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By Linh N., Grade 10
Reading slumps. These can happen when we get too busy to open up a book during the day, when we are distracted by technology, or when we don’t have enough energy to read. After a while, it gets really hard to rack up the concentration needed, and you simply don’t even want to try. However, since reading is extremely beneficial to you and a good form of entertainment, it’s a good idea to at least try to get out of your latest slump. It is admittedly harder than it sounds, but here are four, foolproof (tested by me) methods to make this process a bit easier!
1. A Little of Each!
First, keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to commit to a book, especially one that you aren’t interested in. I often find myself in reading slumps when I finish a good book and can’t seem to find a book that piques my interest in the same way. Go to the library or your bookshelf, pick a few books, and read the first chapter of each. Reading the first chapter helps you understand the author’s writing style, the structure of each chapter, and helps you decide if you like the book. I can usually tell if I love – or hate – the book within the first few pages, and it’s not worth it to continue if I decide that it’s the latter. Once I find a book that seems interesting, I try to read it for thirty minutes and see how I feel from there. Books tend to capture my attention once I am past the 100-page mark, so try giving it a chance until that point.
2. Don’t Overanalyze!
If you are reading your AP World textbook or studying for a math test, it’s probably a good idea to take pretty detailed notes. But if you are trying to read for fun, don’t do this!
This applies primarily to when I’m reading a more challenging book, but sometimes I find myself rereading a sentence over and over to try to grasp the meaning. This advice is a bit controversial as you do want to be able to comprehend the book, but reading loses its flavor when you scrutinize the words rather than letting them flow. You may need to annotate sometimes, but if you are trying to get out of a reading slump, don’t be a perfectionist; read to enjoy! The same concept applies to writing. I’ve written many articles for this blog, and over time, I’ve realized that I can avoid writer’s block by letting myself make mistakes. When I think about every sentence and every word I put down, I write slowly and cannot think of what I should say next. I saw this video that advised putting a B+ effort into assignments, going back and editing to make it an A, and then finally making it an A+ piece of work. This advice has changed my life! It’s so much better to get your ideas down or to read at a normal pace, instead of trying to get everything right and overcomplicating the process as a result.
3. Throw the distractions out your window – or use these tools!
Your phone seems harmless – it’s just a slim piece of metal with a few apps on it. However, there are so many things that can distract you from what needs to be done; the ping of a text, notification, or a call leads to you opening it up once again and losing more time! Scrolling is also a large problem because of how difficult it is to stop, even if you feel guilty about it! The majority of people with phones fall into this trap daily. Even when I tell myself that I am going to work, that I’m going to leave my phone on the corner of the desk and not touch it, I eventually open it up again.
If you don’t have the willpower to throw your phone into a room and lock it, know that your siblings certainly do. My little sister isn’t willing to do many favors for me, but she is always happy to hide my phone in some obscure place for a few hours. She’s tucked it inside socks, in the laundry, behind the TV, and this always keeps me focused longer. You could also download an app called Opal. This app has also changed my life so much – just trust the process. In sum, this app places restrictions on the apps you choose, locking them down for hours when you overuse them. There’s no option to ask for fifteen more minutes or to cancel the work time, which is one of the downfalls of the screen time setting on my iphone, so you just have to wait it out. I put restrictions on all my social media apps, and my phone really isn’t that appealing without them, so I end up using it much less.
4. Read a book you love!
If none of these methods work, this is the top way you can get into reading again! Reading a book you love gives you a sense of familiarity and comfort that a new book doesn’t. (at least initially) For me, it’s much easier to pick up a book I’ve read before, especially one that I really loved. Reading doesn’t have to be a chore, nor does it have to be hard. This is the simplest, but one of the most effective ways to spark your interest again!