13 Ways to Get Out of a Reading Slump

Have you been stuck in a reading slump and don’t know how to shake it? These are my top tips for getting rid of a book slump so you can get back to enjoying literature again.

Reading slumps. We’ve all been through them, no matter how much you love books, and they’re a pain to shake. It totally sucks when you just can’t find a book to hold your attention.

People often beat themselves up about being in a reading slump but they’re totally normal. Sometimes it just takes time! But if you’re stuck in a reading slump and keen to get back to devouring the books on your shelves then these 13 tips might just help you shake it.

Always Carry a Book With You

I don’t go anywhere without a book. You never know whether the bus will be delayed (always), your friends will be running late (always), or your appointment will be cancelled.

Of course by always carrying a book with you, the idea is that you will, at some point, read it.

For those small snippets of time when you might usually just scroll through your phone, try opening your book instead.

It’s a great idea to always have a physical book as well as a selection of ebooks and audiobooks on your phone so there’s always something you can dive into.

Hopefully you read something enticing enough in those small brackets of time that you can’t wait to pick the book up again later!

READ MORE: Why You Should Always Carry a Book

Set Yourself Small, Achievable Goals

Now this piece of advice goes for any task or undertaking that you don’t really fancy.

Breaking it down into small, manageable chunks and although progress may be small at first, this should hopefully lead to a snowball effect that leads to you achieving your goals.

In the context of reading, you could set yourself the goal of reading 20 pages a day. It’s a small enough chunk that it shouldn’t take up too much of your day but enough pages for you to actually start to get into the story.

If that seems like too much to you, ask yourself this: do you really not have 20-30 minutes spare each day? If you cut back on a little scrolling time or open a book on your commute this should be doable.

There’s no such thing as the best time to read a book but before work or right before bed make it easier to slot reading time into your day.

Hopefully after a few days, the story will have really picked up and you’ll want to start picking it up and your reading slump will be a thing of the past.

READ MORE: How I read 75+ Books a Year Alongside a Demanding Job

Read a Blog, Magazine or Newspaper

So you don’t feel like picking up a novel right now? Read something else! Just read. Read blogs, read magazines, read newspapers – anything! Just read.

As articles usually only take a few minutes to get through they are low commitment and perfect for keeping your reading habit alive, even if you’re not reading a book.

Hopefully after a few days of reaching for a magazine or newspaper, you will find yourself reaching for a book for a bit of escapism.

Pick Up a Well-Loved Favourite

Sometimes turning to an old favourite can be enough to reignite your love of reading. If you had a favourite series as a teenager or a stack of beloved classics then dig these out and reread them.

For me, I’d choose books like Harry Potter, The Night Circus, Me Before You or Where Rainbows End.

In re-reading them I’m sure you’ll rediscover passages you’d forgotten and spot details you didn’t see the first time around. You might fall in love with these books even more!

People don’t reread books enough in my opinion, there’s always a drive to be moving forwards and doing something new. There’s so much to consume these days that I’m not surprised. But returning to a well-loved favourite is a great idea if you’re in a reading slump.

Try a Pacy Thriller

Thrillers aren’t for everyone but I always turn to a thriller when my reading has been a bit slow. Picking up a pacy thriller is a great idea because the suspense will keep you page-flipping like mad and then you’ll be done within no time.

Want some recommendations? Check out these thriller book reviews:
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knowles
Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Listen to a Book Podcast

A great way to find out which books are actually worth reading is to listen to book podcasts. Listening to other people discuss their favourite books can often inspire you to pick up the same titles and delve in deep yourself.

Some of my favourites include:

Poorly Read: a hilarious Harry Potter podcast that analyses a few chapters each episode

By the Book: where two women attempt to try out the advice in self-help books and report bac

You’re Booked: snoop around your favourite authors bookshelves with Daisy Buchanan.

The Penguin Podcast: interviews with some of the best and most famous authors – but there’s a twist. They look at the creative process of the guests via a collection of objects they have chosen

Reading Women: a podcast highlighting books by or about women

Change Your Environment

It might be that it’s not the books that are uninspiring, but the place you are in. If you always read in bed, try changing things up and moving to the living room instead.

