by Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks
The timing on Julie’s question this week couldn’t have been better because I’m actually struggling with my own reading slump at the moment and for once I can’t even blame the book that I’m reading. I work in finance and if any of you are accountants out there you’ll know that this is a very busy time of the year for us number crunchers. Yes, it’s the end of the fiscal year. I’ve been so overwhelmed with deadlines and stress lately that when it’s finally time to unwind I fall asleep. Needless to say, I’m not getting much reading done! Unfortunately, our audit hasn’t even officially begun yet so there’s not an end in sight for the foreseeable future.
When I’m in a reading slump I usually try and shake things up a bit by either reading a genre that I haven’t read in a while, picking-up a book that’s been on my wishlist for ages or even downloading an audiobook.
However, at the moment, not even my go-to cures seem to be doing me much good. Don’t be surprised if a notice goes up shortly on the blog letting my dear followers know that I’m taking a temporary break until work dies down a bit. I’m quite torn over it but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.
| How Do You Break Your Reading Slump? |
About the Blogger
I review Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books with a focus all things werewolf. Based out of Ottawa, Canada
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
When I’m in a slump or recognize that I’m heading for a slump I generally take a day or two off of reading and do something competely different like work on a knitting project or my digital photography. So far that has helped a lot with getting myself out of a slump or heading off a slump in the making.
I had signed up for a few reading challenges that basically kept me within a limited number of books for the year. I wanted to read a bunch that don’t qualify for my reading challenges, but since I didn’t want to fail at my challenges, I kept plugging away at them. So my enjoyment went down. I had to make the decision to just read what I want, even if it means not finishing one of my challenges. I’d rather be enjoying books than reading them just because I feel like I have to. If it’s not the reading material that’s throwing me off, I’ll just take a little break from reading and find another hobby to preoccupy myself with temporarily. Once I pick up a book again, it’s better. 🙂
When I’m in a reading slump, I usually put my current book down and grab one of my favourite books. Either I read the book entirely or I read a few of my favourite scenes. Usually, it reminds me why I love books so much and it usually gets me out of my funk. If that doesn’t work, then I usually go on a book shopping spree. I don’t recommend that one too much because it can get quite expensive lol.
When I’m in a reading slump I either read something that I’ve been dying to read. I put off the TBR pile and the review pile and just read something for fun. If I don’t even feel like reading a fun book, then I go back and reread one of my favorites. That will usually jump me out of my reading funk.
I change the romance genre that I read, that helps me to get out of my reading slump.
I have a couple of hobbies – working on fanlistings and my dollshouse miniatures, so if I find that I’m getting sick of reading, I do one of those for a while, or even go out somewhere. I sometimes pick up something short to read, either a graphic novel/comic, or a book that’s about 200 pages. Changing genres does help as well. That usually sorts it (especially with the fanlisting stuff because sometimes I get as fed up with working on webdesign as I do with reading sometimes…and it makes me eager to go back to reading!) When I’m doing uni work, I tend not to have problems with the fiction books that I read because I’m doing a lot of reading of scientific books and so reading a fiction book is relaxing, but I do get tired of reading in general when I’m doing uni work (and I get fed up of the computer too, because I’m using it to find journal articles). I do cross stitch as well, which can become obsessive when I’m working on a design, or watching DVDs of my favourite TV shows sometimes helps as well. I just hope that I never get into a slump with the dollshouse projects because if I follow the advice of the person who goes out to buy more books, it’ll get really expensive then!
I change up my books. I even try a adult book if I am reading YA. I think the best series that me out of a reading slump was Mind Games by Carolyn Crane.
I also tend not to read and do stuff that needs to get done on the homefront and also exercise.
You have some great suggestions for getting past reading slumps. 🙂 I hope work quiets down soon for you, but just know that people will understand that personal life/work life sometimes have to come first. *sigh*
When I am in a reading slump, I usually find a few movies that I have been wanting to see, but chose reading over them. Hopefully yours ends soon. Good luck.
@J.R. Great suggestion! I’m thinking about taking the weekend off…
@Jessica S. I made that mistake my first year of blogging; signing up for too many challenges! It’s hard work reading the books and then tracking them all too!
@Stéphanie LOL Darn you for tempting me with a book shopping spree!
@Lisa Reading a book that you know is going to be awesome definitely works!
@Dannyfiredragon I wish that I could find a solution that’s that simple!
@Flik Sivrak I envy you. I couldn’t possibly find any room in my life for an extra hobby, or two! And yeah…. ex-nay on the shopping spree for you.
@Julie@My5monkeys It’s definitely hard to find a happy balance.
@Chrystal I know. We’re always our own toughest critic. 🙂
@Tina B Thanks for sending good vibes my way!
I usually don’t. It’s mostly just luck that I geel like reading again. Sometimes I reread my favorites to get in the mood again. *grin*