed book at first. They keep the story moving while your focus rebuilds.
How can I read more books without forcing it?
Make reading the easiest option: a book always within reach, a set time and place, and the phone out of the room. Short, gripping books help you finish more, which makes you want to start the next one.