If you're a remote worker squished into a 400-square-foot apartment, you know the struggle all too well: your desk doubles as your dining table, your couch is your go-to Zoom background, and the half-read novel you bought six months ago is buried under a stack of unopened mail and a half-empty matcha latte. When your entire living space blurs the line between work and rest, carving out time and space to read can feel like just another impossible task on your to-do list.
I've been there. For the first year of working remotely from my tiny studio, I barely finished a single book, even though I'd always considered myself an avid reader. I kept telling myself I'd "find time" to read once my workload slowed down, or once I moved to a bigger place with a dedicated reading nook. That never happened. Until I stopped trying to force a "perfect" reading routine and started building tiny, low-lift habits that fit my small-space, remote work life. Now, I read almost every day, no fancy nook or hours of free time required.
If you're tired of letting your TBR pile gather dust, these tips will help you build a reading habit that actually sticks, no extra square footage needed.
Ditch the "dedicated reading nook" myth
You don't need a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, a window seat, or a fancy armchair to build a reading habit. In a small apartment, your "reading zone" can be as small as 12 inches of space. For me, it's a stack of two thick hardcover books I use as a stand, topped with a fuzzy floor cushion, tucked right next to my kitchen window. When I sit there, my brain immediately associates the spot with leisure, not work. If you don't have floor space, try a narrow shelf above your bed that only holds your current read and a small clip-on reading light, or even the edge of your bathroom counter if that's the only quiet spot you've got. The only rule? Don't use this space for work, scrolling social media, or eating. Keep it exclusively for reading, and it'll become a mental cue that it's time to switch off from work mode.
Anchor reading to routines you already have
The biggest mistake I made when trying to build a reading habit was treating it like an extra task I had to "schedule in" after my workday was done. By the time I shut my laptop at 6pm, I was already too burnt out to summon the motivation to pick up a book. Instead, tie reading to a remote work routine you already do without thinking:
- Read 5 pages while your morning coffee brews, instead of scrolling work emails or TikTok before your day starts.
- Pause for 10 minutes of reading between back-to-back Zoom calls, instead of scrolling your phone during your break.
- Read one chapter right after you shut your laptop for the day, before you change into sweatpants and collapse on the couch. Even 5 to 10 minutes a day adds up, and because you're attaching reading to a habit you already have, it won't feel like an extra chore.
Curate your reading list and space for small-space life
If you don't have room for a stack of 50 physical books, lean into formats that don't take up square footage. Library apps like Libby let you borrow e-books and audiobooks for free, no physical storage required. If you prefer physical copies, stick to a strict "one in, one out" rule: for every new book you buy, donate or pass along one you've already finished, so your book stack never takes over your limited shelf space. Also, ditch the pressure to read "high-brow" or long, dense books if that's not what you're in the mood for after a long day of remote work. Short story collections, essay anthologies, or cozy genre fiction are perfect for small-space living: they're easy to pick up and put down, don't require hours of focus, and make reading feel like a treat instead of a homework assignment.
Keep reading separate from work (and screens)
If you use the same tablet or laptop for work that you use to read e-books, your brain might still associate that device with work stress, making it harder to get lost in a story. If you can, use a dedicated e-reader for reading, or put your work phone on do not disturb and turn off all work notifications when you sit down to read. If you live with a partner or roommate, try setting a 20-minute "no work talk" reading window every night, where you both read your own books on the couch. It turns reading into a low-pressure shared ritual, instead of something you have to do alone after a long day.
Let go of the "perfect reading habit" myth
Social media would have you believe a "good" reading habit means finishing 50 books a year, reading for an hour every day, and having a perfectly curated bookshelf. That's not realistic for most remote workers, especially those living in small spaces where unexpected work emergencies, messy apartments, or just plain exhaustion are part of daily life. Some days you'll read 20 pages, some days you'll read 2, and some days you won't read at all. That's okay. The goal of a sustainable reading habit isn't to hit an arbitrary number of books a year---it's to have a low-stakes, enjoyable way to unwind that fits into your actual life, not the idealized version of it you see on Instagram.
Last week, I finished my 12th book of the year, sitting on my floor cushion by the kitchen window, half-empty mug of tea on the floor next to me. It's not the fancy reading nook I dreamed of when I first started working remotely, but it works. Building a reading habit in a small apartment doesn't require more space or more free time---it just requires tiny, intentional tweaks that fit into the chaos of remote work life. Your half-read book is waiting for you, no extra square footage required.