“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.”
Reading slumps happen to every reader, even the most passionate and dedicated out there. It’s a natural occurrence, but one that can be frustrating and disheartening. We’ve been there: you’ve been trying for hours to get into a book, but it just isn’t happening. The words don’t seem to be resonating, your brain can’t visualise what the author is attempting to describe, and even switching over to other books doesn’t seem to help. This is known as a reading slump. Fret not though! What We Reading is here to give you the full lowdown on what reading slumps are, and provide you with some great strategies on how you can begin to overcome them.
What Is A Reading Slump?
A reading slump is a phase in which a reader loses interest in reading books. The process of picking up a book, struggling to get into it and wanting to DNF it. The biggest sign that you are in a reading slump is when your mind doesn’t appear to be able to focus on the words on the page or the story fails to hold your attention. It is often coupled with a loss of motivation in wanting to return to it, even if it’s a book that you have loved in the past.
According to Urban Dictionary (and we can’t think of a more authoritative voice for this), a reading slump is defined as ‘a reader’s worst nightmare. Not being able to pick up a book and read because you just can’t, you just can’t read.’
Types Of Reading Slumps
Reading slumps come for different reasons and in different forms. The types of reading slumps can vary from the ‘read too much’ sump, the ‘it’s been too long since I’ve read slump’ to the ‘don’t know what to read’ slump. Depending on the type of slump you’re in, different strategies can used to overcome them.
How Does A Reading Slump Happen?
Everything from a hectic lifestyle to a significant event i.e. a new job or relationship can trigger reading slumps. They can also happen due to a lack of motivation or not finding enough good books to read. Again, reading slumps are a natural part of the world of books and can hit anyone.
How To Know When You Are In A Reading Slump
The biggest tell-tell signs that you are in a reading slump are when you feel like you don’t want to read, you feel uninterested in reading, you feel overwhelmed by reading or when you struggle to read. These are all alien concepts to most readers. Other signs of a reading slump include not being able to recall segments of a story you’ve just read, or reading the same passages over and over again without making any progress. Reading slumps can lead to a loss of motivation or energy for picking up a book.
If it ever feels laborious or like a real effort to read, you are most likely in a reading slump. A list of the biggest signs we’ve encountered that a reader is in a reading slump include:
- A lack of motivation for reading.
- A disconnect from books, reading and stories.
- Not being able to find the ‘right’ book to read.
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing on reading for extended periods.
- Constantly going over old segments in a story.
- Struggling to remember passages you have read.
- An overwhelming feeling with reading choices.
- Stress over how much you ‘should’ be reading based on your reading goals.
- A disinterest in books on your TBR pile.
Why Have You Lost Desire To Read?
If you’re finding yourself struggling to find the desire to read, it might be due to several reasons. Stress or burnout from work or school, a lack of access to the stories you want to read, too much screen time or other mood-related obstacles are all equally valid. Take some time to reflect on what is causing you to feel this way, and try to address it. Take a break, exercise, try something new and give reading another go when you feel a bit more refreshed.
How Long Do Reading Slumps Last?
Unfortunately, there’s no definitive answer to how long reading slumps last. They can last days, months or even years. So often it is dependent on the reader and the causes behind them.
Check Out Our Guide To Reading Boring Books
Causes Of A Reading Slump
If you are caught in a reading slump, you might be wondering what has triggered it. Here are some of the most common causes of reading slumps we’ve discovered:
Life Is Too Manic
We all have times in our lives when things just get too hectic. Perhaps you’ve just started a new job or you’re being slammed by your school work. Whatever the reason, it’s understandable that finding the time and energy for reading becomes harder. Return to reading when things settle down a bit!
Reading Too Much
If you’re the type of reader who likes to set goals and targets, you may find a reading slump occurring when you’re taking on too much at one time. It may be worth resetting your goals or sticking to one book at a time.
Reading Books That Are Too Long
If you are reading novels that are over 500+ pages, it might be worth trimming down to books that have fewer word counts. Reading shorter books can help increase the feeling of accomplishment by having more completed works on your bookshelf.
Reading Material That Isn’t Interesting
The only person who needs to be entertained by a book you’re reading is you. If you’re not interested in a book, it doesn’t matter if it’s meant to be good for you or if it’s the hottest trend going around the literary world. If it isn’t something you’re enjoying, put it down and find something that you will!
Check Out Our Guide To Writing Fluff
Reading Too Much Of The Same Genre
If there is a common denominator in the genres you’re reading and you’re finding yourself increasingly fatigued, it may be time to branch out and try a different genre. Stepping into the unknown can reignite your passion for reading and introduce you to a wealth of new favourites.
How To Get Out Of A Reading Slump
If you’ve found yourself in a reading slump, here are some of the best tips we can offer to help overcome it and get yourself back to your favourite books:
Take A Break
Sometimes all it takes to get out of a reading slump is a break away from the books. Enjoy some guilt-free time away doing something else you enjoy such as seeing friends, family or watching something on TV.
Discover Another Book
If you’re not getting on with a book, don’t force yourself to grind through it. We mentioned it above, but just because something is being raved about doesn’t mean it’s something you’re going to vibe with. Luckily, we here at What We Reading have a great selection of reading recommendations for you to discover a great alternative.
Take Your Time
There are no expectations on how much you should be reading, or when you should be finishing a book. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with your reading goals, scale them back to where you feel more comfortable.
Start Smaller
As we mentioned, it can be demotivating to hold a hefty book in your hands and feel like you’re not making progress with it. Going to smaller books may help freshen things up, but will also provide a satisfactory feeling of accomplishment as you finish them more frequently.
Switch Reading Formats
There are plenty of ways of digesting a book, so if a heavy hardcover isn’t doing the trick for you, consider mixing things up. You may find a digital ebook or even an audio version of a story keeps you more engrossed than before.
Set The Mood
Changing the environment around you can work wonders for your reading mindset. Take a book and read outside if the weather permits, or bury yourself under your blankets in bed with a warm drink when it gets more British outside. This may also just be us, but we love dimming the lights when reading a thriller or horror book.
Inspire Yourself
Whether it be visiting your local bookstore or library or talking to others online, doing book-ish things can be a great reminder of why you love reading. They can also help give you new insights and perspectives on a book you haven’t previously been enjoying, potentially allowing you to come at it from a different angle than before.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
