If you google the term “reading slumps,” any number of blogs and articles pop up with quick-fix recommendations. Some advise trying new genres, reading in new formats, joining a book club, etc. There’s just one problem.

None of these quick fixes actually address the real problems behind a long-term reading slump.

Let’s talk about it.

What is a reading slump?

Reading slumps happen when you realize that you’re not in the mood to read anymore. But worse than that, you want to want to read. No matter what you do, you find yourself zoning out while reading, feeling bored, or feeling a desire to go do something else instead.

And it sucks, because you really just want to get lost in a good story.

Why does this happen?

It’s one thing when you’re in a book hangover – which is when you finish a book so good that nothing else feels like it can compare. Or when you’ve just slammed an entire series and now you need a break. This is normal, and I don’t think it qualifies as a hard “slump.” For something like this, any of those quick fixes would likely do the trick.

But an honest, “it’s been weeks, months, years since I’ve felt the desire to pick up a book” type of reading slump is much harder to pin down. Here’s a few potential causes to consider:

• Major life changes
  • Sometimes new things can completely change your routine and/or bring in new stress. These might be things like a career change, having a child, experiencing loss, or going through a break up or divorce. Hobbies you used to make time for suddenly feel too cumbersome to fit into the schedule, or you don’t feel you have the headspace for them.
    • A few years ago, I was laid off from a job right at the height of the pandemic. I was so stressed out that, even though I had much more time on my hands than I’d ever had, I actually read fewer books overall that year compared to any other year.
  • Hobbies are important for our health, so if this is you, I encourage you to find a way to squeeze in “me time.” Even if it’s just a few minutes every day.
• Burnout
  • Burnout is a type of exhaustion comingled with lowered motivation, stress, worsened performance, and negative attitudes. You might be experiencing burnout in your everyday life, which is preventing you from engaging meaningfully with hobbies.
  • But you can also burnout on reading. If you read too many books back-to-back for a long period of time, it’s very possible to burn yourself out. You may need to change the way you engage with the hobby, and make sure to spend time with other interests as well to create a well-balanced life.
• Work-life balance
  • While this can be a conversation topic under both burnout and major life changes, I feel it’s important to discuss on its own. If you work a lot at the expense of your personal life, and not because you need the money or because your boss is asking it of you, I encourage to look into workaholism.
    • It’s a real thing, and speaking from the experiences of my own family, addressing it can dramatically impact your life.
• Distractions
  • We live in an increasingly distracting world. I don’t want to be reductive and say something like, “Oh yeah, if you spend a lot of time on social media, your attention span is much worse now.” I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Correlation is not causation (as my professors drilled into my head). But a lot of people do discuss feeling like it’s hard to focus for long periods of time these days. So it’s something to look into if you feel this is your primary barrier to entry.
• Mental health
  • I’m not a health professional by any means, so if you feel you might be losing interest in the things that normally bring you joy, consult with a psychologist to see if there might be any underlying causes.

So, what to do?

Reading isn’t necessary for a well-balanced life, but if it’s something you enjoy and you want to come back to it, I encourage you to take your time with it. Don’t force it; reading should be fun. It’s possible you may not be interested in reading right now is because there’s something else you need to address first, whether it’s your health, schedule, environment, or something else. Consider discussing it with a professional if you feel it’s serious or persistent.

It’s worth noting that if you’re just not in the mood to read and it doesn’t bother you, then it’s likely not a reading slump. That’s okay, too! We can have a variety of interests that we engage with to varying degrees over time. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you.

In general, if you have the time, money, and support network to make room for hobbies and interests in your life, I encourage to take the opportunity. Your happiness is just as important as anything else you do.