Reading Slumps Suck

As this year is coming to an end, I started looking back at all of the books I’ve read. I didn’t quite reach my 50-book goal on Goodreads, but I have read 35 books so far this year—and I’m still proud of that.

At the beginning of the year, reading came easily. In January, I read five books. February brought four. March, three. April, five. May, five again. June, four. July, three. And then… you can see where the slump started.

In August, September, and October, I only read one book per month. For a lot of people, that’s perfectly fine. But for me, it wasn’t normal. Reading is something I love, and seeing those numbers drop was frustrating. So in November, I decided it was time to get back into reading.

I read three books in November. That’s still low for me, but it was a big improvement over those previous three months—and a step in the right direction.

So how did I do it?

Audiobooks

We all have so many daily chores: doing the dishes, folding laundry, cleaning the house, even driving to work. These are chunks of time where we’re already doing something, and we can choose to do it in silence or listen to something. I chose audiobooks.

Audiobooks are how I “read” two of the three books I finished in November. I listened to Morning Star and Last House, both through Hoopla, an app that works with libraries to give you access to audiobooks, ebooks, and more. The only physical book I read that month was Sea of Tranquility.

Here’s the caveat with audiobooks for me: I don’t usually connect with them the same way I do with physical books. I rated Morning Star four stars and Last House three stars. I think Last House would have stayed a three-star read regardless—it’s just not my favorite genre. But I honestly believe Morning Star could have been a five-star read if I’d read it physically. Meanwhile, Sea of Tranquility, which I read in print, was a five-star book for me.

Audiobooks aren’t perfect, but they helped pull me out of my slump—and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

Stop Coming Up with Excuses

For a long time, I told myself I didn’t have time to read. I would be at work or at home and feel like all of my time was spent doing other things. At work, that’s mostly true. I’m a teacher, and any “free” time—like planning—is still used for grading, lesson prep, and everything else that comes with the job.

But at home? I did have time. I just wasn’t using it to read. Instead, I was scrolling, watching YouTube, turning on a show, or doing something that felt easy but wasn’t really filling that need to rest my brain.

Reading actually scratches that same “zone out” itch, but it’s also actively working to improve your brain. No matter how you look at it, reading is productive.

Make Space for Reading

Once I stopped making excuses, I started being more intentional about when and where I read.

At work, I implemented “The First 10.” For the first ten minutes of class, I set a timer and students are expected to read. It can be a graphic novel, a 500-page book, or a 200-page book—as long as they are actively reading. This kills two birds with one stone: I get 50 minutes of reading time during the workday because I model the behavior I want to see, and my students get consistent, low-pressure reading time that helps them learn how to read for longer stretches and enjoy it.

At home, I’ve struggled more—but I’m working on it. I used to have a routine where I walked the dogs around 7:00, got ready for bed, and then read for an hour and a half or two hours before going to sleep. I’ve been trying to get back to that schedule so I can carve out dedicated time again.

Outside of a set routine, though, it really comes down to willpower. Instead of picking up my phone to scroll for 30 minutes, I try to pick up my Kindle or a physical book instead.

Reading is such a beautiful activity. It allows us to connect with one another through the stories inside our heads. Finding—or making—time to read is so important. So if you’re in a reading slump, please try some of these strategies and see if they help you find your way back.