If you deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder, you know the exact scene: it's 4pm on a gray Tuesday in January, the sun set an hour ago, you're curled up under a weighted blanket, and the stack of books you were so excited to read in the fall feels like a list of chores you can't bring yourself to start. For years, I treated my winter reading slump as a personal failure. I'd set ambitious Goodreads goals in January, abandon them by mid-February, and tell myself I was just lazy, that I'd stopped loving reading. It wasn't until I stopped trying to force my summer reading routine into the darkest, lowest-energy months of the year, and adjusted my habits to match my SAD symptoms instead of fighting them, that I actually kept my reading habit consistent through the winter. No guilt, no pressure, just small, manageable tweaks that work with your brain, not against it.
First, Ditch the "Perfect Reader" Rulebook
The biggest barrier to reading with SAD is the myth that reading has to look a certain way: 50 pages a day, only new, "challenging" books, no audiobooks, no rereads, no skimming. None of that applies, especially when your brain is running on low power from reduced sunlight and disrupted sleep. Two pages of a reread of your favorite childhood novel counts. Listening to an audiobook while you fold laundry counts. Even flipping through a graphic novel while you wait for your morning coffee to brew counts. During my worst SAD slump two years ago, I couldn't make it through a single new novel, but I reread the entire Percy Jackson series in three months, and that was more than enough to keep my habit alive. The goal isn't to hit a page count or check off titles on your TBR---it's to keep reading as a source of comfort, not another chore on your already overwhelming to-do list. If you have a day where you can't even look at a page? That's okay. Your habit won't fall apart after one missed day.
Pair Reading With Light, Because SAD Runs on Low Sunlight
SAD is directly tied to reduced exposure to natural light, so the easiest way to make reading feel less like a slog is to pair it with light that boosts your mood. If you have a light therapy lamp, set it up right next to your favorite reading spot, so you get your 10,000 lux dose while you turn pages. If you don't have a lamp, prioritize reading near a window during daylight hours, even on overcast days---natural light, even filtered through clouds, helps regulate your circadian rhythm and boost your energy levels. If you're a night owl who reads before bed, swap harsh overhead lights for warm, dim fairy lights or a small salt lamp to make your reading nook feel cozy, not stimulating, so you don't mess up your already fragile sleep schedule. I started reading my lunch break outside on my porch last winter, even when it was 40 degrees out, and the combination of fresh air, natural light, and a good book made my afternoon slump feel 10x less intense.
Ditch the "Should Read" Pile for Comfort Content Only
Summer is the time for dense literary fiction and challenging memoirs. Winter, when you're already exhausted from SAD brain fog, is the time for books that feel like a hug. Ditch the stack of "important" books you feel like you should read to impress other people or hit a reading goal, and fill your reading space with comfort reads: favorite rereads, cozy mysteries, middle grade fantasy, silly rom-coms, graphic novels, whatever feels easy and fun with zero mental effort required. For me, that's a stack of Harry Potter paperbacks and Agatha Christie novels that I can pick up and read without having to concentrate on complex plotlines or dense prose. If a book feels like work, put it down and pick up something that doesn't. Your reading habit will stick a lot longer if it feels like a reward, not a test of your willpower.
Build Reading Into Existing Routines, Don't Add It as a New Task
When you're dealing with SAD, adding new tasks to your schedule feels impossible, even the fun ones. Instead of blocking off "reading time" on your calendar, pair reading with something you already do every day without thinking. Read one page while you wait for your coffee to brew in the morning. Listen to an audiobook while you fold laundry or wash dishes. Read a chapter while you eat lunch, or while you wait for your kids' soccer practice to end. I keep my current read on the counter next to my coffee maker, so I see it every morning and can pick it up for 5 minutes while my coffee is brewing, no extra effort required. If you miss a day? No big deal. Just pick it up again the next day, no guilt. I follow the two-day rule: if I miss two days in a row, I just pick up the book the third day, no matter how little I read.
Cut All Friction From Your Reading Setup
If you have to hunt for your book, charge your e-reader, or fumble with app settings when you're already tired and unmotivated, you won't do it. Keep your current read in the exact same spot every day: on your nightstand, on the couch cushion next to where you sit, or in your bag if you often have wait times during the day. If you use an e-reader, keep it charged and pre-loaded with your book so you don't have to mess with downloads or settings when you're feeling blah. If you prefer audiobooks, keep the app open on your phone's home screen, with your current book queued up, so you can press play with one tap. Only keep the one book you're currently reading on your nightstand---don't stack 12 half-finished books next to your bed, you'll waste 10 minutes deciding what to pick up when you only have 5 minutes of free time.
For the Really Bad Days (Because They Happen)
Let's be real: some days with SAD, you can't even get out of bed, let alone read a full chapter. On those days, don't force reading if it feels like too much---your mental health is way more important than hitting a reading goal. But if you want to keep the tiny habit alive without expending any energy, try these zero-effort hacks: Listen to a 5-minute audiobook snippet while you lie in bed. Flip through a picture book or graphic novel while you scroll social media. Even just look at the cover of your favorite book for 10 seconds counts, if that's all you can do. The goal is to keep the association between reading and comfort, not to hit a quota. And if you need to take a full week off from reading to focus on therapy, rest, or just getting through the day? That's more than okay. Your books will be there when you're ready to come back to them.
Last winter, when my SAD was at its worst, my 5-minute morning reading habit while I drank coffee was the only small, consistent win I had most days. It didn't fix my SAD, but it gave me a tiny escape from the gray, and a reminder that I could still enjoy small things even when everything felt heavy. You don't need to read 100 books a winter to have a consistent reading habit with SAD. You just need to adjust your routine to fit your needs, lower the bar, and let reading be the comfort it's supposed to be, not another thing to stress about. Next time you're staring at your TBR pile feeling overwhelmed, pick up that old favorite you've read a dozen times instead. One page is enough.