Have you heard the term “reading slump” before? Today, we get into what it means and how to avoid one.
Reading Slumps
Reading Slump Meaning
Language is constantly evolving so a slump can mean several things:
- You WANT to read but do not have the energy to do so
- You WANT to read but cannot find any good books that appeal to you
- You WANT to read but every book seems to be the same and none of them really stand out to you
- Reading may also seem genuinely stressful
- You might not have a desire to read but still want to be around books and talk about them
- You might want to look at new books and have a lot of books you want to read but your brain does not have the ability to process new information like that
Reading Slump Causes
The causes of slumps have not really changed over time from my personal observation:
- You push through a book you are not enjoying to get to the end
- You push through a book you do not like so you can leave a review
- You read a really good book that causes a book hangover
- Book hangover: when a book is so good and also unique enough that it alters your brain chemistry and taste in books slightly – no other books appeal to you or seem remotely as good as that story was. Once your brain recovers from the hangover, you can pick up books again in that genre and enjoy them again without constantly comparing to that 6 star read high.
- You force read
- You read when you do not want to
- You make reading a stressful activity, intentionally or not
This is NOT an exhaustive list, but rather information from my personal experience and what I have observed and heard from others.
Reading Slump Solutions:
- Take a break from reading so your brain has a mental break from the activity and can crave doing it again
- Read a different genre
- Read something outside of your comfort zone
- Read a short comic
- Read a children’s book
- Many of the times I find I need to not be stressed and be relaxed or I need to be actively finding something I want to avoid mentally to get out of a slump. In other words, if you are stressed out or lacking time and energy, you likely won’t have time or energy or desire for hobbies. Self care is important and sometimes literally taking a nap is the best solution.
Leave a Reply