Discussion: How I Deal With Reading Slumps
How I Deal With Reading Slumps
Hi guys! So, I don't know about you all, but I'm the QUEEN of reading slumps! It usually happens when I'm reading too much and get burnt out. But I also get slumps when I read too much of one type of book or age group.
If I'm reading too much and I get burnt out, I usually need to take a reading break and do something else: catch up on my DVR, do some blogging, blog hopping, etc. I got so burnt out last year and it got to a point where I NEVER wanted to read.
I am one of those people who can't just read book after book after book. I need a break in between- usually to write my review. I don't do well when I put reviews off, because I forget things about the book I was so passionate and excited to talk about. So, because I need a break in between books (if I finish a book early in the day, I can usually start another that night or if I finish an hour or two before bed, I'll wait to start a new book the next day), and that has helped keep me from reading too much and getting burnt out.
If I'm reading too much of the same genre (which I tend to do- I read A LOT of contemporary romances), I find I need to switch it up. If I've read a few contemporaries, it's time to do a fantasy or a sci-fi book. The same goes with my age groups. If I read a YA, I typically try to pick a NA/Adult book afterwards. Sometimes I need the more adult feel and sometimes I flat out need the sexier content.
When you read too much of the same genre, I feel like it starts to blur together because so many of the same elements are there. So, it's nice to go from a contemporary romance to a historical fiction book, or something of that nature. It's like every time I read another genre, it's all shiny and new!
Teresa and I used to host a reading challenge called Jumble Your Genres, where each month focused on a different genre. I really liked that reading challenge and I don't know if anyone does something similar, but I may need to do something like that next year because it's so easy for me to fall in the contemporary romance hole!
So, that's what helps me! What about you guys? How did you deal with reading slumps? Do you switch genres and/or age groups to help you out?
26 comments
Oh yes, I 100% agree with mixing genres up. I always need a contemporary romance or a historical romance after I read a fantasy book. I can't read fantasy books back to back because they are usually so heavy.
ReplyDeleteAnd reading too much put me in a slump too last year. I was reading between 30-40 books a month and after that I dropped to like 10 or so, which sucked but lesson learned!
Great post, Jess!
I agree Nick! Back to back fantasy books don't work for me either! I have to take a breather in between! Contemporaries always do the trick because of how fluffy they are. LOL.
DeleteAnd I could not believe how many you were reading! You blew me away! But I can definitely see getting burned out. I hope that's not the case now!
My biggest way out is time iff - watch TV or listen to podcasts - then come back with something short and fluffy. That usually helps me!
ReplyDeleteThats a good idea! TV is such a go-to for me, but sometimes I find myself sucked in and end up watching more tv than reading. LOL. That's ok. Sometimes you just need the break.
DeleteYou know I struggle with that contemporary romance hole problem too! I have gotten much better at switching up my genres though and that has helped. Audios have actually been my biggest help, if I'm reading a contemporary I'll listen to a fantasy/paranormal or vice versa and that has been great. We should bring back the Jumble Your Genres challenge next year! It was work but now that we haven't been doing it, I miss it. It was fun and it really did help make us mix up our reads. This was a great post Jess!
ReplyDeleteYes! You know the contemp romance hole I'm referring to! LOL. That's awesome about audios! I really wish I could get more into them! We totally should bring back that challenge! It did feel like work at the time, but I really would feel like it would be a good challenge for me to read more types of books.
DeleteOhm nom nom: bonus points for that Ten gif ♥ I tend to need a break between books too to sort of mull over what went down and write my review. If the book gives me a MAJOR book hangover I can need much longer (like maybe a week or two) Switching genres helps with a slump for me because like you said: reading the same genre back to back tends to make the books blur together...PLUS personally I tend to compare similar books which can have unfavorable results. Great post Jessica!!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yay for Dr. Who! I won't tell you that I've never seen it. *hides* HAH. YES to book hangovers! Oh man they are the worst because I just want to bask in the book. When I start a new one right away, it means the other is really over! Yes! That happens to me too! I will compare them and them I don't like them as much and I might have, had I spaced them out!
DeleteI totally get in reading slumps with ARCs, something about HAVING to read them makes me want to read them less even if I was excited when I requested the ARC! The biggest thing that helps me get out of these slumps is to re-read, especially a comfort book or a favorite! That always gets me excited about the possibility of discovering a new favorite and makes me want to read more! Great tips and great discussion Jessica! ♥
ReplyDeleteOh gosh girl. Me too. Nothing makes me more miserable than feeling forced to read. That happened this week to me. Even though I really like the book, I didn't like that pressure. And I haven't really read the last day or so because of that. I love the idea of a re-read! I'm going to keep that in mind! That's a great idea!
DeleteI am the WORST at writing reviews right away, and whenever I don't I always regret it because I have a hard time remembering details of the story or how I felt. Sigh. I have the same issues with you about reading too much in the same genre! Sometimes I go on a fantasy spree and then start to have problems. Anyway, I hope you break free of your slump with a book in a different genre. Sometimes I will have my husband pick a book for me and then I just read that one no ifs ands or buts.
ReplyDeleteKay! Yes! I hate not reviewing right away! It drives me nuts! I loved this book I recently read and had to go back and reread through it because I just couldn't remember all of my original feelings! And I still don't think I quite captured what I wanted. That's a good idea about having your hubby pick a book! Sometimes I need someone to do that for me too! Just pick one and I'll read it!
DeleteI definitely have to mix up the genres. I can't even read more than two or three books in a row in the same series. I get bored, or my mind starts to wander, which is sad because I might normally enjoy the books. The only thing that I have found that gets me out of a reading slump is to re-read an old favorite.
ReplyDeleteAnna, I've noticed I have trouble binge reading a bit too. Like, when I was reading Shadow and Bone, I was tempted to pick up something else in between just to keep it from getting to be too much! My mind is constantly wandering so it really takes a good book to keep me focused lately.
DeleteI can be a compulsive reader and gobble up book after book and then have a mountain of reviews pending and procastinate on writing reviews by reading more books...
ReplyDeleteLike you when I feel a bit burnt out on books I switch genres and ages, but sometimes I get so burnt out in a certain genre (dystopia I'm looking at you) that I will need a LOOOOOONG break from it! What I found that works wonders and that I rarely did before is allowing myself re-reading beloved books!
Haha Pili. That is so funny. I could see myself maybe doing that if I let myself too. Do you make notes while you read to keep track?
DeleteOMG. Everyone is saying rereading books! I clearly need to do this! Why have I not done this?! LOL.
I'm with you on that! I need to jump between genres because it really does start to blend together after a while and it losses its amazingness. I also have to take breaks between books, to compile my thoughts on it before I write the review, and so I won't get burnt out as well. I hate reading slumps. But sometimes breaks from books is a good thing :)
ReplyDeleteYes! You totally understand. I really think pausing between books helps. I know I fell into a reading slump earlier last week because I was under pressure to read. I can't stand that!
DeleteJumble Your Genres sounds like a pretty good idea! I've been in an epic fantasy slump lately -- I feel really guilty about it! But I'm going to read other stuff and wait until I really miss fantasy and then go back to it. Maybe rereading other books would help? Might try that!
ReplyDelete(Also: LOVE David Tennant and Nathan Fillion <3)
That's a good idea Annika! I find that when I don't read a genre for awhile I'll miss it and then when I finally read one, it feels so wonderful again! I love how many people are saying to reread! That is something I never thought of! And yessss! Love me some David and Nathan!
DeleteGreat post, Jessica! Yep, I go through slumps for sure. I was in a huge slump for quite awhile reading waaay too much NA. And I was so over it. So I started switching it up. Now I read from several genres every month and I find it really helps a lot. And I loved doing the Jumble Your Genres challenge so I hope you'll bring something like it back next year. :)
ReplyDeleteI also gave myself permission to re-read books this year. I've always shied away from re-reads because I have far too many books to read and not enough time for those - but I'm finding that re-reading 1 or 2 of my favorite books a month is really making me happy and keeping reading enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing how you deal with slumps!
Oh my gosh Brandee. That was me last year. I was so burnt out on NA! I don't know why I continued to read so much of it when I was clearly needing a break! I never considered myself a re-reader, but I think I want to give it a shot!
DeleteI thinking mixing up the genres is one of the best ways for sure! Otherwise, I end up getting SO bored! I don't read too many different age groups, so I can't really do that, but when I DO end up reading an NA or adult book, that definitely helps. I usually just kind of power through a slump, because I really have no good way to deal with them. And then I just hope they eventually go away! Thanks for the tips!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Shannon! I find myself reading more YA lately, so it is pretty nice to throw in an adult or a NA!
DeleteI definitely need to switch up my genres from time to time or I'll get bored. I consider myself pretty lucky and never get in reading slumps, not sure why. I also read my books back to back, as soon as I finish one I move right into the next within minutes. I do take a lot of notes while I read, I write down my thoughts and feelings so I can use it later for my review otherwise I would totally forget later!
ReplyDeleteOh nice Jen! I am envious! LOL. I think part of my problem is I'll feel under pressure to read too, which causes the slump. LOL. I think it's awesome you take notes! I tried to do that but I would get so absorbed in the book, I often found myself not doing it. LOL.
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