Saturday 29 August 2015

Reading Slump 101

Saturday 29 August 2015
Reading Slumps are something that we all, as readers, have come across at some point in our reading lives. I get them all too often lately and in fact it's rare that I actually sit down and allocate a day to reading any more which makes me incredibly sad. I thought, instead of laying down and wallowing in self pity, I will instead turn it into an idea for the blog. This is that idea (It's not very original, sorry).

Don't read.

The worst thing you could do is force yourself to read. If you're not feeling it, you're not feeling it. If you try and force it all you're going to do is work your way deeper into the slump, it's almost like poking a bee hive that way. The harder you poke it, the angrier it gets. It's best to just leave it be.

Re-read.

If you're adamant that reading will help you to shake the slump blues then go ahead and read. I'd recommend re-reading an old favourite. It'll make you happy and bring back good memories which is likely to help you to get back into reading new books sooner rather than later. A personal favourite of mine to re-read is Fangirl (or any contemporary really). 

Binge Netflix.

Netflix is great for reading slumps (but there is also the chance that you'll never again want to get out of bed without your laptop so there is that) because you can just sit back and enjoy a good story without actually reading anything or exerting energy. I've been watching H2O: Just Add Water and Once Upon A Time lately which, weirdly enough, has me in the mood for a summer contemporary but I'm reading a book for review instead which is the reason I'm slumping. CURSE YOU, Natalie the 'Mood-Reader'.

Blog.

I've been capitalising on all of this spare reading-allocated time that I now have by working on the blog. I've had the chance to catch up on reviews dating all the way back to May and write and schedule posts for the upcoming days that I'm busy (i.e. the day that this post goes up, I'll be at Reading Festival). I've also changed around my design a little bit and I'm happier with it. This is to say: Use this slump to get to doing all of the things you've been meaning to do! This way you won't feel like you're just wasting your days away.

Relax.

Have a bath. Drink lots of tea. Go to the movies. Listen to your favourite album. Make a new playlist. GO SHOPPING. Do whatever it is that you do to relax and I guarantee that you'll be more in the mood to read something.

7 comments :

  1. This is a really great post! Loads of valuable advice here that makes me feel a little bit better about my reading slumps. It is just a case of waiting for the urge to read to return again, isn't it? I especially like working on blog posts as if I'm writing about books and looking at them, it encourages me to read. Also, reading other people's blogs helps too! And omg yes H2O: Just Add Water - I love it soo much! :-D

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  2. Netflix-binging is the best thing in the world :) It's definitely important to just stay away from reading. Forcing yourself to do something that doesn't feel good is weird..

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  3. I don't think I have actually gone through a reading slump? Or maybe I have but its lasted like a week, in which, like you said, I watch TV or videos on youtube. But I do hate not knowing what book you're in the mood for.

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    1. YOU'RE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. As a mood reader I tend to get into slumps quite often - I hardly have the perfect book around for what I'm in the mood for so it's hard.

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  4. READING SLUMPS ARE AWFUL. I tend to binge watch youtube/films or re-read my heart out (I think I love re-reading more than reading new books..dont' ask why, i don't know!) I'm a mood reader which means I AM ALMOST CONSTANTLY IN A READING SLUMP. ugh.

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    1. I FEEL YOU ON THE ALMOST CONSTANTLY BEING IN A READING SLUMP. IT'S SO FRUSTRATING. Especially now that I'm saving money for a holiday so I can't go out and buy any books that I'm actually in the mood for. blech.

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