The Curvy Bookworm

Person reading a book in a comfortable armchair with bookshelves and stacks of books around

How to Get Out of a Reading Slump Without Forcing It

You pick up a book. You read the same paragraph three times. You check your phone, make a cup of tea, rearrange the cushions and suddenly decide the skirting boards need a thorough clean.

Congratulations, you may be in a reading slump.

A reading slump is a period when reading feels difficult, dull or strangely exhausting, even if you normally love books. You might struggle to choose your next read, abandon everything after two chapters or simply have no desire to open a book at all.

The best way to get out of a reading slump is to remove the pressure. Choose something short, familiar or easy to follow, change your reading format and give yourself permission to stop reading books you are not enjoying.

Your reading mojo has not disappeared forever. It may simply need a gentler invitation back.

Why do reading slumps happen?

Reading slumps are frustrating because they can seem to appear from nowhere. One week you are happily racing through a fantasy trilogy, and the next you would rather read the instructions on a shampoo bottle.

Common causes include:

Sometimes, you are simply not in the mood to read. That does not make you a bad bookworm. Your library card will not be confiscated.

1. Stop trying to force yourself to read

This may sound like the opposite of helpful advice, but forcing yourself through a slump often makes it worse.

When reading becomes another task on your to-do list, your brain starts treating it like one. You sit down already expecting to struggle, then feel guilty when you only manage a few pages.

Take the pressure off for a few days. Watch a film, listen to music, play a game or indulge in another hobby. A deliberate break can be far more effective than staring resentfully at a book every evening.

Reading is supposed to add something to your life. It is not a punishment for failing to reach an arbitrary yearly target.

2. Abandon the book you are not enjoying

You do not need to finish every book you start.

Yes, even if everyone else gave it five stars.

Yes, even if you spent £9.99 on it.

Yes, even if you are already 200 pages in.

Continuing with a book you dislike because you have already invested time in it rarely makes reading feel more appealing. Put it down and choose something else. You can always return to it later if the mood strikes.

A book can be beautifully written and still be completely wrong for you at that moment.

3. Reread an old favourite

When your attention span has wandered off without leaving a forwarding address, familiarity can help.

Rereading a favourite book removes the uncertainty of starting something new. You already know the characters, the world and the general direction of the story, so you can relax into it rather than work hard to follow every detail.

Choose a book that feels comforting rather than one you think you ought to revisit. Childhood favourites, cosy romances, familiar mysteries and much-loved fantasy novels can all work well.

You do not even need to reread the whole thing. Dip into your favourite chapter or scene and see what happens.

4. Choose a short, fast-paced book

A 700-page literary epic may be brilliant, but it is not always the ideal slump-breaker.

Try a shorter book with a clear plot and manageable chapters. Finishing something can restore your confidence and remind you that you are still perfectly capable of enjoying a story.

Good options include:

There is no minimum page count for a book to count. A 120-page novella is not cheating. Neither is a comic, audiobook or illustrated edition.

5. Switch to a completely different genre

Sometimes the problem is not reading itself. It is reading too many similar books.

If you have spent three months reading dark crime novels, your brain may be begging for something with fewer suspicious neighbours and mysteriously unlocked back doors.

Try the opposite of your usual choice:

Changing genre can make reading feel fresh again. You may also discover a new favourite, which is a rather nice bonus.

6. Try an audiobook

Audiobooks absolutely count as reading. No appeals will be heard on this matter.

They can be especially useful when sitting still with a physical book feels impossible. Listen while walking, cooking, travelling, crafting or doing household chores. Suddenly the laundry is marginally less offensive because someone is telling you a story.

A talented narrator can also transform a book you might struggle to read on the page. Memoirs read by the author, full-cast productions and character-driven novels often work particularly well in audio.

Try listening to a sample first. A narrator’s voice can make or break the experience.

7. Recreate your reading routine

If reading used to fit naturally into your day, think about what changed.

Perhaps you previously read on your commute, before bed or during your lunch break. A change in routine may have removed your usual reading time without you noticing.

Rather than waiting for a gloriously empty afternoon to appear, attach reading to something you already do:

Start small. Ten enjoyable minutes are more valuable than an hour spent forcing yourself to concentrate.

8. Make your reading environment more inviting

You do not need a grand home library with a rolling ladder, although naturally that would be lovely.

A comfortable chair, decent lighting and fewer distractions can make reading easier. Put your phone on silent or leave it in another room. Keep a drink nearby. Grab a blanket if the weather is being aggressively British.

