So I’ve been in a reading slump. To be honest, ‘slump’ seems like a little bit of an understatement.
Last October I sat my PhD board exam. This exam involved me writing a 15,000 word paper and then being grilled by two external examiners plus my supervisors- think The Apprentice-style. This exam took it out of me and I couldn’t even bear to read a single page of a book that wasn’t linked to my PhD. I thought that once I had finished the exam (and thankfully I passed with flying colours!) that I would get my reading motivation back.
But then that desire to read just… never came back.
I write this almost exactly one year later- to the day! And I am just starting to get that love for reading again. So with that said, here are things I have been doing to get out of a reading slump and back into books.
1. Listen to Audiobooks
Audiobooks are just great! I access audiobooks through Libro.fm (this is a referral link) and also on the Libby app, linked with my local library. I always have at least one audiobook on the go and they can be really helpful for getting through a tough read or a book you’ve been putting off (I am very guilty of this!)
I love to listen to audiobooks when I’m on the go. Trips into uni, mundane errand runs, or food shopping all make for great audiobook listening time.
If you’re after some good audiobook recommendations, I have a post coming out soon that will tell you some of my absolute favourites.
2. Setting aside time to read
Setting aside time for reading is hard, especially when it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
I like to find time in the early morning and also right before bed to read, when there are no emails heading my way and when there’s a little bit of peace and quiet. I sit with a cup of tea and maybe some toast, with candles burning and perhaps a nice Spotify playlist in the background. I have the fairy lights on, the salt lamp providing a warm orange glow at the window, and outside it is pitch black (this is Scotland after all).
When I worked in retail I was a committed lunchtime reader, shunning idle chat with my coworkers in order to get as much reading done in my hour off the shop floor as possible. I can say this now that I don’t work there anymore, but I also used to sneak my Kindle to the till where I would pretend to me engrossed in that day’s sales figures but I was instead lost in a light easy read that was easy to devour while the shop was quiet.
3. Visit the library
Visiting the library is always guaranteed to motivate me to read. During the worst of the pandemic, when all the libraries were closed, I felt a bit lost without my weekly trips and I definitely think this contributed to my reading slump.
I love to walk in the library and pick up books I haven’t heard of- after all the internet can be a wee bit of an echo chamber when it comes to books.
It’s so amazing to me that I can order books from any library in the city and they’ll arrive within the week. I remember learning this aged maybe around 7 years old when I wanted to borrow a copy of an Enid Blyton book from a different library and learning that I could order it from there blew my mind then and still does now. Let’s not take our amazing libraries for granted!
4. Easy reads
Nothing beats a nice easy read. As much as I like books that are challenging and thought-provoking, sometimes I just want a book that is going to be relaxing.
Now, which books qualify as an easy read is going to be very individual. I personally find Fantasy books too enthralling and quite often complex, so aren’t usually the most relaxing choice. Now if it’s an easy Romance book, especially if it’s festive-themed, you can bet I am sitting with a nice hot chocolate completely forgetting about the world around me.
Easy reads are a great way of transitioning back into reading after a slump. I am definitely working on this strategy right now as I have so many ‘serious’ reads to get done (some are even last year’s Christmas presents!) but I just need something light and fluffy to ensure I’m working those reading muscles again.
5. Get back into Goodreads and Bookstagram
When I’m in a slump, hitting up Bookstagram and Goodreads always helps to provide some inspiration. Seeing people crush their Goodreads goals, get new ARCs, or recommend favourites means that I feel super motivated to do the same myself.
Now I’ve long accepted that hitting anywhere close to last year’s Goodreads goal is a lost cause. I mean, I’ve only read a handful of books this year, nothing on the 60-odd I read in 2020. But it still helps keep me on the right track and always thinking about the next book to pick up.
If you want to inspire me with your reading, find me on Instagram, Goodreads, or Twitter and feel free to comment below how you beat the reading slump.
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