For a couple of months earlier this Spring, I was going through a slump, and reading seemed impossible. I completed reading 2 book and started 2 more, of which I still have about 100 pages each left to read. So I went over to Instagram and asked my followers what they do when they're in a slump. Their ideas helped me a lot, and I believe they might be the only reason I managed to complete these 2 books (1 of which was tiny by the way).
So here I summarize the ideas I was offered by the people of this wonderful community that helped me get out of this slump, hoping it will help you through, too.
1. Start small
Ease yourself back into reading. Instead of forcing yourself to read for hours, try 15 min, or just a few pages. Read at a time when there is little to no disturbance, early in the morning or late at night.
2. Let it take its course
The slump might be a result of workload. Be patient and listen to what your mind and body wants. Let it take it’s course. Being an avid reader, your brain and soul will crave books sooner than later.
3. Aim for shorter stories
You won't be able to get out of a slump if you try to read a 1000-page book. Choose something short and non threatening. One thing that might work is to read short stories, poems or even a short book.
4. Read something you've enjoyed in the past
Sometimes the slump is a result of reading a "bad" book. Perhaps reading a book you have enjoyed in the past, or a favorite book from your childhood might be helpful.
5. Read in a different genre
When you read books in the same genre, you often find authors repeating the same tropes and the same character traits, which is exhausting. You could try switching to a completely different genre for a change, since it will be a refreshing and possibly less predictable.
I found all these ideas very useful, and it's why I'm sharing them with you today. What I did was let it take its course, read plenty of short stories and poems from online literary magazines, and went through some of my oldest favorite books. I did not read them in their entirety, I just looked through some of the bookmarked pages (and just spent hours sniffing those books) to remember what they felt like. The key takeaway here is just read what you like, for fun. It’s ok to take a break and ease yourself back in.
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