3 Benefits To A Reading Slump - Maybe They're A Good Thing?

Last updated on 13 February 2023

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Most of the time we struggle with reading slumps. We hear bad things about them, that it’s hard to get out of them, that they’re really a pain in the bum. But what if a reading slump was actually a good thing? What if we benefitted in some way from them? Hear me out.

What is a reading slump?

A reading slump is when you have no motivation to read, or everything book you pick up isn’t doing it for you. You’ve lost your love of reading and even though you know it’s only temporary, it’s still a struggle. Here’s how you know if you’re in a slump.

How do you know if you’re in a reading slump?

You’ll know when you’re in a reading slump, trust me. You’ll find it hard to continue reading your book, whether you’re enjoying it or not. You’ll not be excited about picking up a new book. You might look at your bookshelves of unread books and think “I have nothing to read.” Or you might find yourself skimming books without really taking it in.

It happens to the best of us. And it can be really hard when you want to read something but you’re just not finding the motivation to do it.

What are the benefits of being in a reading slump?

I want to suggest, that even though a reading slump is rough, there are some benefits to being in a reading slump. It might sound strange, but I honestly think these 3 things below might change your mind about reading slumps.

3 benefits of a being in a reading slump

You’re reminded that you have other hobbies

When you don’t feel like reading, you’ll often find yourself doing something else that you love doing. Whether that be painting or crafting, or cooking a meal instead of your 3rd night in a row of Uber Eats.

While I often find myself not reading during busy times of my life – big projects that take up lots of time, or events that I’m running – if I don’t want to read anything, I also wanted to relax or do something creative, then I’ll pick up the crochet hooks, or I’ll paint something. I have many hobbies, and usually, I don’t get to do many of them. A reading slump moves my motivation from reading to another hobby.

You discover other genres

Often if I’m in a reading slump, I’ll pick up another genre. Whether that be something I’ve never read before or one I haven’t read for a while. I find that changes in obvious plot points or settings or character tropes help me move forward in my reading slump.

But even if those different genres do help me ‘get over it’, I’ve actually discovered that I like historical fiction. Or Sci-Fi or self-help books. If I hadn’t gotten into the slump, to begin with, I wouldn’t have discovered that.

You let go of any TBR pressure you might have on yourself

The Goodreads Reading Challenge is one of my favourite things to take part in each year. I usually set myself a goal of 50 books, and often read more than that.

But I do find myself at the end of the year sometimes rushing to finish my books. When you’re in a reading slump, you almost forget about your reading goals. And if they are at the forefront of your mind then it’s more because you’re trying to get out of your reading slump.

I want to suggest that being in a reading slump and taking your time with your books lifts some of that pressure of ‘completing your reading challenge’. And when you’re not feeling pressure to read something, everything gets a little easier. And that’s a benefit, for sure.

How can you get out of your reading slump?

It can be hard to get out of a reading slump, but these benefits of a reading slump will actually help you do just that. Here’s a quick run-down of some things you can do, however, if you want nothing more than to be rid of your slump.

Re-read an old favourite
Try a short story or a short story compilation
Read your book in a different location
Don’t force your reading; if you’re not feeling it, you’re not feeling it
If you’re not loving a book, don’t finish it. Put it down. You can come back to it later if you really want to.
Pick up a different genre
Listen to an audiobook instead
Check out book reviews from your fave bloggers or reviewers to get a different perspective
Find a list of upcoming book releases

While being in a reading slump can be hard, it’s not impossible to get out of one, and there are some benefits to a reading slump. Remember, you have other hobbies; you can actually pick up other genres, and removing that pressure from yourself will be so good for you.

What do you think? Do you think there are benefits to a reading slump? What would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments!