How Do We Deal With Reading Slumps?
Recently I was in a massive reading slump and I hadn't read anything substantial for at least a month but luckily now I am out of that but during this time I was thinking about how I should deal with my slump and I came up with two options for the kind of reading slump that I was in.
I was in the most common of reading slumps which is when you just don't want to read anything. You are bored and have nothing to do yet you still don't pick up a book and even when you do pick up a book you put it back down only after a few pages because you just don't see the greatness of reading. I may be exaggerating but that's how I felt in my reading slump.
My two options include...
JUST DO IT
This is the method I usually don't stick to and that is just READING ANYWAY! This is when you force yourself to read even though you feel slumpish and just generally don't want to.
Pros
- You get some reading done
- You force yourself not to be lazy or procrastinate
Cons
- You may not enjoy the book as much
- Misery
Personally I find that this way does not work for me because I am very much a mood reader and when I am in a slump I tend to want to read something completely different. For example, if I'm reading something fantasy and I get in a slump I'll all of a sudden want to read anything BUT fantasy. What I find with this is that I end up not enjoying the book because it's not the genre I want and then I end up being in another slump because I just had a bad experience with a previous book.
Just Don't Do It
This method is where you just don't try and read at all. Just take a break from reading and pick something up when you feel like it. Spend the time instead watching a netflix series... or four.
Pros
- Gives you a chance to do other things rather than just focusing on reading
- Happiness
Cons
- Procrastination
- Not getting as much reading done
I use this method because as I said before I am very much a mood reader. Eventually the need to read brings me back and I usually get this after I've read some blog posts or gotten excited about books and reading in general again!
So that's all for this post! I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you again soon!
Happy Reading!
Lily x
6 comments
Yes Netflix for the win!! I totally binge some TV when in a slump. Then I usually go with an easy read after to just get me back. If I try to hard I get miserable. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I have watched 75% more TV during this reading slump!
DeleteHahah this is fun! I admit, I am more in the "Just Do It" camp, because I worry that if I DON'T do it, I may never come back to it. I am afraid that a slump would lead to a hiatus, and a hiatus would lead to me spending all my time in bed and never being productive again. A slippery slope, I tell you! Plus, I don't have Netflix ;)
ReplyDeleteShannon @ It Starts At Midnight
I was worried about not getting back into reading for a while but I realised that generally because I love it so much I just generally fall back into it! I don't know whether to say you're lucky or not to not have Netflix!
DeleteReading slums are pretty dang terrible. Usually for me the best thing to do is to just take a break. Sometimes I just don't FEEL like reading--which is totally okay. I know that I'll get back to it later. Focusing on something else for awhile--like TV haha--is usually a good distraction. Also knowing that the reading slump won't last forever--it never has before--helps. :)
ReplyDeleteI get that feeling all the time but TV is ALWAYS my biggest distraction!
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