So, you’re in a reading slump. Maybe you’re still longing for a series to rock you like the one you just finished, or maybe it’s anxiety caused by a global pandemic and subsequent quarantine. Or maybe you can’t figure out why you’re in a reading slump, but you know you’re not reading, even though you want to.
Do not despair fellow Book Nerd, we’ve all been there at one point in our lives, staring up at our bookshelf with our TBR taking up a shelf or two—but the drive, desire, and energy to read any of them simply isn’t there. That’s why we’ve crafted these 15 solutions to help get you out of your reading slump.
How to Get Out of a Reading Slump
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS
1. Read your favorite book again
This is the simplest and usually the most efficient cure for a reading slump. Let the book that sparked your reading curiosity spark it once more. Reading an old fave is the #1 solution recommended by our Year of Epic Reads Book Club community.
2. Try an audiobook
While you may not be physically reading per se, audiobooks are still books! If you’re not reading as much as you’d like, let someone else do the reading for you. Once you’re hooked on a new audiobook, it’s easy to transfer that excitement into reading a new book from that series.
3. Read a book you think you won’t like
There’s freedom in reading a book you think you won’t like: no expectations and no guilt if you stop. It’s just you, a book, and the potential to get your read on.
4. Pick a new series
Finishing a series you loved often leaves a void in your reading plans that upturn your whole routine. Trying out a new series will not only allow you to enter a new world, but also give you something to look forward to once the worldbuilding pulls you in.
5. Try the first 5 or 10 pages of as many books as you can
This gives you an “out” if you’re not feeling the vibes, but also gives you more chances of an unexpected book grabbing your attention long enough to keep you reading.
6. Read a book that inspired your favorite author
Reading books that inspired the authors you love is a good way to branch out while still staying in comfortable territory. It will allow you to see where your fave author’s inspiration comes from—and if it inspired the author you love, chances are, it may also inspire you.
7. Ask for recommendations
Recommendations from people you trust, respect, and admire is a good way to get back into reading with a book that’s been vetted and suggested with your preferences in mind. In pre-pandemic days, going into your local bookstore or library and asking for some recommendations would also be a great way to get excited about something new, but if that’s not an option, we have a few recommendations for you.
8. Join a book club
Reading out of obligation has a way of kickstarting your brain, and getting you back into the groove. Being able to talk about the books you’re reading with others can also expand your desire to read, and push you to look at a book differently.
9. Carve out a little reading time for yourself
Life gets busy for all of us, and when it comes to reading slumps, the more you’re not reading, the more the stress of not reading can pile up—making it feel more like a chore than fun. Self-care is important here. Pick a time each day to read for an hour. You may only read ten minutes, but over time, it might grow to twenty minutes or an hour and soon enough you’ll be devouring books late into the night.
10. Mix it up a little and read somewhere new
Do you always read in your room? Try reading at the kitchen table, on the couch, or the front porch. A slight change in routine may be all it takes to remind you how much you love reading.
11. Don’t get mad at yourself for not reading
Remember that it’s okay to not read. That may sound like blasphemy to us Book Nerds, but if not reading is causing you stress, and that stress is causing you not to read, go ahead and give yourself permission to not read for a week. Think of it as a reading vacation: take a week off and know that you’ll get back to reading in a week the same way you would taking a break from school or work.
12. Try a new genre
Are you a hardcore fantasy fan? Try a mystery. Only reading contemporary YA lit? Maybe take a peek at queer paranormal romance. It’s possible you’re a little burned out on your favorite genre and you simply need a change of scenery to kickstart your reading journey again.
13. Talk about your slump with friends and family
Being in a reading slump may be because you haven’t found the right book, but it can also be caused by anxiety or depression. If you suspect that’s the case, talking with trusted friends and family members or a therapist/doctor about it may help get you on a path to gaining new insights and tools to take on the world and your reading slump.
14. Try a graphic novel
Maybe you’re watching more TV than you’re reading, but want to get back into books. Graphic novels are the missing link between TV and books: incredible stories told with imagery and words. This may help bridge the gap and send you back into the reading pool.
15. Read a short book
No one said every book you read has to be a long one. Pick a novella or a short story and see if that starts your reading fires again.
With a little luck and patience, hopefully one or a combination of these suggestions will help you get you over your reading slump. And if you’re looking for recommendations to help, here are a few that are guaranteed to pull you out of your reading drought:
- 19 Books That Have Actually Broken Team Epic Reads Out of Their Reading Slumps
- 28 Books Guaranteed to Break You Out of a Reading Slump
What’s the last book to break you out of a reading slump? Help your fellow book nerds out and drop the title in the comments!