Are you wondering how to get out of a reading slump?
Here are my best tips for when you are feeling stuck, and how to combat a reading slump.
First of all, you might be wondering what is a reading slump? Basically, it’s a period of time when you lack the interest or motivation to read.
No book sounds good, and you can’t be bothered to read anything even if you want to. Reading slumps can last for days, weeks, or even months.
Sometimes a reading slump is caused by finishing an amazing book or series, and you feel like nothing will live up to it. Other times it’s caused by finishing several mediocre books in a row. It could also be caused by getting burnt out from reading too much, especially if you have to read a lot for school and don’t have the energy to read for pleasure.
Whatever the case, here are my top suggestions for how to get out of a reading slump:
1. Re-read an old favorite.
One of the fastest ways to get out of a reading slump is to re-read an old favorite book or series.
What’s a book you read in the last few years that you really loved? What’s the book or series that made you fall in love with reading? It can be fun to go back to an old favorite and remind yourself why you love reading.
Re-reading one of your favorite books is a great way to spark your curiosity and get back into reading.
2. Join a book club.
Another way to get out of a reading slump is to join a book club. You can look at this as a little bit of peer pressure to get you to start reading again, but it’s also just fun to talk about books with others!
You can join an in-person or virtual book club. Once you have an assigned book to read and a book club meeting on your calendar, it can be very motivating to get you back into the habit of reading.
3. Switch up your reading format.
Do you normally read physical books? Try reading an ebook on your phone, tablet, or e-reader instead. I often find it easier to read on a device because they’re more portable, giving you more chances throughout the day to read.
You can get a free trial of Kindle Unlimited if you want to get access to tons of ebooks.
If you normally read ebooks, then picking up a physical book might be just the thing you need to get out of a reading slump. Sometimes you can’t beat flipping through the pages of a real paper and ink book.
4. Listen to an audiobook.
Similar to switching the format of how you read books, consider listening to an audiobook.
This can be a great way to get out of a reading slump if the idea of actually reading does not appeal to you. Especially if you already listen to a lot of music or podcasts, you will love listening to audiobooks.
You can get a free trial of Audible Plus if you want to start listening to books on audio.
5. Participate in a reading challenge.
Something really fun and motivating that can help you get out of a reading slump and get excited about books again is joining a reading challenge. And there are so many great ones to choose from!
Most reading challenges have a certain duration (such as one year) and different prompts to fulfill. Some also have an added social aspect that makes them like joining a book club!
Just Google “reading challenges” and you’ll find tons of them.
6. Try a new genre.
Sometimes you can get into a reading slump if you read a lot of books from the same genre in a row. This has happened to me after reading only fantasy books and series for a while, especially ones I was not loving.
It helps to pick a totally different genre for my next book in order to get out of the reading slump. Mystery and thriller is my go-to because these books are usually page-turners that I fly through.
So if you normally only read romance books or contemporary books, try reaching for something different like historical fiction or a memoir to switch things up and get you out of your rut.
7. Read the first chapter of several books.
One unique idea for getting out of a reading slump is “sampling” several books.
If you have some unread books on your shelves but none of them are grabbing your attention at the moment, choose three or four at random and commit to reading only the first chapter.
After you’ve done that, choose which one you like best and continue on with it!
8. Switch up your reading schedule
Another strategy for how to get out of a reading slump is to switch up your reading schedule.
Do you normally read at night before bed but lately you haven’t felt like it? Try reading for half an hour first thing in the morning when you wake up instead, or read during your lunch hour.
Sometimes switching up your reading schedule can help you get out of a slump.
9. Read something short or light-hearted.
It’s possible to get burnt out from reading, especially if you are reading a lot of long books or series, reading intense books that take an emotional toll, or reading books that require you to think a lot.
And sometimes the simplest solution for when this happens is to totally switch gears and read a really short book, a book for a younger audience, a funny book, or a “guilty pleasure” book.
10. Change your environment.
Much like I suggested changing your reading schedule, another tip for how to get out of a reading slump is to change your reading environment. Maybe you normally read in bed, or at your desk.
Try switching things up instead. If the weather is nice, go outside. Reading under the sun on a picnic blanket in the grass can be much more enjoyable than sitting in a dark room. If it’s cold outside, the perfect environment for reading might be sitting by the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate and a blanket.
You can also create a designated reading nook in your home. Rearrange your furniture and pull an armchair up to the window, or even try something fun like making a blanket fort to read in!
11. Eliminate distractions.
Nothing exacerbates a reading slump more than distractions.
You might read a page or two, then check your phone and end up scrolling Instagram or TikTok instead. Or you might be trying to read, but have the TV on in the background and not be able to concentrate.
Eliminate all distractions and allow yourself some uninterrupted reading time.
12. Don’t force yourself to read.
Finally, this might seem counter-intuitive, but don’t force yourself to read. If you’re in a reading slump and you’re making yourself read because you feel like you “should” be reading, it will only get worse.
Instead, take a break. Don’t worry about reading for a few days, and do something else instead, whether that is binging a series on Netflix or practicing another hobby. After some time, you’ll want to read again.
But if you force yourself to read when you don’t feel like, you might just prolong your reading slump!
More Posts About Reading
These are some of my best tips for how to get out of a reading slump.
Being in a reading slump can be a bummer, especially if you normally love to read. But by following these tips, you can get out of a reading slump in no time and get back to your passion for reading books.
Related Posts: