Avid readers spend the majority of their free time with a book in their hands and a tall pile of “to be read” books by their bed or on their desk. Every chance they get to read something new or re-read an old book, they take it. However, there are times in which they might go through a reading slump. When no book seems good enough to captivate their attention or distractions may seem stronger than the desire to sit down with a good book. If you are one of these readers going through a reading slump, here are 5 tips to get back into reading.
1. Re-read your favorite book
If you are an active reader, you most definitely have a favorite book. Do you still own it? Would you have to buy it again? Whatever the case may be, a reading slump is the perfect time to revisit that world and those characters who captivated you the first time. This exercise will get you excited to read once again and will hopefully keep the energy going for you to pick up new books. An old favorite is always the best cure against a reading slump.
2. Create reading challenges for yourself
Reading slumps usually happen because you are not motivated or inspired to immerse yourself in a new book. A great way to fight this is creating reading challenges for yourself. You can set a certain number of pages to read per day or a set number of books you want to read by the end of the month. Some people get creative with their challenges and choose to read books with a blue cover or golden letters in the title. Whatever the case may be, challenging yourself to read more will push you to meet those goals and get you over the reading slump.
3. Read with friends
Although reading is an activity mostly done alone, joining your friends or a book club can be the perfect way to get back into reading after a slump. Choosing a book with a group will make you want to stay up-to-date with them, knowing what happens next, and being able to participate in the conversation. Having others around you discussing the same book will definitely make you want to keep reading. And if you have a competitive streak, you will want to read faster than everyone else.
4. Buy something trendy
Trends are everywhere around us — social media, TV, movies, magazines — and at times we try to avoid them, but a reading slump might be the perfect opportunity to give a trendy book a chance. They say curiosity killed the cat, so why not kill the slump? Go out and buy that trendy book you had been so skeptical to read. It is the perfect opportunity to give something new the chance to surprise you. Who knows? You might even be surprised by a great writer you wouldn’t have given a chance to otherwise.
5. Try again in a few days
Embrace the reading slump. Yes, you read that right. Simply embrace this period in which you are unable to connect with books. This might be your brain’s way of telling you it needs a break. Slumps don’t last forever, and soon you will be devouring book after book with no breaks. For now, watch a movie, write, hang out with friends, or take a nap. Your desire to read will eventually come back.
Reading slumps are more common than we think. It is okay for you to need a break from the fast pace of starting a new book every couple of days. But if you are trying really hard to get back into reading, these 5 tips will probably help you get over the slump.