Being a book lover and a writer in-the-making can bring both heaven and hell. Sure, you can dive your nose to a lot of books that can make your imagination get to work. You can also create several literary works, like poems, short stories, and novels, which represent your emotion and self. But has it ever crossed your mind on what would you do if you’d fall into a slump, specifically a reading slump?
Reading slump is the worst, because it can create a domino effect. It can start to create some changes in your daily routine, making you either frustrated or unproductive. Hence, if you have been in a reading slump for a while now — then worry not! Listed below are some helpful activities to help you overcome that slump.
Relax your mind
A mind that is conquered with thoughts and ideas can be a little too hard to handle. These thoughts can make you prone to overthinking. With these bothersome things in mind, you can never narrow down your focus. Hence, take some time off to relax your mind. You can stare at the ceiling, go outdoors, sing in the shower, do some exercise, and other things that will help you delete these ideas. Let peace come to you so that you can slowly sort everything out. The result can be good for you, because you can see what you need to improve in your reading routine, what genres you’ve outgrown, and such.
Watch films that were based on books
Film and literature are like fraternal twins. They have both similarities and differences, but at the end of the day they are still from one source: which is a brilliant storyline. If you cannot bring yourself to read, perhaps watching a book-based movie can entertain you. Some of these movies can somehow disappoint you if you’ve read the books, but most of them are terrific. Just instill in your mind that film and literature have differences, so do not expect for the former to show the tiniest detail of the latter. This activity may help you discover new genres and new books that you could add to your shelf and start reading them.
Check some bookstagram accounts
The online platform is definitely a good place to dive in. You could meet people with the same interest as you, but always stay vigilant and don’t trust too much. Instagram is a social media app that houses a lot of book lovers from all over the world. These bookworms call their accounts a “bookstagram,” which contains books that they have already read, are their favorite, are currently reading, or are newly bought. Their posts are all about books that were aesthetically photographed. You may browse some bookstagram accounts in your free time, and perhaps bring your interest in reading back to life.
Clean your books
There is something delightful in cleaning your books. The books themselves can already give you a sense of calmness and happiness. How much more cleaning them to get the dust off and, if time allows, covering them so that their covers won’t get damaged easily? It can be a daunting task especially if you have a lot of books, but the process can become surprisingly therapeutic. Through the process, you may discover books that will bring you nostalgia or books that you haven’t read yet. Who knows that a mere book cleaning can spark back your love for reading? So, start emptying your shelves and dusting off your books now!
Challenge yourself to read 50-100 words per day
How frustrating it is that you cannot finish a chapter or a book in one sitting? How much more if you have lost your interest in reading? These are really stressful situations. If you have already fallen in a reading slump, this could be the right time to challenge yourself. Pick a book but do not force yourself to read an entire chapter. Just take it slowly, like 50-100 words per day. In that way, you’d never get frustrated because you are not forcing yourself to read and at the same time are not shoving books all the way. This activity will help you appreciate reading in the simplest way possible. And maybe, just maybe, make you interested in reading again.
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