Book Talk: Tips For Getting Over The Reading Slump
Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a good day.
If you have not noticed (maybe not on my blog but definitely my good reads page) you know that I used to read a book a day. And now I’m not. The reason? Blogging/reading slump. I have it. It scared me at first because I wanted to read but could not. It simply did not interested me anymore. (GASP!)
Here are some tips on getting over this hurdle:
1. Don’t force it.
Believe me, I wanted too. I forced myself to picked up a book and read. “SAVANNAH! READ THE BOOK.” No matter how many times my eyes dashed across the pages, I couldn’t become interested. Every book I picked up was boring and done. So I decided to step back and let it takes its course.
2. Relax
The more my slumped went on, the more I thought about it. I began to freaked out and thought,”Maybe this is it. Maybe I’m done with reading.” Yet when I looked toward my shelves I still wanted to pick up a book. I wanted to get lost in fantasy world. I needed it. Yet I couldn’t. So once again, I just let it takes it course and relax.
3. There is no time limit
One thing I have learned over the course of reading and blogging, is that there is plenty of time. I know, I know. Us book bloggers are always saying,” Too many books. Not enough time” yet there is time. You have to remember that this is a hobby and YOU choose the time and place.
4. It is a HOBBY!
My blog is my baby. My baby, that I have built over the course of years and worked very hard on. I do not want to see it to go down and suddenly disappear. I must remember that this is a hobby. I make no money off of this and it shouldn’t be the # 1 thing on my mind. Sometimes I get into this mindset that I have to read this or I half to sign up for ALL the blog tours, etc. Take your time. Really, slow down. Read what you want when you want. Then share the love.
5. It will come back
After months of struggling, one Saturday after cleaning house/doing laundry, I slumped in my chair and picked up a book. TADA! It came back and without me forcing it. I enjoyed reading for the first time. It felt so good to read again that I read all weekend! Literally.
My advice is simple. If you feel overwhelmed just take a step back and relax. I know you probably hear this from most bloggers but you really won’t know it till you experience it.
What steps do you take when you hit a reading slump?
Happy Reading!
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The cure for all my reading slumps has always been a great book. It seems like every time I get bored of reading, it has something to do with the blah books that I’ve been reading. So I start a few books until one really grabs me. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t want to read ANY book. I guess like you, I’d just relax and hope it passes!
Me too. I say that,” I have to cleanse my reading palette” by reading something else or taking a break from it.
I’ve seen a lot of people saying they’re feeling slumpy. My reading has slowed down a lot too — I’m behind on my Goodreads goal, but that’s okay. You’re right — you’ve just got to read what you want, when you want. I’ve been mixing in some non-fiction, etc. just to try to mix it up.
Good luck — we’ll get through this 🙂
Jen @ YA Romantics
I think its because most of us have been going at this for a really long time.
I’m right there with you. I recently posted about it too. I took a week off while I was on vacation and it seems like that wasn’t enough. I’m still trucking though, hoping a good book will take me out of my slump. Glad you found your mojo! 🙂
Wonderful advice! I have experienced my fair share of reading slumps and always worry that this is the end of my blog. I feel bad taking a break because so many publishers have taken the leap of faith on me and I feel like I’m letting them down. But just relaxing and not forcing it is definitely the way to go. I always get back into it eventually, thank goodness!
Well, I do feel short on time since I agree to review them, but you are right and they all don’t have to be done when I have them scheduled. GREAT advice!
I think one of my biggest kind of policies I’ve tried to make in my life is to have an number of hobbies, so if one is letting me down, I can move on to something else. So when I have a reading slump, I’ll listen to music; I’ll do photography; I’ll watch a hockey game; I’ll go bike riding. Heck I’ll even play with my sister. I need some time away before I can get into it again.
The new really effective thing is to either go to a bookstore, or to go on the blogosphere. People are SO excited about books here and that’s contagious! So I’ll read a review about someone raving about a book and I’ll just want to feel something like that too, and I’ll read.
You make a good point, it’s JUST A HOBBY! I think because I feel obligated to review the books sent for review, I forget that. I’ve been having problems lately and it’s because I have TOO many for review. Somehow I overbooked myself and now I look at my piles and just feel sick inside. I don’t even want to read any of them anymore. So I’m putting a hold on any review books unless it’s for a potential tour. Yesterday I had a ME day and decided I’d just a read a book I really wanted to read and screw the TBR. They’ll get read eventually. 🙂
I am going through a reading slump too. It happens to me once in a while, but this one is lasting longer than normal. I need to just read a book for me that has been waiting on my shelf for a while I think. When I go through a slump that’s usually the cure. It reminds me that I love reading,