The Reader’s Doom: On Studying Slumps and How one can Battle Them

A 2016 study — “A Chapter a Day – Association of Book Reading with Longevity” — by the National Library of Medicine, concluded that book readers live longer by at least four months than their non-reading peers. The study also recorded a reduced risk of mortality of 20% in book readers over the next 12 years of follow-up.

Reading has always worn the crown for being one of the more beneficial hobbies out there. Yet Americans are reading less every day, with people spending less than 14 minutes reading every day, a sharp drop from the average 20+ minutes during the pandemic. It is understandable, too, considering the endlessly busy lives people lead. Even those who once read a book a day struggle to even go through a novel a year.

Known as the reading slump, such phases where reading becomes an impossible chore for even regular readers can spell doom for the bookworm. What exactly is a reading slump? Better yet, how does one surmount the seemingly insurmountable?

What Is a Reading Slump?

A reading or book slump is a period of utter disinterest in books that some readers often battle. Even if one wants to read and crave the feeling of devouring a good book, a reading slump can keep one from actually doing it. The problem worsens when readers realize this can be a prolonged experience, and no amount of despair or desperation may help one get out of it.

Even books by one’s favorite authors and beloved genres may not help during such situations. Reading loses its shine somehow, and it gets hard to focus on the best, most interesting books. In such situations, one may turn to other media mediums, like movies and video games, even if all one wants is to enjoy reading again. Like the drunk porter in Macbeth, one has the desire but not the ability.

There can be many reasons behind a book slump. One may burn oneself out reading multiple texts at the same time. Or one may have picked up a particularly hefty read, like the Ulysses. Reading books someone doesn’t find exciting or books of the same genre or type may also push one over the edge. Stress can be another big reason behind such a slump.

How to Battle Reading Slumps

Whatever the reason behind falling into a slump, what any victim of the phase wants is to find joy in reading again. While there is no silver bullet solution to the problem, there are some things one can do that may help. These include:

Picking up Swift Reads

Shorter reads can often help one get into the flow again. Instead of engaging with heavier reads, picking up novellas, short story collections, or even smutty reads is a good idea. This change can make reading less overwhelming and help keep the momentum going.