Discussion: How to Embrace the Book Slump

In the past, I have written a post that looked into the many ways we can get over a book slump. However, I have also been very candid about the fact that this year has not been productive on the reading front for me. A lot of factors have contributed to the slump, and for the longest time, I was frustrated with myself for not being able to break out of this funk. However, as the months pass by, I’ve learned to not be too hard on myself. Today, I want to share the ways in which I’ve come to embrace my book slump.

Statistics Don’t Matter

In this digital era, we have become obsessed with numbers. From the number of likes to the number of followers, and the number of books we read, we seem to have developed a habit of measuring our success by the numbers. I’ve done it plenty of times and still regularly check my stats for this site. It’s not a bad thing to do, and stats are a great way of analysing and utilising the sites optimum viewings. However, we also have to take the time to realise that statistics don’t determine your success because, at the end of the day, reading should be about the experience. I’ve only read 8 books this year, and I can tell you that I gained something from each book. No, not every book has blown me away, but that doesn’t mean I’ve not enjoyed it. So, whether you read 10 books or a 100 books in a year, in the end as long as you enjoy reading then the numbers really don’t matter.

Balance

Let’s face it, we all have obligations in life that cannot be avoided. In an ideal world, I would happily take a day to just sit in the sun and just read. However, in reality, that is just not possible. I work two jobs at the moment and I’ve taken on a lot of additional hours lately that by the time I get home I’m so exhausted that I can’t even make the effort to pick up a book. Now, I know what you’re thinking, why don’t I just read during my lunch break or on the commute to work. Well, I can’t read on public transport as I get headaches, and at lunch, I find that by the time I start to immerse myself in the book my break has ended. The best time for me to read is when I clock off and can shut off from work. I used to agonise over the fact that I hadn’t read anything some days. However, I also need to accept the fact that I can’t do everything at once. Finding that work/life balance is hard, but at the end of the day, I know that the best thing to do is to read when I want to, whether it’s daily, or sporadic, it doesn’t matter.

Turn to other outlets

There is a perk to book slumps because it gives you the opportunity to indulge in other interests. Since coming back from Canada, I’ve been trying to get back into my fitness routine, which is not as easy as you think it is. Usually, after supper, I’ll go for a quick walk around the block or do some pilates. It’s not much, but it’s a start. I’ve also been catching up with my TV and films because now that it’s summertime, we can get the projector out and watch all of these blockbusters on the big screen. That is usually how I unwind on the nights that I’m free and it has been a lot of fun. So, if you find yourself in a slump, turn to your other interests to fill that space.

Reading should always be fun

I’ve covered this point already, but I think it is so important to stress the fact that reading should be fun. Yes, I am running out of books to review for the blog. Is it a worry. Not anymore. Why? Because this blog is as much about the discussion than it is about books alone. In fact, being in a slump has allowed me to take the time to explore and create new content for the blog. It is so easy to slip into that mindset of needing to read because you think you need to keep up a profile on the blog, but at the end of the day you blog for you. There is no rule that says you have to even write reviews to be a book blogger. I read because I enjoy it. I review books because I enjoy writing those posts, but I’ve learned that everything relating to books is not in conjunction with the blog and being in this slump has given me the chance to separate myself from that reading for the blog mind frame and just enjoy the journey these books take me on.

Those are the ways in which I’ve come to embrace my book slump.
How do you deal with slumps?