Are You Struggling to Read More?

If you are anything like me, you probably go through phases of reading.  There are times when you are on. a. roll. Ready to conquer the world with your reading skills and crossing titles off your reading list every other day.  Then, there are times when you barely read a page in a month.  

It’s in these lulls that I often find myself questioning my true “reader-ness.”  Can I really call myself a reader? Do I truly like to read or am I just a fake? It can be easy to feel defeated when you have lost your reading mojo, but I am here to tell you that it’s okay to have lulls.  And, when you are ready to climb out of your non-reading hole there are many ways to find a new title that will help you fall in love with words all over again. After all, the true secret to loving reading is reading books you love.  

Yet, I sometimes find myself at a loss for finding a new book I care to dedicate time to.  What’s a girl to do when her heart wants to read, but she simply can’t find a compelling book?  How do we find good books to get us back to reading more? Here’s a few secrets to finding your new best book friend:

• Ask a friend.  In a reading lull, I find I can’t trust myself to choose a book that I’ll actually read.  Listening to friends for book advice means we don’t have to worry about trusting ourselves to choose the right book.  Plus, now you can talk about your book thoughts with your friend. 
  
• Re-read a favorite title.  There’s no shame in going back to read a book that you already love.  If you loved it once, chances are you will love it again. And, reading a book you once loved can give you a guaranteed re-ignited passion for the written word.  
  
• Don’t be ashamed.  I sometimes try to feel super “intellectual” when I choose my book.  I try to choose something that will stretch my mind and teach me 17,357 new things.  There is a time and a place to stretch yourself in reading and a reading lull is not that time or place.  It’s ok to grab a guilty pleasure read. All writing stirs your imagination and exercise your mind. Don’t feel ashamed to pick up a YA Fiction book or that romcom book you’ve been eyeing.  It could be the key to finding joy in reading once again.  
  
• Ask a librarian.  I know, I know. In these modern days of Amazon, ebooks, and online library portals, it can feel a bit foreign to actually go to the library.  But, if you are willing to venture to your local branch, you will find many seasoned professionals whose jobs are to recommend books to you. Think of them like your personal book genie.  Tell the librarian some books you’ve really enjoyed, or a genre or a topic you enjoy, or all of the above and wait for the magical recommendations to flow your way.  
  

I know it can feel impossible to step out of a reading slump when you are in the thick of it, but I know you can do it.  Don’t be afraid to try new books and explore new genres. You may just discover your new favorite read. And while you’re at it, go easy on yourself.  If you only read a chapter in a week, you read more than nothing. Don’t be afraid to set aside a book that isn’t jiving with you.  

Take a deep breath.  Smell those crisp pages.  You got this.

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