Now is the perfect time for this topic for Let’s Talk Bookish to come up, as I myself am just working my way out of a reading slump. It does not happen to me often, but I do find myself slumping at least a couple times a year. There are many things I do to work through it, so I am excited to share them with you and to hear any tricks that you may have
Don’t force yourself to read
I wanted to start here because I think the worst thing you can do is to force yourself to read when you are not in the mood. Reading is supposed to be fun and when it starts to feel like a chore, I think it is best to take a break. Watch TV, go for a walk, play The Sims, do whatever you feel like doing with the knowledge that your desire to read will come back once you have some distance from it.
Audiobooks
Even when I am in a slump in terms of reading physical books, I will always have an audiobook on the go. I might not listen as often when I am in a slump, but I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t listening to an audiobook while on a walk or getting ready in the morning. They really have become part of my routine, which helps when it comes to slumps!
Return to an old favourite
This is not something I personally do very often, because I am just not a huge rereader, though I wish I were. I think there is a lot of merit in the idea that reading a book you already know you love can help pull you out of a slump. It is always fun to revisit beloved characters and to experience your favourite story again!
Read a short book
Sometimes we just need to satisfaction of finishing a book to pull us out of a slump, and reading a short book is the best way to do that! Pick up any book under 200 pages when you feel a slump coming on!
Read a romance or a thriller
The genre here may be different for you, but when it comes to my reading taste I always find that reading a romance or a thriller can get me back into the reading groove. They are often page turners and fun reads, so they are great about getting me excited about reading and fully absorbed into a book.
Read a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read
While we all have our favourite genres, I do think it is important to mix things up once in awhile! Reading from the same genres can get repetitive, so reading something out of your comfort zone could shake things up a bit and make reading exciting in a new way.
Watch booktube/read blogs/scroll through bookstagram
Seeing other people excited about reading gets me excited about it as well! Watching booktube and reading book blogs really motivate me to read because I find other people’s passion for reading contagious.
Listen to a podcast
There are so many bookish podcasts that I love, and I find listening to them to be motivating.
Change your setting
Do you always read in bed? Try reading on the couch! Do you only read indoors? Try reading outside! I think anything that makes your reading experience seem fresh and new can be helpful.
Read first thing in the morning
This is something that I have started to do recently and it is truly the best way to start my day! I will read a few pages or listen to a few minutes of my audiobook before I even get out of bed. It has become part of my morning routine, which helps prevent me from slumping.
YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads
I love your tips! And I absolutely agree that reading shouldn’t be forced. I know for a lot of us it feels weird to be in “in a slump” and not reading constantly, but sometimes I think it’s just our brains’ way of telling us we need something else for a little while, which is okay. The TBR may grow, but it will always be there!
I absolutely agree!!
These are great tips for getting oit of a reading clump. They also come in handy for a writing slump as well.
That’s a great point!!
👍👍
Great advice! I second what you said about audio books, they are great to fit in to everyday life when picking up a book is more difficult 😊
Audiobooks have been an absolute game changer for me and my reading life!!
Amazing tips Kristin!
These are some great tips. I often go back to some of my favourite books to reread them to drag me out of that slump!
I need to do that more often!
Good thoughts. Get busy with other stuff. Good advice
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
These are all great ideas! I never thought of using bookstagram to get out of a slump but I’ve just crawled out of a almost 5-6 month one.
-Megan @ Bookstacks & Golden Moms
They can be rough! It’s funny because I get in slumps with my other hobbies and think nothing of it but a reading slump frustrates me so much!
These are all great suggestions! Short books always make me feel so accomplished quickly and make me want to read more – and audiobooks are a life saver! For me, graphic novels help sometimes too, since they’re generally easier/faster to read and a different format of reading!
Ah I can’t believe I forgot to mention graphic novels!!
I find that I either reread a fave or something easy/lighthearted to get me out of a reading slump. But more often than not, I just don’t fight it and take it as a sign that I need a break. It’s so easy to forget that reading should never feel like a chore.
I love all your tips!!! I have to say that my super long commute (in public transport) has done wonders for my reading stats. I really wanted to read more again and that is the perfect time, because there’s little else I can do.
Ah a commute is the perfect time to read! I always get excited when I see someone reading on public transit.
Me too! I always try to get a peak at the cover (if it’s a physical book), just because I’m super curious about what everyone reads haha
I’m in a tiny bit of a slump right now, and I think I’m going to try the reading in the morning thing, see if that works for me! Thanks for all the tips!
I hope it helps! I have been loving starting my day that way.
This is PERFECT!! I’m in a reading slump but I have soo many books I’m excited to read but I’m trying to not force anything and slowly tricking my brain into reading with audiobooks so this is perfect! 🥰 thank you!! 💕
Ah so happy I could help! Slumps are so frustrating!!
graphic novels always do it for me!
True!! I have really gotten into graphic novels recently.
These are great tips. I love your tip about “listening” to audiobooks. That helps me get out of a slump.
Great advices! I especially agree about romance and thrillers: they helped me to get out of the reading slump more than once!
It’s usually what I try first!
Reading an old favorite usually helps me. But sometimes just taking a break and binging a show or reading fanfiction instead helps me get out of a slump 🙂
I’m the same! I find getting into a really good show helps me too!
That’s smart! I need to try fanfiction next time I’m in a slump!
Great tips! I like to read something really fast-paced with short chapters when I’m in a slump. I also practice your tip about reading an old favourite.
Nice tips, Kristin. I often choose a YA as they are usually fast paced and engaging.
That’s a good point!
I love all these tips. Reading a short book or a genre that I don’t usually read has helped me in the past..and also reading graphic novels
Same! I’ve really gotten into graphic novels recently.