Sarah's Reading Habits: Fighting the Slump!

Sarah's Reading Habits is an occasional feature on the blog where I delve into my reading habits a bit more! So my reading has taken a bit of a backseat recently which has prompted me to talk about reading slumps. We've all had them! You know you want to read, because you love reading, but just finding the energy and motivation or knowing what you want to read can be so darn difficult sometimes! I thought I'd get out my frustrations in this post as well as sharing a few of my tips for tackling the dreaded reading slump.

My current problem, why I'm not reading so much, is that I'm busier than usual. When I first started this blog I had a lot of free time on my hands so I was reading crazy amounts. At the moment, I don't have the time during the day to read and by evening I just want to relax and chill out. Even on my days off I've found myself slipping into old habits and watching trashy daytime TV (hello property shows!) instead of curling up with a book. It's time to change that!

So how do you break the slump? Here are a few ways I tend to fight my way out!

1. Have a few days off. For those of us that read every day, it seems weird for a day to go by and not pick up a book. But sometimes it's just what I need! I know in a few days time I'll be itching to have a book in my hands again.

2. Read something different! I turn to adult books when I need a bit of a break. Because I only review YA, it gives me the chance to read a book without having to make notes and worry about writing a review at the end of it. Plus sometimes it's just nice to have a change of scene and pace and read something that bit different. Switching genres is usually a good way to get me out of a slump. Just battled your way through fantasy? Try a nice, fun contemporary read instead!

3. Audiobooks! I know a lot of the problem I have at the moment is finding time to read. The great thing about audiobooks is that they are much easier to multitask with! I've downloaded a couple from the library which I'm going to use on my bus commutes this month. I can't read regular books on the bus because it makes me travel sick, plus at least it'll make all those traffic jams more interesting!

4. Re-read. When you're finding it hard to focus and concentrate on a book, then I find going back to something where you're familiar with the story really helps. No thinking required! Plus if you loved it the first time round then you're going in knowing what to expect. No worrying about struggling to finish it!

5. Write! I find I can't read and write at the same time (as in have a book on the go and be focusing on writing a novel or something), so if I can't read then maybe I can release some energy by writing.

6. Read what you want to read and not what you feel you should/have to. As a book blogger, there's probably a million and one books I should be reading, either review copies or library books or books I bought ages ago and still haven't read yet. Sometimes that feeling of having to read something can spoil the fun. Go with your heart and not with your head!

7. Treat yourself! I'd been in a bit of a slump before Christmas where I was reading about four books at once and struggling to finish any of them. I ended up treating myself to a book in the sales and devouring it in a few days. Sometimes getting excited about a new book is just what you need!

What are your tips for getting out of a reading slump? Let me know in the comments!