Finding Your Way Out of a Reading Slump

7 Tips to Help You Remember Why You Love Reading

Prefer to listen? Check out our podcast episode on breaking out of a reading slump.

There are seasons when reading feels effortless. Books capture our attention, stories keep us turning pages long after bedtime, and our to-be-read lists seem full of possibilities.

And then there are seasons when reading feels surprisingly difficult.

Maybe life has been busy. Maybe you’re tired. Maybe your attention span feels shorter than it used to. Or perhaps the books you’ve picked up lately simply haven’t connected with you.

If you’ve found yourself in a reading slump, you’re not alone.

As readers, it’s easy to assume that the solution is to push harder—to read more books, finish the books we’ve started, or finally tackle the titles we’ve been meaning to read for years. But sometimes the better approach is to pause, reset our expectations, and rediscover what made us love reading in the first place.

Here are a few gentle ways to reconnect with reading when you’ve lost momentum.

Try a Different Format

Many of us have a preferred way to read. Maybe you love holding a physical book in your hands or curling up with an e-reader before bed. But different seasons of life sometimes call for different formats.

If sitting down with a book feels impossible right now, consider audiobooks. Listening while driving, walking, folding laundry, or preparing dinner can help stories fit naturally into your day. The goal isn’t to prove you’re reading in a particular way—it’s simply to engage with books again. Sometimes a small change in format is enough to reignite your interest.

Give Yourself Permission to Quit

This may be one of the hardest reading lessons to learn: Not every book is for every reader.

A book can be critically acclaimed, beloved by your friends, or featured on every bestseller list and still not be the right book for you. And that’s OK. When reading starts to feel like an obligation rather than a pleasure, it may be time to set a book aside. That doesn’t mean the book is bad or that you’ll never return to it. It simply means this particular book may not fit this particular season.

Life is too short to spend all your reading time with books you dread picking up.

Reach for Something Easy

Sometimes the quickest way out of a reading slump is to stop trying to impress yourself.

Instead of tackling the most challenging book on your shelf, choose something you know you’ll enjoy.

Reread an old favorite. Pick up a cozy mystery. Read a book geared more toward young adult readers or spend time with essays instead of a lengthy novel. Reading doesn’t always have to be educational, productive or intellectually demanding. Sometimes reading can simply be enjoyable.

And often, enjoyment is exactly what helps us build reading momentum again.

Explore a Different Genre

When we read the same type of book over and over, even books we typically enjoy can begin to feel repetitive.

So, if you’ve spent months immersed in literary fiction, try a memoir. If you’ve been reading nonfiction, pick up a novel. If you’ve been drawn to heavy, emotionally intense stories, choose something lighter and more hopeful. Different genres offer different experiences, and a change of pace may be exactly what your reading life needs.

The best book for you right now isn’t necessarily a bestseller or the book you think you should be reading. It’s the book you’ll actually want to read.

Create a Reading Ritual

One of the simplest ways to make reading a regular part of life is to connect it to an existing routine. Maybe that means reading for 10 minutes while you drink your morning coffee. Perhaps it’s a few pages before bed. Maybe it’s reading during your lunch break or spending a quiet evening on the porch with a book.

The ritual itself doesn’t need to be elaborate. What matters is creating a small, consistent space where reading naturally belongs. Over time, those moments begin to add up.

Read With Someone Else

Reading may be a solitary activity, but books often become more meaningful when they’re shared. A conversation about a favorite chapter, a text message about an unexpected plot twist or a discussion over coffee can add fresh energy to your reading life.

Consider reading alongside a friend, joining a local book club or participating in an online reading community. Knowing someone else is reading the same book can provide just enough motivation to keep going—and can make the experience far more enjoyable.

Start Small

When we’re trying to rebuild a habit, we often make the mistake of setting goals that are too ambitious. So, instead of committing to reading an entire book this week, start with 10 minutes.

That’s it. Read a chapter. Read a few pages. Read while your coffee brews.

The goal isn’t to rack up impressive reading statistics or conquer an endless reading list. The goal is to rediscover the delight of reading.

Books have a way of meeting us exactly where we are. Even after a long season away, they’re still waiting patiently on the shelf. So if you’ve been in a reading slump lately, consider this your permission to pause, reset and begin again — one page at a time.