It is becoming a yearly ritual. I would be having some great reading months at the beginning – already making good progress on my reading goals, finishing 2 to 3 books a month. And then it would happen! I would want to read but nothing, no book, will interest me. And it stays like that, sometimes for weeks, but mostly, it continues for a couple of months.

Everyone that I know of, who loves to read, has been in a reading slump, at least once. Sometimes it’s easier to know why (like reading a really bad book!) and sometimes it happens for no rhyme or reason.
Just know that it’s perfectly normal and that you are not alone.

Reasons for a reading slump

I am no expert so take it with a grain of salt, but some of the reasons that can be a trigger:

  1. The most obvious one – reading a book that is not to your liking. And you do not want to DNF it. So you chug along at a slow pace, unable to move on but not giving up. Eventually you just end up not reading anything or unable to read anything. (The Glass Palace – I am looking at you!)
  2. Reading a genre that is outside your comfort zone. Instead of enjoying it, you might feel it’s a chore. A chore you want to get away from.
  3. You were too invested in the characters.The book ends but you are still reeling under its effects.
  4. Or you are just unable to detach yourself from whats happening in the book. (Demon Copperhead and Covenant of Water doing that to me!)
  5. You are just busy or under stress. Life has taken over with no time for books.
Photo by Nick Hillier on Unsplash

Ways to come out of a reading slump

  1. Switch the medium of reading. Generally it helps me to move to an audiobook version. It helps to move the book forward and gets you unstuck from the really boring parts.
  2. Re-read a favourite book – reignite the joy of reading. For a long time my go-to book, when I wanted to read but did not feel like reading, had been the Harry Potter series.
  3. Read a genre that you love and is a comfort for you. It might get you back into the reading mood. For me it’s mystery or fantasy. Or a book from an author that you generally enjoy.
  4. Take a break! If you can, just DNF the book that is becoming a burden or just keep it for later. You don’t have to read if you don’t want to. Wait for the right book to restart. Sometimes other pressures also make you want to take a break. Listen to your mind and body and take a break.
  5. Read short stories. They are great to get you back into reading. They satiate your need for a good story but also will not need your time that much.
  6. Sometimes watching Booktube is a kick starter to get you back into reading. Seeing others enjoy a great book also prompts you to pick up a book. Their excitement is contagious.
  7. Having reading goals sometimes gets you out of that slump since it provides you motivation to read.
  8. Being part of a book club, or a buddy read can help too. They can help you rant and get the book out of your system.

Sometimes you just need to do a combination of things. My reading slump this year was due to a combination of being too invested in the characters, and work pressure being extremely high. I took a break (did not DNF, just paused it for later), and slowly eased back into reading with a middle-grade mystery, followed by a fantasy. My reading challenge also kept me accountable since I wanted to accomplish my reading goal for the year.

If you are going through a reading slump, hopefully this can help you a little. Hang in there, you got this!