Create yourself a cosy station with a good book, a drink and some snacks and you won’t want to move from this spot!

READ MORE: How to Create a Cosy Reading Nook

If you’d prefer to get out of the house then you could head to a library or a bookshop cafe. Books and tea go hand in hand so many bookshops are now attached to cafes. Research your local area to see if any such bookshops exist.

Alternatively, if it’s a sunny day why not head out into the garden with a blanket or even your local park? If you go outside with nothing but your book, there’s no way you won’t get some good reading time in!

RELATED: How to Plan the Perfect Summer Picnic

Go to Your Favourite Bookshop

You may be in a slump because nothing on your bookshelves suits your mood at the time.

The best option? Get something new and exciting that does pique your interest. Nothing beats the feeling of picking up a new read in a bookshop and racing home to read it.

Pick your favourite bookshop (or bookshops!) and plan a bookish day out for you to find some new reads.

These are some of my favourite bookshops to visit in London:
Beautiful Bookshops in London
Specialist Bookshops in London
Second Hand Bookshops in London

RELATED: Pros and Cons of Being a Mood Reader

Buddy Read with a Friend

Buddy reads are a great way to experience books as you’ve got someone with whom you can chat through all those “aww” and “oh my god” moments.

If you don’t know what a buddy read is, it’s basically a readalong with one friend. You’ll both select a book that you’ll read at the same time.

You can set a deadline for when you both want to finish or take it at your own pace. You set the rules.

Having someone to share the reading experience with can make it so much more fun and you can cheer each other on so you can shake your reading slumps.

Organise Your Bookshelf

If you’re feeling uninspired by the books on your bookshelf then it sounds like it’s time to declutter and re-organise it. I know that bookworms all dream of having their own libraries.

But you want that library to be full of good books, right?

I think many bookworms hoard every title that comes into their hands because it expands their book collection and makes it look more impressive.

However, if part of your collection is made up of bad books or books that simply no longer suit your reading tastes anymore, what is the point in keeping them? Make room on your shelves by decluttering and fill the space with great reads instead.

If every book on your shelf is one that you’re excited about and actually want to read, you’ll be spoilt for choice and out of your slump in no time.

READ MORE: How to Declutter Your Bookshelf

Listen to an Audiobook

Audiobooks can be considered a “lazy” way to read books as you can just sit back and let someone read to you. It’s amazing! And perfect for when you’re in a slump.

You could listen to an audiobook on your daily run instead of a podcast or music. You could listen to an audiobook whilst doing the dishes. You could listen to an audiobook in the car.

The possibilities are endless and the great thing is that you can multitask listening to an audiobook and doing other simple tasks.

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Switch Your Phone Off

When I’m feeling restless and can’t commit to any task, I automatically default to scrolling through social media on my phone. And I know I’m not the only one.

However, this is unproductive and when you realise how much time you’ve wasted, you’ll almost certainly feel even worse about yourself.

It’s time to switch your phone off. And I don’t mean just locking the screen and putting it on the side. Properly turn it off.

Check out this article on how to reduce screen time for even more benefits of putting your phone down.

Join a Book Club

Regular book club meetings can help you keep on track with your reading and (hopefully) the excitement of getting to discuss a story with other people will motivate you.

If you’re nervous about meeting strangers, you could start with a small band of book-loving friends and set regular book dates where you meet to discuss your chosen title.

If you don’t have any book-loving friends (boo!) then you could consider joining #bookstagram, the book community on Instagram.

Bookstagram is one of the friendlier online communities and there are thousands of book lovers posting about their favourite reads every day. For more on how to bookstagram, see below.

READ MORE: How to Start a Bookstagram

If you are willing to commit to an in-person book club then do an online search to see what’s near you. You could also check sites like Meetup.com and ask at your local library.

I would suggest joining a small book club to start with and one where you can influence the books being chosen and get the most out of it.

If you don’t want to join a book club in person, there are plenty of online ones you can join. You could join a celeb book club such as the ones by Emma Watson on Goodreads or Reese Witherspoon. Or for a more intimate community, try blogger Beth Sandland’s book club.

What are your top tips for getting out of a reading slump? Let me know if I’ve missed any in the comments below!

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Laura

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.