How to Combat a Reading Slump

Hello! Today I wanted to talk about reading slumps. I am in another dreaded reading slump. Which is why some of my blogging content has slowed (well one of the reasons), because I always feel like a bit of a fraud posting when I’m not reading. Of course this isn’t true, but sometimes I feel it. I thought that if I shared some of the things I have done in the past, then maybe it will give me the push to finally finish a book.

It is currently the 22nd October when I am drafting this post and the last time I finished a book was Legendborn by Tracy Deonn which I finished reading on 14th September. So it has now been over a month since I have finished a book. That is far too much time since I have finished a book for my personal liking. The annoying thing is, since finishing Legendborn, I have probably started five or six new books, but I just have not been able to stick through it enough to finish any of them.

I am a little disappointed. I had plans to publish more reviews this month and post one day more a week than I usually do. I was going to focus on some ‘spooky season’ books and post my reviews of them, however that hasn’t worked out. And not only that, I didn’t even hit my three posts a week for a couple of weeks during the month, so I definitely did not get an additional post up. It is not giving me the greatest sense of hope for November where my plan is to have a post go up every Sunday with my NaNoWriMo updates; and then for December where I am planning on doing Blogmas again which is posting everyday in December. I know I have a little while to prep for Blogmas, but it is something that is weighing on my mind. Blogging is fun for me, and I enjoy it so I do not want to take that enjoyment away by stressing over a posting schedule. However, the guilt is there a little…

Hopefully, I will be able to get back on track with my blogging once I get out of my reading slump and I have some more books to talk to you guys about. So… how can I get out of my reading slump? Well here is what has worked for me before:

Change up the Genre

This is a huge help for me. I was in a reading slump earlier on this year and to get out of this reading slump I read Love and War by Melissa de la Cruz which is an historical fiction novel. It is also one that is about Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, which is a story I am familiar with so that also helped with quickly reading this novel. And then once I read that, I threw myself into romance books which were quick and fun reads. Before this, I was reading lots of fantasy. I don’t know if anyone else gets this way, but if I am reading lots and lots of the same genre, especially fantasy, I get overwhelmed and a bit stuck in the genre. Changing it up helps me a lot.

And on a similar vein…

Change up the Format

If I am reading too many physical books, I will try an ebook. Or if I am listening to too many audiobooks, I will try the physical book. Lately, audiobook is the one that helps me the most. I find that I am better when I am doing multiple things at once. So quite often I will put my earphones in and listen to the audiobook whilst cleaning or cooking or walking the dog or colouring or building in the Sims 4… the opportunities are endless. I find that it helps me with my guilt of not getting mundane tasks done like cooking and cleaning, but I am also doing something I love which is reading. If you’re currently struggling with physical books, I cannot recommend audiobooks enough.

Read What You Want

Nothing keeps me more in a reading slump than forcing myself to read a book that I don’t want to read. This was a big one for me whilst I was at university. I would have to read books that I wasn’t interested in and then it became a chore to read the books that I did want to read. Similarly, now, if I have to read a book for a review that I don’t want to read at the moment – I won’t read it. I trust that I will get to it when I am ready and then I will read what I am gravitating towards. I am a mood reader, so I tend to flipflop on what I am feeling from day to day.

This method always ends up being better for me, however I did want to add that this obviously does not apply when I have a deadline to hit for reviews. Then, I will force myself to read the story. I don’t set many deadlines for reviews, and usually my review turns out better when I am wanting to read the story. Even if I don’t particularly enjoy the book once I get to it, because I wanted to read it, my review becomes the best that it could be. If I feel forced or if I feel like I am dragging myself through the pages for the sake of the review – you can always tell in the review. I feel like that was a little bit of a tangent, but regardless read what you want, because it does benefit!

Return to an Old Favourite

This is my personal favourite. I have multiple posts talking about my love for rereading books, most recently I have The Reread Book Tag, I also did a post at the end of last year talking about all of the books I reread in 2020. It is my number one, despite being at the bottom of this list, go to when getting out of a reading slump. It is one that I am currently attempting with all of my fingers crossed. I find that because I have already read the story, I am able to find more comfort in the pages and there is less pressure for me to absorb all of the information, because I already remember the basics. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do forget a lot, but I remember enough that the information provided doesn’t overwhelm me a lot. Plus, I find great comfort in the characters and a familiar writing style, and the plot. And then, once I have revisited an old story, I find that I am craving a new one and I am able to move onto a new book. I am constantly bouncing between the new and the old and I love it that way.

Are any of these tips ones that you will take on board if you are in or the next time you are in a reading slump? Please let me know if you have any more tips to offer! I am very open to ideas right now. I am conscious about not being able to provide you guys with an October Wrap Up…😅

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