How to Get Out of a Reading Slump
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I’ve always considered September to be the beginning of the book year. No one has time to read in the summer. We’re too busy going on vacation, working in the garden, or doing other activities with the kids while they’re out of school.
But once the end of August to mid-September arrives, life seems to slow down a bit and there’s finally time to pick up a book.
But sometimes it’s difficult to get started reading again after a break. I call it a reading slump. You’ve probably experienced this yourself at some point. You know reading is enjoyable but even when you have the time you just can’t get into turning pages. So how do you break the funk? I’ve got several ideas that are sure to help you get back to reading again, but first, what is a reading slump, anyway?
What is the Definition of a Reading Slump?
UrbanDictionary.com defines it as “a reader’s worst nightmare.” You’re not able to just pick up a book and read because you just can’t. You just can’t read.
I always described it as just a “blah” feeling of disinterest but “reading slump” fits nicely, too.
Is Reader’s Block a Thing?
Apparently so. I didn’t realize other people had the same issue because I wasn’t a big reader until I was in my late twenties. I thought it was just me reverting back to the book-hating state in which I used to live, but there are a lot of book lovers online complaining about their hang ups with reading that seem to come and go.
Are Reading Slumps Normal?
Yes. After studying about it I can safely say it happens to the best of us at some point or another and it’s not something to worry or stress about.
Why Do Reading Slumps Happen?
Reading slumps can occur for many reasons. If you’re experiencing one now, think back to the last book you finished. How did it leave you feeling? Were you disappointed, heartbroken, angry? Those unresolved feelings could be keeping you away from reading.
Another reason for a reading slump could be that you’ve not finished a book that you aren’t interested in anymore. Give yourself permission not to finish and you may find your slump comes to a sudden end.
Ask yourself, are you reading something that’s mentally tiring? Are you struggling with something in your life? Do you feel guilty when you take time for yourself to read?
Have you taken a long vacation from reading and are having trouble finding your way back to your beloved hobby? That’s another common reason for reading slumps. Not to worry. The tips below can help you overcome your reading slump.
How Long Do Reading Slumps Last?
This varies but most people report their reading slumps lasting weeks to a few months. The important thing is not to force yourself. Your brain is on a reading strike for a reason. Give it time to work whatever it is out. In the meantime you can try these tips to help it along.
Tips to Overcome a Reading Slump
Make a list of your all time favorite books and write one sentence for each about why it’s your favorite. This will remind you of why you love reading and may be enough to spark your interest.
Join a book club in person or online. Knowing there’s a set deadline and reading with a group can help you get back into the swing of things. Also, having deep discussions about a book’s theme with other like-minded people can help.
Re-read an old favorite. If you’re like me and you can’t read a book twice then just read the highlights or your favorite scenes.
Find an illustrated book for adults. Many of the classics are illustrated and if you can find one that’s professionally formatted you can usually get them very inexpensively. Graphic novels are also an option. My daughter and I enjoy wordless novels as well.
Pick up a book in a new genre and finish the first chapter. Ask yourself what you liked about it and what you didn’t.
Have a preview day. This is where you only read the preview section or the first several pages of many books and make notes of which ones you might want to read later. Eventually you may come to a book you can’t put down.
Try listening to an audiobook while you do mundane tasks. You may not have the enthusiasm but the book narrator will, and it might be contagious.
Read something you’d be embarrassed to tell your friends about. No, I’m not suggesting anything naughty, but rather something that you’ve always said you’d never read. For some people this would be Amish books, for others a romance novella or cozy mystery. You might just find a new guilty pleasure.
Read something really short. If you’re a fiction reader this could mean picking up a short story anthology to sample several different writers. For a non-fiction reader it could mean reading free articles online.
Try reading a magazine. Some have short fiction in them and they all have articles for various tastes. Some light reading could be just what you need.
Go through your books. (They probably need to be organized anyway.) Take note of what you see. Have your tastes changed? Group them in different ways, such as by favorites, genre, or to-be-read order.
Challenge yourself with something difficult. If you can’t find anything, look for a book published in the 1800s.
Schedule a week where you put down the devices and turn off the television. This will free your mind and when you get bored a book will sound very interesting.
Find a quiet room and lock the door or get a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to limit distractions.
Read about your favorite authors. When I can feel an author’s excitement about something they’ve written I get inspired to read.
Ditch the guilt. Make reading your special “me time” and don't feel guilty about it. Everyone deserves a break and what you do with your free time is no one’s business. Get your favorite snack, a cup of hot tea, and find a comfortable place to rest with a good book.
Visit a different bookstore. Sometimes just having things categorized differently is enough to spark interest.
Change formats. If you’re a paperback person, try an ebook. If you’re an ebook person, try paper or an audiobook.
