Having a reading slump is no fun. Do you feel like this might be you?
Imagine it with me for a second. You just had a rough day at school or work, and all you want to do is sit back and relax with a good book. Moving to take a look at your personal library, you pause. You have no clue what you want to read.
Taking a look at another example, maybe without you even noticing, you have stopped taking the time to dive back into that book you once were sucked into. What happened? Well, bestie, you are in a reading slump. You start to think, how on earth do you get out of this reading slump? What kind of tricks could I use to get myself back to where I was?
What is a reading slump?
If you are worried about how to get out of this slump, let me first explain what it is. The dreadful reading slump is the inability to pick up a book or having no motivation to read. To avid readers who use reading as their hobby, that sounds awful. The good news is that there are ways to get around your slump and take back your hobby. You just need to do a little reflection.
For instance, could it be life stress, burnout, or maybe even the choice of book you are reading? All of these can be factors that can lead to a slump. Don’t worry, I’ve got some helpful tricks to help you gain some of that motivation again! Some of these tips are from our besties across TikTok, and some are things that I have tried and have worked for me! Take what sounds good to you and run with it.
#1. DNFing a book is okay!
DNFing a book means that you do not finish the book you are currently reading. It can be painful not to continue the story you were reading. You might feel like you need to just power through and get to the end. Is that really a good idea for you? Right now may not be the best time to enjoy the story.
It is difficult mentally to feel like you can’t push through anymore. But no one is going to strike you down, bestie, for putting a book off for a bit. Maybe that book isn’t suiting your life right now. DNFing can make your reading life easier and allow you to not put that mental strain on you to finish what you are reading.
Obviously, a good idea would be to give yourself a mental reset from the book that you are currently reading. Think about where you are in life right now. Just try to take a second to reflect on what you are reading.
#2 Read something shorter.
Furthermore, reading can be a strain on your mind. Which means that it should be done in moderation. Look at your library, are there any smaller novels or even novellas you have been meaning to give a shot?
Whereas shorter novels and novellas can be beneficial to you, as they don’t put as much strain on your mind. The shorter stories can give you the desire you need to finish a story. Reading a shorter story can give you better retention of the story. You can fully grasp the tiny details that turn into the bigger picture better. Being able to focus less on the number of pages and more on the storyline is better for you as a reader.
Let’s face it, we all have very busy lives. School or work can be too much at times, which is understandable. Sometimes, longer stories can add to the stress of having a busy life. In that case, it can lead to the feeling of burnout that you may experience with reading.
I have personally felt the burnout of life and added the extra stress of reading to myself. I took a step back from the book I was reading and realized that it was too much for me.
Additionally, reading shorter stories has helped me reduce burnout, and I was able to come back to the bigger book once I had the time for it. For instance, do you feel like you don’t have the time for a book of that length you are reading right now? Yes? No?
#3 Switching Genres to keep the reading slump gone.
Similarly, if the book you are reading is in a repetitive genre, you may face the same problem. It is a good thing to like a certain genre, but the constant reading of that genre can give you burnout. Switching the genre can help you fight that feeling.
For example, if you are a reader who enjoys romance, a good genre to switch to and stay in the same lane would be to turn to fantasy romance or romantic suspense. That way, you are getting the love stories you crave, but in a way that gives you a palate cleanse. In the same way, a horror fanatic could switch to dark fantasy or science fiction. It is as simple as that, but it can make a world of difference.
For the most part, you can feel like this shift may not work for you. That is something you may have to try for yourself. It can be hard to switch to something new, and it can make you feel apprehensive. If this is something you are willing to try out for the first time, take the chance! You may surprise yourself with a new passion.
#4 Put the phone away!
Due to the fact that our phones can be such a distraction to us, we may just need to put them away. Distractions keep us from being able to fully immerse ourselves in the story.
For instance, you could be lost in the biggest battle the main character has faced, and then your phone dings. Now you are focusing on the notification instead of the character’s growth. When you try to get back into the story, you might feel a bit lost now. Because of this, you weren’t able to grasp what you just read, and now you have to reread.
Consequently, you can get frustrated with the whole thing and give up on reading the story. So here’s something you can do to help: set a timer for how long you want to read and either put the phone on silent, do not disturb, or just put it in another location.
Although it isn’t a bad thing to have your phone out while you read. You may just be the type of person who reads on their phone. You can also set a timer and place the phone on silent or do not disturb. There are even dedicated apps that allow you to customize your experience so you can be distraction-free.
Overall, distractions are not your friend. As someone who lives on their phone, this was a hard one for me to do. Over time, I did get better with this one, and now I have a saved timer on my phone dedicated to reading.
#5 Setting the mood to read.
Above all, it is important to set the mood before reading. Making sure not to make reading just another task you need to get through during your day. If this is your hobby, then make it a time for you. After all that stress during your day, it is important to give back to yourself in a way that works for you.
With this in mind, here are some helpful tricks to use.
1.Starting with getting comfy, take the time to find a cozy spot to read in. This could be your bed, couch, or anywhere where you can lie around and relax. Maybe put on some comfy clothing as well!
2. Then make sure you have something to snack on. Your favorite drinks and snacks can be nearby, so you don’t have to get up from your spot and go get them.
3. Light some candles or have a scent spread around the room. The candles can create the perfect mood lighting to help you relax, along with the scent you use. This can make the room calming and inviting to read in.
4. Another tip that I personally use is to find a video on YouTube. I know I said no distractions, but there are so many videos of soft pianos or music playing with rain and backgrounds that may just look like the story you are reading.
It’s up to what works for you! This is your time to spend lost in another world, so make it special in the real world, too.
#6 What kind of reader are you?
Above all, it all boils down to this question. It is crazy to know that all of us readers are not alike, but it is the truth. Maybe you are the type of reader who decides what they are going to read next based on what emotions you are feeling?
If you are feeling curious, maybe you turn to a True Crime or a Science Fiction. Feeling excited and wanting to keep that adrenaline up? How about a Thriller or a Horror?
On the other hand, you could be a reader who likes to leave the real world behind and dive into somewhere new. You may lean more towards world-building stories like Sci-fi or Fantasy.
Or maybe you are the type of reader who only likes to read what others would refer to as Bestsellers. You only seek out stories that are the most popular to read at the time.
Overall, it is important to know what kind of reader you are to understand what brings you joy. Taking the time to learn what you want to keep that pesky reading slump away.
Other reading slump tips and tricks from TikTok
TikTok user ashleyrebitzkereads gives us some details on how she helps herself get out of a reading slump. She also gives some information on how she is able to find shorter books to read. She also leaves us with the helpful tip that it is important for us to take care of ourselves, and if we are in a reading slump, it is okay to take a break.
Another great TikTok user who is giving us his tips and tricks is murph.reads. He starts it off by telling us that it is perfectly fine to read what we want to read and not what others want us to read. He also tells us to try to read something that is out of our comfort zone, which is a great idea if you feel stuck where you are in reading. If the tips and tricks mentioned above don’t work well for you, he gives other tips in the video as well that could be more helpful.
Personally, I know that some things may work for you, and some may not. It all depends on what you can try and what ends up working. Being in a reading slump is not the end of the world, although it may feel like it to some.
Take your time, reflect on what you want to do in life, and give yourself some grace. Reading should be fun, not something that feels like a task.
When you are ready to get back out there and need help finding something, check out Calla MacGillivray’s “Counting Down 2026’s Remaining Book Releases”. I hope this helped. Stay safe, and see you next time, besties!
