I can confidently say that a reading slump is a reader’s worst nightmare, but also something that almost all readers go through. It can last for a few days, weeks, and even months. Even the readers who read multiple books a week suffer this crisis, but what exactly is a reading slump, what causes it, and how can you cure it?
What is a reading slump?
A reading slump is when you suddenly lose interest in reading. No plot, no story, and no character catches your attention. Reading even just a page can start to take a lot out of you. It is one of the worst feelings to lose your passion for something you love so much, even if it is for a short moment.
Causes
Reading slumps can happen when life gets busy and you start feeling too stressed and tired to pick up a book. It can happen when you start spending more time in front of a screen than usual, or reading simply becomes uninteresting.
“It’s annoying. I want to read, but I do not have the energy to read,” said senior Elizabeth Sweeney. “Or when you do read, it feels like you didn’t process anything.”
Catching this reading slump bug can be awful, but what are some ways we can cure it?
Cures
It might seem hopeless at first, but anyone can get back into reading. There are multiple things you can do to start reading again, whether that is making a change or just waiting it out.
- Reread an amazing book you read in the past:
Rereading a masterpiece can remind you of your love for reading. - Read a shorter book:
Starting with something short is a step to getting better focus. - Step outside of your usual genre:
Murder mysteries are great, but maybe you can try sci-fi. - Watch an adaption of a certain book:
Watching a good adaptation can make you want to read the book since it is known to everyone that “the book is always better”. - Join a book club or start one:
Knowing everyone else is reading can motivate you to read also. Joining in on a discussion can be fun. - Research:
Find a book that covers a concept that you’ve never seen before, one that you’ve always wanted to see.
“For me, I have to find a good book and make a quiet time for me to read,” said science teacher Mrs. Jennifer Thomas.
Another method is to just take a short break from reading and then come back to it.
“When a series gets boring, I put it off for a while, but I usually come back to it. Sometimes you just gotta push through a certain series/book,” said senior Max Estep.
Conclusion
The next time you notice the shelf of books in your room collecting dust and you don’t feel like picking any one of them up, know that you are not alone. It can be scary to think that you’re losing passion for a certain hobby you used to enjoy, but to jumpstart it again, try to remember what made you fall in love with it in the first place.
