Singapore has launched a nationwide campaign that rewards people for reading for at least 15 minutes each day.
Participants can record their daily reading on a government website, where they earn virtual coins they can exchange for cash. According to The Straits Times, every 1,000 coins is worth S$1 (around $0.80), while readers will also be able to collect bonus rewards such as limited-edition library charms
It’s hoped the five-year campaign will make reading part of everyday life by turning it into a trackable challenge with personal goals, reading streaks, and rewards.
Singapore turns reading into a daily challenge
National Library Board chief executive Melissa Tam told The Straits Times that the initiative comes at a time when people have access to more content than ever, which can make sitting down and reading without distractions difficult.
“We live in a world of extraordinary abundance, of content, information and stimulation,” she said. “At any moment, we can scroll through hundreds of headlines, watch a video or get a summary of almost anything.”
Tam said regular long-form reading helps develop attention, critical thinking, empathy, and imagination. The 15-minute target is intended to provide an achievable starting point that can fit into people’s existing schedules, much like the widely recognized goal of walking 10,000 steps a day.
Pexels “We know that habits are built through small, consistent actions,” she said. “So, we are starting with a simple goal, just read for 15 minutes a day. On the bus, before bed or over lunch.”
The initiative aims to attract 150,000 participants by September 2027, while reading logged during the Read for Good charity drive will count toward its target of raising S$150,000 for disadvantaged communities.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first story we’ve seen this year where folks can get paid to do something enjoyable. Back in March, Wendy’s offered fans the chance to get paid to eat its food with its Chief Tasting Officer position.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
