Reading Slump

Reading Slump

 By Mariah V

What a minute it’s been! I haven’t been very consistent in my book world lately and there’s a reason for that.

I didn’t completely step away from reading, but I did step out of the book club I joined at the beginning of the year. Truthfully, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. I lost track of the books they were reading and eventually decided to create my own reading list instead.

While I never fully stopped reading, I definitely slowed down and slipped into a reading slump right as the seasons began to change. I swear, once October comes around, everything moves so fast. Life became hectic, and I knew I couldn’t keep up with my reading goals while juggling everything else, so the slump crept in.

The few books I managed to read kept me going for a while, but relying on Libby made things a little tricky. Waiting for certain books to become available slowed me down, and when they did become available, I would rush through them so I could return them quickly for others, only to fall right back into another slump.

During this time, I found that rereading books I already loved and listening to audiobooks really helped. Still, I did fall behind on my goal of reading 100 books this year (which I’ll talk more about in a future post).

Now that the holiday season is over and winter is settling in with chilly weather and maybe even a little snow, it feels like the perfect time to get lost in a book again. I truly believe reading slumps are normal, especially when life gets overwhelming. What matters most is continuing to read, whether it’s a few pages or a few chapters at a time. As long as you keep reading, you’re doing just fine.

Tips on How to Get Out of a Reading Slump

1. Try audiobooks.

If you don’t have time to sit down and read, audiobooks are a great alternative. I know there’s always debate online about whether audiobooks “count,” but they absolutely do. You’re still engaging with the story, just in a different way.

2. Reread books you love.

There’s comfort in revisiting stories that once brought you joy. Rereading a favorite book can spark your love for reading again, and you might even discover something new you missed the first time around.

3. Step outside your comfort genre.

Sometimes all it takes is a change in genre to shake things up. Exploring something new can be refreshing and might be exactly what you need to pull yourself out of a slump.

Hope this helps 🤍📚