A monumental moment in every reader's life is when they face a reading slump. A reading slump is exactly what it sounds like: an awful time when a reader loses all motivation to read.
It's like being trapped in a post-apocalyptic world. You'll find yourself far, far, far away from the reader you once used to be. And I have to spill one more harsh truth. A reading slump is inevitable. It's never that the readers fall out of their love for reading. The reality is that they just lose the plot.
The good thing about every plot twist? It doesn't last forever. If you are in the middle of this dark time, don't fret! Take a deep breath and listen very carefully to what I have to say. Trust me, your reading comeback is under construction here.
Let us slide into your dms 🥰
Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)Reading Slump Survival Guide
Image Credit: Jonathan Sanchez from Unsplash
1. Repetition: Avoid It Like the Plague
Are you a rom-com fanatic? Are you a mystery lover? It really doesn't matter. What you need to do is put down your favourite genre and get out of your comfort zone.
Your slump did not show up just to be defeated by the power of predictability. You need to betray your literary roots just for a little while. The fantasy series I know you have sitting right beside you: Lock it and leave it. Comfort genres are a part of the problem. When we are in a reading slump, our brain needs to be excited, and what's familiar does not help with that.
So what do you do? Pick up that one book that you always walk past. The book that feels unhinged or unfamiliar. For me, this was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Something about the old Hollywood glamour and dual timelines challenged my reading appetite.
So friends, what do we all say in unison? Ruin the routine.
2. Reading Is Not One Format, Darling
If you haven't caught the theme for today. It's embracing change. And what's better than switching between a paperback and a Kindle? Don't just change the stories, change the whole platform.
Half the time the slump is about the routine. The same lighting, the same corner of the house, the same TBR—it's all the same! Changing the format helps change the experience, and changing the experience? It changes the strength of the slump.
Let's make one thing clear: predictability is your biggest enemy in this battle. Now let me go one step further to give you the best advice you have probably received. Turn to audiobooks. You'll get that feeling of reading without having to actually do all the work.
Now that's what I call changing the rules of the game.
3. Progress Starts with a Page
Breaking news: to get out of a reading slump, you actually have to read. Shocking, I know. Now, I'm not telling you to read War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in a weekend, but to just set a goal to read for five minutes a day.
The biggest mistake readers can make is relying on motivation to actually start reading. In a reading slump, that’s not happening. And what’s worse is that the slump feeds off of the lack of motivation. But you know, what does help? Momentum. So what do you? Create small achievable goals—you’re essentially tricking your brain into small wins so that it has no choice but to say yes.
Please read, read, read. Read for ten minutes or read for twenty minutes, but please read. Just be careful of forcing yourself, because that’s when you enter the danger zone of demotivation.
4. Light as a Feather
Save the heavy lifting for the gym, not the slump. Take the literary masterpiece out of the scene. It is not needed. The main goal is to remember why you loved to read, not to impress anyone. I’ll let you in on a secret: You will not get a prize for suffering through a book. You need to reach for the book with short chapters and clear plots. You’ll thank me later.
Bonus insider tip: read YA. These books are easy to read, comprehend, and appreciate.
Take the Quiz: Which Outfit Material Best Matches Your Style?
Curious about which fabric suits your fashion vibe? Take this quiz to discover which material is the right one for you!
This Series Is Your Band-Aid
Image Credit: Jaredd Craig from Unsplash
This series that I am about to tell you about is you return ticket form your slump.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
It’s not every day you find out you are a demigod, and look, even Percy Jackson didn’t want to be a half-blood. A reading slump has no power next to a world with Greek mythology and New York City? It’s fast and it's funny. There are monsters even math teachers were not spared, Greek gods with interesting personalities, and young heroes who are seconds away from a new problem.
Percy might be the hero, with the help of many other heroes obviously (we can’t forget Annabeth), but he is just trying to survive. He is as relatable as a half-blood can get, and I love it.
You’ll say one more chapter, but somehow you’ll be up at 3 a.m. reading. That’s the power of Percy Jackson.
Oh wait! Look who’s back in the game? You!
Even though you may overcome the slump, your freedom might not last for long if your TBR is still a mess.
Let’s Fix Your TBR
Image Credit: Christin Hume from Unsplash
Half the time our TBR is full of the same, the old, and nothing different. Which is why we need to fix it as soon as possible, and I have just the cure.
What you need for a balanced TBR are the following:
- A fluff
- A comfort read
- A wildcard
- A challenge
It’s all about the balance. A fluff book is something you can mindlessly read at any time of the day. It’s easy entertainment. A comfort read brings you back to what feels like home. It’s always good to go back to the roots every now and then. A wildcard is something different from your usual interests. It’ll help you remember the positives about a surprise. Lastly, a challenge proves that you can sit through something difficult.
Voila! You now have a TBR system that will always support you.
There are still two rules you have to remember. In my many years of reading, I learnt that you can’t treat your TBR like a to-do list or a competition, because that’s just asking for burnout. And second, even though it’s a system, it’s still a mood-based system. You can’t create a reading schedule, because that feels more like an assignment than enjoyment.
You Just Graduated from Slump School
Image Credit: Alghozy from Unsplash
You are now prepped and loaded with ammunition for the reading slump. The next time a slump shows up to control you, it just won’t be able to. The rules are already set; you know the game inside and out. It’s your move next.
