Up until the start of highschool, I used to be the type of kid who read an unimaginable amount of books. I read standalone novels and large series. I read across many genres, spanning from horror to romance. I used to read every night before bed, and more often than not, finished a book I started that morning.
When I started high school, I stopped reading. Reading became a tedious act that I dreaded. I lost my love for it. No book or series interested me anymore. My “To Be Read” list got longer and longer, and yet I never checked any of the books out of the library. Eventually, I stopped updating my TBR altogether.
In consuming an ungodly amount of books during my childhood, I burnt myself out. I barely wanted to read the books I needed for class. Summer reading assignments were the bane of my existence, and that was only a singular book.
During my senior year of high school, I began to read again. Little by little, I began to regain the passion I had lost, so much so, that I’m actually an English major now. I’ve started a new TBR and plan to read a lot of books this summer. Here is my advice for anyone struggling to enjoy reading like they used to:
Start Small
Read short books or collections of short stories so that reading them doesn’t feel overwhelming. Look for books with obvious stopping points, like chapters, so you can read in little chunks and so there’s no pressure to read beyond what you’re in the mood for. I also look for standalone books or lighter trilogies, so there’s no pressure to read similar things for an extended amount of time. You can also start by picking a book that will be an easy read for you and not super content heavy.
Set a Goal
Set a reasonable goal for yourself. This may be to read 20 pages a day or for two hours total each week. Don’t make this a daunting or unreachable goal. You should want to fulfill this goal, and if you don’t, then take a break or even lower it. It’s okay not to reach it right away because you can also build up to a goal.
Pick Something Interesting
Pick something that you are genuinely interested in. For example, I’ve lost interest in reading the long fantasy series that I used to read. I also can’t seem to get into any of the recommendations from my friends. I’m more interested in reading realistic fiction and non-fiction books.
I still don’t read as much as I used to. Books and readings for my classes take up a lot of my time. I plan on reading over the summer and will attempt to get back into it again. I won’t ever consume the amount of books that I used to ever again, but that’s okay! I want to read for myself because I know how relaxing it used to be and how I used to enjoy it. If you, a fellow burnt out reader, never reach a point where you feel like reading again, don’t beat yourself up over it. It’s hard to find time in college and our attention spans aren’t what they used to be. Focus on you, school, and other things that you are passionate about.