When I was younger, I only used to read a little every now and then. But ever since COVID hit and we all had to quarantine, I really got into reading. I slowly started to see more and more “booktoks” (TikToks that are dedicated to books) on my TikTok feed and started to talk about books more with friends at work and in my social life. I found a deep-founded love for reading and found some genres that really interested me. I used to read to escape into fantasy worlds and explore new storylines. From May to August of 2021, I probably read around 25-30 books! I’ve always loved reading, but ever since school started back up again, I haven’t had any time. My passion for reading is still present, but I can’t exercise it as much because lately, I feel like all I have been doing is schoolwork. I’m in a huge reading slump and haven’t been able to read for leisure in over a month. Unfortunately, and fortunately, this isn’t the first time this has happened. So, I know a couple of tips and tricks to help me get out of my current reading slump and I’m here to share them with you.
To start, I find that when I’m in a reading slump, it helps to go back and read something that I’ve already read and absolutely adored. I find that this helps because I already know the story and the characters, so I know I’ll be able to get into it quickly. Some of my favorite books are The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and Verity by Colleen Hoover. Once I pick these books up, I’m able to get sucked back into their universes and live in the characters’ minds again. Knowing what is happening or going to happen also helps because I am comfortable with the storyline, something that helps me when it comes to easing back into reading after a slump.
I also find that getting back into reading is easier when I start with smaller books. Books with less than 200 pages are a great way to get back into reading after a huge slump. I find that longer books with 400+ pages are tough to get into because they are so daunting. I’m hesitant to start a huge book as is because once I start a book, I always try to finish it. I know longer books will take me a longer time to read, so I sometimes put them off. Don’t get me wrong, some bigger books are absolutely amazing, I’m just hesitant to start reading them because they’re so big. This isn’t particularly ideal when I’m trying to get out of a reading slump and get back into reading on a regular basis.
Reading slumps are annoying and frustrating but staying consistent also helps a lot. I find that when I re-read some of my favorites, as well as start with some smaller books, it’s easier for me to get back into reading amidst my busy schedules. Personally, I love reading and it really does make me happy when I get to escape into these new worlds, so getting back into reading is always something I strive to do. If you’ve been in a reading slump before, I recommend trying some of these tips and seeing if they help. Happy reading!