You could also change location entirely. Try reading in:

A new setting can interrupt the habits that keep pulling your attention away.

9. Stop obsessing over your reading goal

Reading challenges can be motivating, but they can also turn books into numbers.

If you are behind on your annual goal, you may start choosing books based on length rather than genuine interest. You might rush through stories, avoid longer novels or feel guilty whenever you are not reading.

Consider lowering your goal, pausing it or ignoring it altogether.

The number of books you finish says nothing about how thoughtful, curious or committed a reader you are. Someone who slowly loves ten books has not failed compared with someone who quickly reads one hundred.

Your reading life is not a competitive sport.

10. Let your current mood choose the book

A carefully planned to-be-read list is useful until it starts behaving like an overbearing manager.

Instead of reading the book you decided to pick up three months ago, ask what you actually want today.

Do you want:

Mood reading can reduce decision fatigue because you are choosing for your present self, not obeying a plan made by your past self.

11. Read the first few pages of several books

When nothing on your shelf feels appealing, hold a mini audition.

Choose three to five books and read the first five pages of each. Do not analyse them too deeply. Notice which voice, character or opening makes you want to continue.

Pick the book that creates the strongest spark.

This works particularly well if you are overwhelmed by choice. Instead of asking yourself to select the perfect book from fifty possibilities, you are making a much smaller decision based on your immediate reaction.

12. Talk to other readers

Enthusiasm can be wonderfully contagious.

Ask a friend what they have loved recently, visit an independent bookshop or join an online or local reading group. A passionate recommendation from someone who understands your taste can cut through the endless blur of bestseller lists.

Be specific when asking for suggestions. “Recommend me a book” may produce another overwhelming pile. Try something like:

The clearer the request, the more useful the recommendations tend to be.

How to start reading again when you cannot concentrate

When concentration is the main problem, make reading easier rather than demanding more effort from yourself.

Begin with five or ten minutes. Choose books with short chapters, clear prose and a strong narrative voice. Read somewhere quiet and place your phone out of reach.

You can also follow the text while listening to the audiobook. Using both formats together may help your mind stay anchored to the story.

Most importantly, stop measuring success only by the number of pages you finish. Sitting down and enjoying two pages is still progress.

What books are best for getting out of a reading slump?

There is no single perfect slump-busting book. The best choice is usually one that feels accessible, appealing and suited to your mood.

Look for books with:

Recommendations from trusted readers can help, but do not pick something purely because it is widely described as unputdownable. One reader’s gripping masterpiece is another reader’s very effective sleeping aid.

What not to do during a reading slump

Try to avoid turning the slump into a bigger problem than it needs to be.

Do not shame yourself for reading slowly. Do not choose books simply to impress other people. Do not buy a towering stack of new releases in the hope that one of them will magically fix everything.

A new book can certainly help, but sometimes the answer is already sitting unread on your shelf.

It is also worth resisting the urge to compare your reading pace with people online. You are seeing a curated snapshot of their reading life, not every abandoned novel, distracted evening or month spent reading absolutely nothing.

Your reading slump will not last forever

The quickest route out of a reading slump is usually less pressure, not more discipline.

Put down the book you dislike. Pick up something short, comforting or completely different. Try an audiobook, revisit an old favourite or take a proper break without guilt.

You do not need to prove that you are a “real reader”. Books will still be there when you are ready, waiting patiently and being far less judgemental than your neglected yearly reading tracker.

Choose one small, enjoyable step today. Even a single chapter can be the start of finding your way back.

FAQs

How long does a reading slump last?

A reading slump can last a few days, several weeks or longer. There is no normal timeline. Taking the pressure off and changing your reading habits often helps more than trying to force your way through it.

Is it normal to go through a reading slump?

Yes. Even enthusiastic lifelong readers sometimes lose interest or struggle to concentrate. Reading habits can change because of stress, tiredness, routines, disappointing books or simply shifting interests.

Should I take a break from reading?

A break can be helpful, particularly when reading feels like an obligation. Spend time on other hobbies and return when you feel curious rather than guilty.

Do audiobooks count as reading?

Yes. Audiobooks allow you to engage with the same story, ideas and language in a different format. They can be particularly useful when you are tired, busy or finding it difficult to focus on printed text.

Should I buy new books to escape a reading slump?

Not necessarily. A new book may spark your interest, but rereading a favourite or exploring books you already own can work just as well. Try sampling several options before spending more money.

Leave a comment