How To Read More Books If You Are In A Reading Slump
I’ve been there. We’ve all been there, tbh. I’ve been reading for most of my life and I still get into the occasional monthly reading slump.
It was during the later high school and college years that I fell out of touch with reading and focused my energy elsewhere. Looking back now, I can say that my mental health declined, and I was in a slump. A reading slump. But flash to post-grad, 2020—the year of doom or what people call it, and reading became a love of mine again. One good thing to come out of 2020!
I’m proud to say that as of last night, I’ve read 22 books this year. My goal is to hit 30 books, and I think I can say with confidence that I can hit that goal. I’m working on it! But a friend recently asked me, how do I read so many books? And I thought to myself, it’s really not that difficult. I wouldn’t even consider myself a fast reader, I just find time to read AND still do the things I love to do in addition to reading.
So, if you’re wondering how you can read more or are just in a reading slump like where I was, then this is the post for you! I hope this helps, and I hope you rediscover your love of reading—because the world of books is truly something great!
Find what you love to watch on TV.
My first tip would be to find out what your “niche” or favorite genre is. Don’t know the genres? It’s simple: what do you love to watch on TV? What’s your go-to show? Do you love to watch crime documentaries on Netflix? Maybe pick up a thriller, mystery/suspense novel, or crime novel. Are you addicted to the YA rom-coms like To All The Boys I Loved Before? Maybe sift through the romantic novels at your local library or online. I have just a few suggestions for you below:
If you love crime documentaries on Netflix:
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Reputation by Sara Shepard
The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
If you loved “To All The Boys I Loved Before” on Netflix:
To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
The Wedding Date, The Proposal … literally anything by Jasmine Guillory
American Royals (book #1) & Majesty (book #2) by Katherine McGee
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (literally anything by Christina Lauren)
Truly, find what you love to watch and you can find books that are fit that genre!
Related: Books to Read If You Love Gilmore Girls + 11 Books to Read If Your Favorite Show is Gossip Girl
Stop watching many shows at once…
I see you because this is absolutely, 100 percent me. When I stopped watching three shows at once, I picked up a book instead. I’m not telling you to cancel your cable channels and every streaming service you subscribe to, but I’m saying to reduce the amount of shows and the time you put into them each day. Devote time to one show. For example, I started watching The West Wing, and told myself that this is the show I’m going to watch when I need a good binge-watch day. But when I feel the need to stop watching TV, I turn it off and turn to the books instead.
…And set aside time to read.
Just set aside time to read. And this doesn’t have to mean that you set aside two hours! Read on your lunch break, while your kids or dogs are taking a nap, or listen to an audiobook when you’re cooking. Again, you don’t need to set aside three hours to read. Read whenever you can—it stimulates the brain and releases endorphins!
4. Join/create a book club.
Form a book club, pick a book, and get together to discuss it. It can be fun! If you’re in a new city or town, and still making friends, no worries. Ease on over to the #bookstagram community. Bookstagram can be intimidating on the outside, where they’re reading over 50 books, but I promise you—it is so worth it and it will definitely motivate you to read more. (And give you some awesome book recommendations!)
So, go pick out a book off your bookshelf and start reading! The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to just start. Read a couple of pages a day.