The National Year of Reading is a new campaign underway for 2026, designed to help people discover, or rediscover, the joy of reading.
Increasingly, digital pastimes and smartphone usage are taking over, with a survey by the campaign organiser, the National Literacy Trust, showing that daily reading and enjoyment of reading are declining. Just one in three young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025, and fewer than one in five read daily.
Regular reading can bring a whole host of mental, emotional, and physical benefits to people of all ages. If you’ve fallen out of the routine or would like to make reading a new resolution, read on to discover some of the benefits and how to get yourself in the habit.
Shifting away from a reliance on technology could help you rediscover a habitual love of reading
The decline in reading is continuing as generations brought up on technology are now starting to become parents themselves. Research from HarperCollins in 2025 found that fewer parents are reading to their children, and just 40% of them found it a fun activity.
Time constraints can also play a part, with 34% of parents wishing they had more time to read to their children.
Whether you’d like to spend more time reading alone or with your children or grandchildren, the benefits of reading are many. Here are six ways it can enhance your life:
1. Creating connections
The National Year of Reading campaign is called Go All In, and is designed to encourage people to connect reading with things they already enjoy, such as football, films, food, and music. Reading can inspire you to immerse yourself deeply in areas which capture your interest, bringing even more joy into your hobbies and in turn encouraging a love of reading to develop.
2. Developing empathy and emotional intelligence
Reading fiction can help you understand different viewpoints as you engage with the characters. Learning about their backgrounds, challenges, and behaviours shows us how they arrive at their choices, creating a deeper understanding of human nature.
Meanwhile, non-fiction books can help you actively develop your emotional intelligence skills, such as mindfulness, meditation, and reflection.
3. Finding escapism
Travel to faraway lands, immerse yourself in the world of espionage, or take yourself into outer space, all while you’re sitting on the train or lying in bed. Reading can provide some true escapism, helping you to switch gears in your brain and step away from the real world for a while.
Research from the University of Liverpool (2016) shows that 36% of the population have been inspired to go travelling by a book, so it could help you plan your next holiday, too!
4. Taking a digital detox
We live in a world of technology, with computers, tablets, and phones dominating our professional and personal lives. Too much screen time can lead to poor posture and eye strain, among other things, so it’s good to take a break now and then.
Reading a physical book gives you some time offline, away from the short-form, rapid-fire nature of social media, and helps you focus on one thing for longer.
5. Boosting your cognitive stimulation
Reading can give your brain a workout, enhancing your analytical and critical thinking skills. According to the Guardian in 2026, staying mentally active could also help to lower your risk of dementia by up to 40%, with regular reading cited as one of the best activities.
6. Helping you to relax
Switching off your phone and picking up a book in bed can signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. Your heart rate slows, muscle tension eases, and your body starts to enter a state of relaxation when you read, making it a highly effective bedtime ritual.
Taking steps to turn reading into a regular habit can open up a whole new world
Start small
If you’ve been out of the habit of reading, ease yourself back in gently with just a few minutes a day and a manageable-sized book. Putting too much pressure on yourself can make the idea seem much less appealing.
Choose your media
A physical book can be a great way to shift away from electronics and technology. But if you’re driving or pottering about at home or in the garden, an audiobook is another way to keep up with your “reading”.
Similarly, e-readers can be handy if you’re going on holiday and don’t want to weigh down your luggage. Mix and match your formats so you can read anywhere and anyhow you choose.
Create a comfortable space
Finding somewhere to read without noise or distractions can really enhance the experience and make it something you want to do often. Create a dedicated reading space in your home that’s comfortable and well lit, reserved solely for your books.
Or you might find you like a little bustle and chatter around you, so you could try a coffee shop. In the warmer weather, reading outdoors is a lovely way to soak up some sunshine, either in your garden or a local park.
Join a book club
Most book clubs have a monthly meeting, which encourages you to keep up with your regular reading. Plus, they are a great way to socialise, helping you to meet like-minded people and encouraging you to try a new selection of reading material.
Read for pleasure
If you find that you’re reluctantly picking up a book and just reading a few pages at a time, then don’t be afraid to admit it’s not for you, rather than forcing your way through it. Allocate yourself a certain number of pages, or a percentage if you’re on an e-reader, and if a book hasn’t captured your imagination by then, it could be time to try something new.
Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore.
