The Reading Slump

Let Me Get Over this Reading Slump Real Quick

January 3, 2023

Hey y’all book people, it seems that I’ve been on a reading slump for a while. I can’t seem to focus whenever I manage to squeeze time in to pick up a book. Instagram is also taking up so much of my focus (and I know this will sound crazy) but I just don’t feel like reading. This has never happened before, and to be honest, I got a bit scared. Believe it or not, I actually researched (yes, researched) what to do with a waning appetite for reading. So here is a simple guide from my notes (sources: bookstagram, booktok, and psychologists). Hope it helps! (It’s helping me, so maybe it will for you too!)

1. Understand that a reading slump is normal:
   Throughout my ‘research,’ what repeatedly popped-up was that a reading slump really is common. This happens to everyone once in a while, and its nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe you didn’t really need that reminder, but I actually had a hard time admitting to myself that I was in a reading slump.
2. Explore different genres or even content!:
   Lots of people online also suggest looking into different content or genres. I was kind of stuck in a romantasy phase for a while, and I think the repetitiveness and emotional exhaustion got to me a bit. I’m now trying to read a bit of non-fiction for some more coolheaded writing (and I think its kind of working! I’ll write a review on the book when I finish). My friends have long-since been convincing me to look into anime and this time, I listened. As it turns out, the world of 2D animations is quite vast and frankly quite enjoyable. They suggested I begin with the classics of Studio Ghibli (Totoro is just adorable). Uneducated as I am, the quality of the plot surprised me. Taking this time to switch a bit of focus off books has quite literally opened new doors for me and my free-time.
3. Read the good oldies:
   Harry Potter!!!!! I went for an archeological excavation through my bookshelves to dig out the all-time literary gold — Harry Potter. I went straight for one of my favorites in the series: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I only planned to browse through the book thinking that it might spark a bit of the old fire. Spoiler alert: I almost ended up pulling an all-nighter (oopsies). It was a bit disappointing when I kind of left off from the novel the next morning, but I swear I’ll find time to revisit the magnificent (not a hyperbole) HP series.
4. Talk to book people:
   I’m lucky to have a few friends that adore books just like how I do. We talked about some of their current reads and I really enjoyed our small lit. talk. It’s definitely been a while since we had time to talk about books and I’m really happy that we’ve found the time to do that (during my reading slump too!).

I’m still feeling kind of on-and-off about reading, but I think I’m slowly getting the old feeling back (this sounds kind of cinematic somehow, haha). Really hope this blog post will be some help to you if you’re going through a reading slump too and that you’ll never need this post ever again!