Keep something to read with you wherever you go. This way you can take advantage of those times when you’re waiting in line.
Ask a friend to read a book with you. This could create the accountability you need to stay focused.
Watch a movie based on a book. I don’t know about you but this makes me wonder the whole time what I’m missing out on.
Try doing a mind dump. Sit down with a pen and a piece of paper and write non-stop for five minutes about anything on your mind. At the end of five minutes ask yourself why you don’t want to read and listen closely for the answer. Ask yourself what you could read that would improve your life somehow. This could be a nonfiction book about managing your finances or maybe just a fantasy to help you de-stress after a long day.
Read a banned book or something you know a friend hates. Ask yourself if your opinion of the book was swayed by others’ judgement.
Chart your reading progress. Sometimes just seeing unfinished tasks on paper can motivate us to get to checking books off our list.
Read something that reminds you of good times. This could be a book from your childhood, a new story with a similar setting as you grew up, or a book set in your favorite vacation spot.
Break up your reading time into short sections of ten to twenty minutes. Knowing there’s a time limit may help you to focus.
Don’t stress about it. Just because you don’t feel like reading today doesn’t mean you never will. Take the pressure off yourself and spend some time doing other activities.
Christian Book Suggestions to Get You Out of Your Reading Slump
One of the tips I gave was to challenge yourself with some classics. Here’s a link to my Classic Christian books post. Below you’ll find a list of Christian books that readers of this blog have suggested to help someone get over a reading slump.
Books or Series to Try:
Haven Manor series by Kristi Ann Hunter
Belle Meade Plantation series by Tamera Alexander
Broken Wings by Carla Stewart
The scent of Lilacs by Ann H. Gabhart
Cornwall series by Sarah E. Ladd
Lost castle series by Kristy Cambron
Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang
Veiled in smoke by Jocelyn Green
The Are You Listening series by Lorana Hoopes
Stubborn Love by Jennifer Rodewald
Prayer Warrior by Traci Wooden-Carlisle and D. Tina Batton
If I Were You by Lynn Austin
The Day I Died by Steve Sjogren
Legacy of the Kings Pirates series by L.M Tyndall
Secrets of Crittenden County series by Shelley Shephard Gray
The songbird and the spy by J’Nell Ciesielski
The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz
The Butterfly and Violin by Kristy Cambron
The Codebreakers series by Roseanna M. White
Fly Away by Lynn Austin
Perennials by Julie Cantrell
Shadowing Stella by Elle E Kay
My Beauty for Your Ashes by Traci Wooden-Carlisle
The Carpenter's Daughter by Jennifer Rodewald
Mirror Mirror by Staci Stallings
Fragrance of Forgiveness by Delia Latham
A Lady of Defiance by Heather Blanton
Dark Liaison by D.I. Telbat
Hope Springs by Valerie M. Bodden
Women of Justice series by Lynette Eason
Elite Guardians series by Lynette Eason
Jerusalem Road series by Angela Hunt
The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck
The Great Divide by T. Davis Bunn
Trial and Error by Robert Whitlow
The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck
A Lady in Defiance by Heather Blanton
To Love a Prince by Rachel Hauck
To Save a King by Rachel Hauck
Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar
Three River Ranch series by Liz Isaacson
Black Thorpe Security series by Kimberly Rae Jordan
Blue Columbine by Jennifer Rodewald
Red Rose Bouquet by Jennifer Rodewald
When Angel's Cry by MaryLu Tyndall
At First Glance by Susan L. Tuttle
The Thatcher Sisters series by Beth K. Vogt
Authors to Try:
Sharon Srock
Patricia Bell
Alexa Verde
Dee Henderson
Terri Blackstock
Francine Rivers
Jessie Gussman
Laura Burton
Ronie Kendig
Tamara Leigh
Connilyn Cossette
Sondra Kraak
Randy Alcorn
James Rubart
Dee Henderson
Jen Turano
Robert Whitlow
Roseanna White
Elizabeth Musser
Elizabeth Camden
Jocelyn Green
Kate Breslin
Sarah Ladd
Rachel McMillan
Special Mentions:
While I couldn’t include every book, I could sense the enthusiasm in some of the suggestions I received. Here’s a few I’ll share.
“Emily Dana Botrous makes it her goal to make sure Jesus is lifted up in her books. A lot of the characters in her stories go through awful things and we see how the Lord helps them through.”
“I enjoy Jessie Gussman's books anytime. I have also enjoyed Laura Burton's works. For some light hearted reading try ‘Love, Life and Happily Ever After’. Several LOL stories in the pages.”
“Suzanne Leonhard - Goliath Code - this series is wow! I mean end times, mark of the beast, neighbours turning against each other. Ah, too much, go read it!!”
I hope this list has given enough suggestions to get you out of your reading slump and back into turning pages again. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some reading to do!
