If you're a remote worker, you know the unique blur of the day: 8 hours of back-to-back Zoom calls, Slack pings that never stop, and a to-do list that grows longer by the minute. There's no clear line between "work time" and "personal time" when your laptop is open on your kitchen table and your work email is one tap away on your phone, so by the time you technically "sign off" for the day, your brain is still stuck in work mode, your eyes are burning from staring at a screen, and your go-to evening activity is scrolling short-form video until you pass out.
Your unread TBR stack? It's been collecting dust on your nightstand for months, and you've written off reading as a "pre-remote work luxury" you don't have time for anymore.
I've been there. Last year, I finished exactly 3 books all year, and spent more time scrolling TikTok than I did reading, all because I thought reading was just one more thing I had to squeeze into an already packed schedule. It wasn't until I stopped treating reading as an extra chore and started building it into my existing remote work routine---as a break from screens, not an addition to them---that I got back into the habit, without burning out or feeling guilty for taking time away from work.
The best part? You don't need to carve out an extra hour a day to read. All it takes is small, intentional swaps that fit into the gaps you already have in your day, and a little intentionality around balancing screen time, breaks, and the physical books you already own.
First, Ditch the Guilt: Reading Is a Break, Not a Distraction
The biggest barrier to reading while working remotely is the quiet guilt we feel for taking time away from work to do something "unproductive." But here's the thing: reading is one of the most restorative breaks you can take, especially when you're spending 8+ hours a day staring at a screen.
A 10-minute reading break resets your focus far better than a 10-minute social media scroll, which overstimulates your brain and leaves you more frazzled than when you started. Studies even show that just 6 minutes of reading reduces stress levels by 68%---more than listening to music or going for a walk. So when you take a 10-minute break to flip through a few pages of a book, you're not slacking: you're coming back to your work tasks more focused, less burnt out, and better able to tackle that tricky spreadsheet or client call.
The key is to build reading into the micro-breaks you already take, instead of adding extra time to your day. Swap one 10-minute Slack scroll or social media break between meetings for a quick read of a physical book. Even if you only get through 2 pages, that's progress, and it gives your eyes a real rest from blue light, not just a switch from work screen to social media screen.
Balance Screens By Making Your Digital Reading Intentional
If you prefer e-readers, audiobooks, or digital reading tools for portability or work-related reading, you don't have to add to your screen fatigue---you just have to set boundaries around how and when you use them.
First, prioritize e-ink devices over your phone, laptop, or tablet for digital reading. E-ink screens have no blue light, no glare, and feel almost identical to paper, so they don't strain your eyes the way a backlit phone screen does. Keep your work apps off your e-reader entirely: no Slack, no email, no work documents unless you're reading them for work. This creates a clear boundary between "work screen time" and "reading screen time," so you don't get tempted to check a work ping mid-chapter.
For work-related reading (industry reports, professional development books, research papers), pair your digital reading with the Pomodoro Technique to make it feel like a break, not extra work. After a 90-minute focused work block, take a 25-minute Pomodoro break where you read a work-related book or report. You're getting your professional development done and taking a real break from your regular work tasks, no extra hours required.
And if you use audiobooks? Save them for the "dead time" you'd otherwise spend scrolling: walking to get coffee, folding laundry, cooking dinner, or walking the dog. You're getting through books without adding any extra screen time, and you don't have to carve out extra time in your day to read. If you struggle with retaining information from audiobooks, add a quick 1-sentence note in your phone's notes app after each chapter with your biggest takeaway---it takes 10 seconds, and helps you remember what you listened to later.
Physical Books Are Your Secret Weapon Against Screen Burnout
There's a reason your unread physical books have been collecting dust on your nightstand: physical books are the perfect antidote to the constant screen time of remote work. No notifications, no blue light, no temptation to tab over to Slack mid-paragraph.
If you struggle to make time for physical books, create a tiny, dedicated reading nook in your home---even if it's just a corner of your couch or a chair by the window. Never bring your work laptop to this spot, so your brain learns to associate that space with reading and relaxation, not work. When you have a 10-minute break between meetings, or you're winding down after work, sit in that spot and read 5 pages of a physical book instead of scrolling.
If you're someone who struggles to finish physical books because you're always on the go, keep a small paperback in your bag, or leave one in your car, so you can pull it out while you're waiting for a coffee order or sitting in a waiting room. No charging required, no notifications, just you and the book.
Block Reading Time Like You Block a Client Meeting
If you have a schedule packed with back-to-back meetings and tasks, the only way to make time for reading is to block it on your calendar, just like you would a client call or a team sync. Don't block an hour---start small, with 15 minutes, right after lunch or right before you sign off for the day. Label it "focus reset" or "personal time" so your coworkers don't try to book over it.
During this time, close all your work tabs, mute your Slack notifications, and pick up your physical book or e-reader. No work allowed, no scrolling, just reading. Even if you only get through 10 pages, that's 10 pages you wouldn't have read otherwise, and it helps you transition out of work mode so you don't carry work stress into your evening.
If you work fully async, you can even use this time to read for professional development, if that's what you prefer. Just make sure it's reading you choose, not required work reading, so it still feels like a break.
Stop Guilt-Tripping Yourself for Skipping a Day (or a Week)
Remote work is unpredictable. Some weeks you'll have back-to-back deadlines, a kid home sick, or a million other things that take priority over reading. If you miss a week of reading, that's okay. Don't force yourself to cram 3 hours of reading into a single day to "make up for lost time"---that will only make you associate reading with stress, and you'll be more likely to abandon it entirely.
When you have a free 10 minutes, just pick up your book again, no strings attached. The goal isn't to read 50 books a year, or hit some arbitrary reading goal. The goal is to have a small, consistent habit that helps you disconnect from work, reduce screen fatigue, and enjoy the books you actually want to read.
At the end of the day, reading during remote work isn't about being productive, or checking off titles on a TBR list. It's about building a small, intentional break from the constant screen time and work stress that comes with remote work. You don't need to carve out extra hours, or buy expensive e-readers, or force yourself to read books you don't enjoy. All you need is a physical book you like, a few 10-minute breaks in your day, and a willingness to swap 10 minutes of scrolling for 10 minutes of something that actually resets your brain. The next time you're between meetings and reaching for your phone to scroll, grab the paperback on your nightstand instead. You might be surprised how much better you feel by the end of the day.